Paralegal

Paralegals have a strong knowledge and understanding of the law and play a vital role in the provision of legal services

As a paralegal, you'll carry out certain legal tasks and services, such as undertaking legal research, drafting and preparing legal documents, and giving some legal advice.

You can be employed as a paralegal in a number of settings including a firm of solicitors, a paralegal law firm, a set of chambers, in the private and public sector, within government or industry, or for not-for-profit organisations and charities. With experience you can set up your own paralegal business.

Although paralegals have some legal training, they can't provide services that are reserved for regulated legal professionals such as solicitors, barristers, chartered legal executives and licenced conveyancers. These reserved services include litigation, probate, advocacy and mediation, and conveyancing.

Job titles vary according to the organisation you work for and your experience and responsibilities. You may see roles advertised as caseworker, compliance officer, contracts manager, legal secretary, volunteer adviser or legal assistant, for example.

Types of paralegal work

Paralegals can provide legal assistance in areas such as:

• matrimonial matters
• writing a will or obtaining a lasting power of attorney
• housing matters
• welfare matters
• if you need representation at a police station for a minor criminal offence (many paralegals are police station accredited)
• taking action against an employer through a tribunal
• explaining the process of taking someone to court.

Although paralegals don't have an automatic right of audience in court, they can advise litigants who represent themselves in court. They may also be able to speak on the litigant's behalf subject to the judge's discretion.

Responsibilities

Your responsibilities will vary based on your experience, level of responsibility and employer. For instance, the tasks you perform in a law firm may differ to a certain extent from those in a local government setting. However, as a paralegal, you'll typically need to:

• conduct legal research
• analyse and input legal data
• draft and prepare legal documents
• write articles for internal or external circulation
• negotiate contracts and legal documents
• keep clients informed and meet with them, where appropriate, to take instructions
• provide legal advice in certain circumstances
• complete official documentation and write reports
• attend meetings with legal experts, clients or claimants
• organise diaries and schedule meetings
• maintain and manage accurate and organised records
• arrange payments and billing
• handle correspondence and client enquiries.

You may also:

• organise case files and evidence, attend court hearings, inquests and tribunals, and prepare litigation bundles
• prepare case materials and legal briefings
• file legal documents with the court
• take witness statements and prepare case summaries
• support fee earners in managing high-value cases.

Salary

• Salaries for junior paralegals at non-graduate entry level typically range from £19,000 to £23,000. If you have a degree and enter at a graduate level, your salary may range from £25,000 to £30,000.
• Senior paralegals can expect a salary upwards of £35,000.
• Salaries for experienced senior paralegals can be a lot higher as it's now possible to become a partner in a law firm.
• As a self-employed paralegal, you're likely to charge between £20 and £50 an hour for your services.

Salaries vary depending on your experience and level of responsibility, the size and type of employer you work for, the area of law you work in (e.g. commercial, family, property) and location. Salaries in London, for example, are higher than in the rest of the UK.

Additional benefits may include a pension, annual bonus, life assurance, medical assurance and discounted travel and cycle to work schemes.

Salary figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Although working hours are typically a standard 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, you'll often be required to work longer hours due to time pressures, particularly in private law firms handling large caseloads with tight deadlines.

If you work in-house for a company or within the public sector, your hours are likely to be more regular.

Paralegal roles are available on both a full-time and part-time basis, with some opportunities for flexible or hybrid working depending on the employer.

What to expect

• You'll usually work in an office setting, although you may occasionally assist in case preparation, attend client meetings and visit courts for inquests and tribunals.
• Although many commercial law firms are located in large cities such as London, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Dublin, Leeds and Manchester, there are paralegal jobs available with a wide range of employers across the whole of the UK.
• Advances in technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), can impact the role of a paralegal. For example, many administrative activities can now be automated. This can free up your time to work on more complex tasks, but you'll need to develop your skills in using technology, particularly AI, as well as your understanding of the ethical considerations and regulatory compliance.
• The legal sector is actively working to improve diversity, with initiatives aimed at increasing access for underrepresented groups. Many firms have diversity policies and networks to support employees from different backgrounds. Find out more about diversity in the legal profession.

