Paralegal

The paralegal profession is competitive and legal work experience is often required by employers

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

Although you will have received some form of training, you are not a qualified solicitor, barrister, chartered legal executive or licenced conveyancer.

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.

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

Types of paralegal work

Areas of specialisation include:

• advocacy and mediation
• commercial, corporate and business law
• consumer law
• contracts/dispute resolution
• conveyancing and property
• crime
• debt recovery and mortgage repossessions
• employment law
• litigation (criminal and civil)
• matrimonial and family law
• personal injury
• wills, probate and administration of estates.

Responsibilities

As a paralegal, you'll typically need to:

• carry out office administration, including billing and writing letters
• organise diaries, schedule meetings and respond to telephone queries
• write first document drafts, such as contracts, and proofread documents
• conduct legal research
• analyse and input legal data
• write articles for internal or external circulation
• organise case files, attend court inquests and tribunals, transcribe legal opinion and compile litigation bundles
• file documents at court
• network with clients and build valuable relationships
• negotiate contracts and legal documents
• complete official documentation and write reports on cases
• take witness statements
• attend meetings with experts or claimants.

The amount of these activities that you'll do and the level of responsibility you'll have will depend on your experience and level of specialism, as well as the type of employer you work for.

Salary

• Within a solicitor's firm, salaries for junior paralegals at non-graduate entry level typically range from £14,000 to £22,000. If you have a degree and enter at a graduate level, your salary may range from around £18,000 to £25,000.
• A paralegal with some experience (typically around three to five years') can expect a salary in the region of £30,000 to £40,000.
• Within larger firms it's possible for an experienced paralegal to earn up to £55,000, and in very rare cases up to £70,000.

Pay is highest in large cities, compared with regional law firms and high street firms. If working in a paralegal law firm, pay may be lower than the figures listed above.

Salaries can 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, immigration, property) and location. Salaries in London, for example, are higher than in the rest of the UK. Compliance paralegals in the financial sector are among the best paid.

If you're based in Scotland, see the Scottish Paralegal Association website for relevant information.

Income data from the Institute of Paralegals. Figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Working hours depend on the role and nature of work. Your official working hours may be between 9am and 5pm. However, you'll typically be expected to work longer hours during busy periods.

Working for an in-house legal team or public sector organisation could mean more stable working hours.

If you're working for a recruitment agency it's important to check the working hours and find out if overtime hours are paid additionally.

Jobs are available either full or part time.

What to expect

• Most of the work is office based, although you may assist in preparation for court cases or attend meetings with clients at off-site locations. You may also visit court on occasions for inquests, tribunals and criminal cases.
• Competition for paralegal roles in commercial firms can be fierce, as many law graduates wanting to become a solicitor or barrister seek paralegal experience.
• Some students secure part-time paralegal roles alongside their law degree or postgraduate legal studies - this is an excellent way to gain valuable legal experience.
• The role varies widely depending on your practice area. For example, if you're working in conveyancing you're not likely to have much face-to-face contact with clients. However, if you undertake criminal work, you'll need to attend court, police stations and talk to suspects.
• Variation and intensity of work can depend on the firm, the size of the team you are supporting and how many paralegals are working in the team.
• Paralegal roles are available across the UK but there are more jobs in towns and cities. Large commercial firms tend to establish their businesses in big cities near commercial areas.
• Increasing diversity within law careers is a frequently discussed topic and initiatives are in place to make improvements, such as the Institute of Paralegals Charter. Find out more about diversity in the legal profession.

Qualifications

The paralegal profession is unregulated and this 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.

There is a range of legal training courses available and you should try to match up your qualification to the area of law in which you'd like to work. Also research what your preferred employers look for.

For example, solicitors' firms sometimes prefer to recruit law graduates and they get many applications from graduates with a law degree who see being a paralegal as a way to become a solicitor or barrister. However, many employers favour applicants who have completed a vocational course that taught the practicalities of legal work.

The National Association of Licensed Paralegals offers paralegal qualifications, ranging from entry-level courses through to a postgraduate-level diploma. You can also check the Institute of Paralegals (IoP) for a list of approved training providers.

It's also possible to complete a level 3 paralegal apprenticeship, where you combine part-time study and paid work.

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

Skills

You'll need to have:

• excellent written and verbal communication skills
• the ability to manage multiple tasks or caseloads
• good attention to detail to be able to carefully analyse files and data
• legal research skills and the desire to develop your understanding of the law
• time management skills and the ability to work well under pressure and to tight deadlines
• office administrative skills for tasks such as filing, typing and letter writing
• good teamwork skills particularly when working with other departments to complete your tasks
• negotiation skills in order to negotiate with clients
• a flexible and adaptable approach to your work
• business acumen and an understanding of the clients' needs
• professionalism when working with colleagues, senior partners, experts and clients
• general IT skills and knowledge of legal database certifications such as LexisNexis or Westlaw.

Work experience

It's advisable to complete at least six months' work experience carrying out legal work before applying for a paralegal position as many employers want to see some evidence of the practical skills required.

The legal sector is very competitive, so it's essential to demonstrate your motivation for working in law. 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 develop your understanding. You can also become a member of the Institute of Paralegals (IoP) to demonstrate your interest and keep you up to date with the profession.

Related experience, such as pro bono work, work placements or volunteering at Citizen's Advice Centres or local charities, is greatly valued. Find out more about legal work experience. Diverse community experience, such as working with young people or the elderly, can also be helpful - especially if you're applying to law firms specialising in housing, family or immigration.

Make sure your experience is relevant to the area of law you want to work in.

Employers

Paralegal roles are available throughout the UK. Your employer may vary between niche/mid-sized firms to large, commercial law firms and in-house legal teams.

Most commercial law firms are located in London, or in large cities such as Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Dublin, Leeds and Manchester. Find out more about top UK law firms.

Typical employers include:

• solicitors' firms - one in three paralegals work in solicitors' firms (IoP)
• 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 military
• commercial companies
• industry
• the not-for-profit sector
• charities.

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

Look for job vacancies at:

• LawCareers.net
• Legal Week Jobs
• 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

You'll need to keep your skills and knowledge of the law up to date through continuing professional development throughout your career.

Membership of the Institute of Paralegals (IoP) is useful and provides access to news, networking opportunities, webinars, training, events and conferences. There are various levels of membership available, ranging from student through to Fellow, that you can progress through during your career as your experience and qualifications grow.

Members of the IoP must undertake 10 hours of CPD per year (12 hours for Fellows) and are subject to a code of conduct. This can include any structured training or learning activities, such as events and webinars, reading industry journals or attending special interest groups. It’s important that you record carefully all of your CPD and the IoP can help with this.

There is no statutory regulation of paralegals. However, members of the IoP can join the Professional Paralegal Register (PPR), a voluntary regulatory scheme for paralegals in England and Wales. If you hold a Paralegal Practising Certificate, you are fully regulated by the PPR as a Professional Paralegal Practitioner in relation to all the services you're allowed to undertake.

Career prospects

You may continue to develop in your existing role or build expertise in a specific area of law and work towards a senior paralegal position with increased responsibility for your own work and the work of the team.

Networking will provide you with useful contacts and opportunities, increasing your chances of success in your legal career.

Some paralegals pursue further training to qualify as a solicitor, barrister or chartered legal executive. Experience as a paralegal may contribute to the period of recognised training or qualification.