Qualifications

The paralegal profession is unregulated, which means there's no fixed entry requirements. However, competition for jobs is fierce and so you're more likely to be successful if you have either a related legal qualification or some paralegal work experience.

Getting a recognised qualification and becoming a member of a relevant professional body such as the National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP) or CILEX (the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives) shows your commitment to the profession and reassures employers and clients that you have the required skills and knowledge.

Solicitors' firms sometimes prefer to recruit law graduates and receive many applications from graduates who want to work as paralegals to gain qualifying work experience (QWE) to become a solicitor or to build experience before training to become a barrister. However, applicants who have completed a vocational course that teaches the practicalities of legal work are also valued by employers.

NALP offers the only Ofqual certified paralegal qualifications, ranging from entry-level courses through to a postgraduate-level diploma:

• Level 3 Certificate for Paralegal Technicians - entry-level qualification for those starting out in their law career, or currently working in business administration, secretarial services or within the legal environment
• Level 4 Certificate for Associate Paralegals - for those with previous law experience
• Level 5 Diploma for Senior Associate Paralegals - for experienced paralegals
• Level 7 Diploma in Paralegal Practice - aimed at those with an LLB Hons or BA Hons Law and designed to provide the practical skills needed to pursue a career as a paralegal.

NALP also provides nine, Level 3 single subject awards so that paralegals can learn more about a particular area of law.

Search the list of NALP-approved training centres.

You can also train to be a paralegal through the CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ) route. The CPQ enables you to become a practising specialist lawyer in as little as three years, although you can progress at the pace that suits you.

The CPQ breaks down into three stages: Foundation, Advanced and Professional. You don't need any formal qualifications to begin on the Foundation stage, and on completion of the Foundation qualification and your professional experience, will qualify as a paralegal. You can either pause or stop your studies at this stage or move on to the Advanced stage to qualify as an advanced paralegal.

There are other ways to become a paralegal with CILEX. If you already have a law degree, you can join CILEX as a paralegal and progress through the CPQ to become a lawyer if you wish. Alternatively, if you already have work experience in a legal role, you can become a paralegal through the CILEX experience assessment route.

Find out more about CPQ and how to become a paralegal.

The CILEX Foundation provides support in the form of scholarships, bursaries and grants to eligible students studying for a CILEX qualification. The aim is to help address inequality and underrepresentation in the legal sector.

It's also possible to become a paralegal by completing a Level 3 paralegal apprenticeship, which combines paid work with part-time study, meaning you can train on the job. There will shortly also be a new advanced Level 5 paralegal apprenticeship available.

You can also to move into paralegal work from other related occupations such as legal secretary or legal assistant.

For information on the paralegal profession in Scotland, see the Scottish Paralegal Association.

Skills

You'll need to have:

• strong written and verbal communication skills to draft legal documents, liaise with clients and present information clearly
• the ability to manage multiple tasks and caseloads
• attention to detail for analysing files, reviewing contracts and maintaining accurate records
• legal research skills and a willingness to develop your understanding of case law, legislation and legal procedures
• time management skills and the ability to work well under pressure and to tight deadlines
• administrative and organisational skills for managing case files, correspondence and legal documentation
• teamwork and collaboration skills, particularly when working across departments or supporting senior legal professionals
• negotiation and client-handling skills to resolve issues amicably
• a flexible and adaptable approach to your work to respond to changing priorities
• commercial awareness and an understanding of client needs and the business context of legal work
• professionalism and discretion when dealing with confidential legal matters, colleagues and clients
• general IT skills, particularly Microsoft Office, and familiarity with legal databases and case management software.

Work experience

It's essential to get relevant work experience, as employers look for candidates with practical legal knowledge and an understanding of the profession.

Many law firms, in-house legal teams and public sector organisations offer paid paralegal work placements, internships or temporary contracts, which provide hands-on experience in legal research, document preparation and case management. You can also take a year out during your law degree and work as a paralegal.

Voluntary work experience is another way of developing your practical legal skills. Many charities and legal advice centres, such as Citizens Advice or law clinics, offer volunteering roles where you can assist with legal queries, help clients prepare documents and shadow experienced advisers. Pro bono work through university law societies or legal organisations can also help you develop client-facing skills and demonstrate your commitment to the profession.

Experience as a legal secretary, legal assistant, compliance officer, contracts administrator or caseworker can also be a useful stepping stone into a paralegal position.

You can also attend law firm or organisation 'insight' events or open days and consider court marshalling or attending court hearings as a member of the public to demonstrate your interest in the profession.

Find out more about law work experience.

Employers

Paralegal roles are available throughout the UK. In the regulated sector, paralegals usually work for solicitors, barristers, licensed conveyancers, chartered legal executives, cost lawyers and trade mark attorneys. Employers range from niche/mid-sized firms to large commercial law firms, paralegal firms and in-house legal teams.

You can also work for a paralegal firm in the unregulated sector. These firms offer a range of legal services that don't require the involvement of a regulated legal professional.

There are also significant numbers of paralegals employed by in-house legal departments in sectors such as commerce, finance, local government and industry.

With experience, it's possible to work freelance or as a sole trader, or to own your own paralegal practice.

Typical employers include:

• law firms
• barristers' chambers
• paralegal law firms
• the court system
• public sector in areas such as trading standards, parking prosecution, benefit fraud prevention and estates management
• local and national government
• the NHS
• the armed forces
• commercial companies
• industry
• the not-for-profit sector
• charities.

Look for job vacancies at:

• LawCareers.net
• Simply Law Jobs
• The Lawyer
• Totally Legal.

You can also register with a specialist recruitment agency, such as:

• BCL Legal Recruitment
• EJ Legal
• Law Absolute.

Professional development

It's important to keep up to date with the latest legal developments, technology and best practice through undertaking continuing professional development (CPD). You'll need to look for opportunities to further develop your skills and knowledge throughout your career.

Membership of professional bodies such as NALP and CILEX provides access to the latest sector news, networking opportunities, webinars, training, events and conferences. There are various levels of membership available depending on your experience and qualifications.

It's also useful to join a paralegal register. For more information, see:

• National Paralegal Register (NPR) - for NALP members
• CILEX Professional Paralegal Register (PPR) - for CILEX members.

If you decide to set up your own paralegal business, NALP recommends that you apply for a Licence to Practise. Although not essential, it can provide reassurance to your clients with regards to your credentials. You'll need to be an active NALP Associate, Graduate (with three years' relevant legal experience), Fellow or Principal Fellow member to be eligible to apply. You must also undertake regular CPD and hold Professional Indemnity Insurance.

Career prospects

Job prospects for skilled paralegals are good. There are opportunities to develop in your existing role and work towards a senior paralegal position with increased responsibility for your own work and the work of a team.

Networking will provide you with useful contacts and opportunities, increasing your chances of success in your legal career. You'll also need to keep your skills and knowledge up to date to ensure you can make the most of opportunities.

With experience, you may wish to set up your own paralegal business, providing non-reserved or non-regulated activities such as:

• employment law
• general legal advice
• wills, trusts and estate administration (but not probate, which is a reserved activity that can only be undertaken by, or under the supervision of, an authorised person).

You can also take on freelance or consultancy work once you've built up enough experience.

Some paralegals choose to undertake further study and training to become, for example, a:

• chartered legal executive (England and Wales)
• licensed conveyancer
• immigration adviser.

Some law graduates work as paralegals in order to gain the qualifying work experience (QWE) needed to become a solicitor, as part of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE), or to build experience before training to become a barrister. Some, however, decide to continue their careers as paralegals.

Senior paralegals may go on to become partners in law firms or company secretaries.