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Paralegal
Hours
30-40 per week
Starting salary
£10,000 + per year
If you are interested in the law and want a career in legal work, this job could be perfect for you. Paralegals carry out a range of legal work. They are not fully qualified solicitors, however they can do a lot of the work that a solicitor does. Their work can range from administrative and legal secretarial tasks to legal research and providing legal information to a client.
To become a paralegal, you will need to have excellent spoken and written communication skills. You’ll need to be able to work with all kinds of clients. You’ll also need the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
To become a paralegal you will need a good standard of general education, and a good understanding of the law and legal system.
WorkDesc
The work
As a paralegal, your exact duties would depend on where you work and your level of responsibility.
Junior paralegal duties would typically involve:
- preparing legal documents
- research
- typing, filing and other general clerical tasks.
Duties for more experienced paralegals would typically involve:
- interviewing clients and witnesses
- giving clients legal information
- going to court
- handling a caseload of clients
- presenting applications to district judges.
You could work for various types of employer, such as:
- law firms, supporting solicitors - you would usually specialise in one area of law such as probate or family law
- the public or not-for-profit sector - for example as an advice worker or caseworker at a Citizens Advice Bureau, charity or trade union
- civil and criminal courts
- police forces, and enforcement organisations like Trading Standards
- private companies - advising on business law or managing contracts.
HoursDesc
Hours
In a full-time job you would normally work standard office hours, Monday to Friday. Part-time, job sharing and temporary work may be available.
You would mainly be based at an office, and may travel to go to court or to meetings.
IncomeDesc
Income
Starting salaries can be between £10,000 and £25,000 a year. With experience this can rise to up to £40,000 a year.
Top salaries in large law firms can reach £70,000 a year.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
To become a paralegal you will need a good standard of general education, a good understanding of the law and legal system, and good administrative skills. Employers may ask for qualifications such as:
- a paralegal studies qualification from the Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX), the National Association of Licensed Paralegals, or the Institute of Paralegals
- a legal secretary qualification at level 2 or level 3 from the Institute of Legal Executives
- a BTEC HNC/HND or foundation degree in law or legal studies
- a law degree or ILEX level 6 qualification.
Depending on the job you are applying for, these qualifications will not always be necessary.
Relevant work experience in a legal setting will also help you when looking for work.
If you have not studied law before, you could look for an administrative role with a law firm and study for paralegal qualifications whilst you are working. You could also start studying for paralegal qualifications at a local college before you look for work. See the Training and Development section below for more information.
Some employers may prefer you to have a law degree. Many law graduates and postgraduates who have completed the Legal Practice Certificate or Bar Professional Training Course take jobs as paralegals if they have not yet found a solicitor’s training contract or barrister’s pupillage.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
Your employer will usually provide on-the-job training including administration procedures (including legal secretarial training), company procedures and case management systems, or in-depth training in a particular area of law.
You could also study for paralegal and legal secretarial qualifications whilst you are working. Courses are available from ILEX with City & Guilds, the National Association of Licensed Paralegals and the Institute of Paralegals.
ILEX/City & Guilds offers:
- Level 2 Award, Certificate and Diploma in Legal Studies
- Level 3 Award in Legal Studies
- Level 2 Certificate and Diploma for Legal Secretaries
- Level 3 Certificate and Diploma for Legal Secretaries.
You could also study for the ILEX Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice, which counts towards qualification as a legal executive lawyer.
Please see the legal executive job profile for more information.
The National Association of Licensed Paralegals offers:
- Level 4 Diploma in Paralegal Studies
- Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Paralegal Practice (PPC) - for law graduates who want to progress as a paralegal but do not want to qualify as a lawyer
- Paralegal Practical Skills Course
- Fellowship Awards - specialist courses for qualified paralegals.
The Institute of Paralegals offers:
- Legal Practitioners' Qualification (LPQ) Foundation Certificate in Paralegal Studies
- BTEC Level 2 and 3 Awards in Law and Legal Work.
You can normally study for these courses by distance learning, or part-time or full-time at local colleges. Check each organisation's website for more information on the qualifications they offer and where you can study.
If you work in a legal setting, you could also do a part-time foundation degree in law or legal studies, or work towards ILEX level 6 qualifications, which equate to an honours degree. Several colleges and universities offer relevant courses. ILEX also offers legal secretaries and administrative paralegals without degrees a route for becoming fully qualified lawyers.
ILEX is the only organisation approved by the government to independently regulate paralegals, however at the moment, there are no rules about what qualifications and training a paralegal must have.
The National Association of Licensed Paralegals, the Institute of Paralegals and ILEX all offer their members professional recognition and continuing professional development (CPD). See websites for details.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
To become a paralegal, you will need to have:
- excellent spoken and written communication skills
- patience and tact, to be able to work with all kinds of clients
- the ability to absorb large amounts of complex information
- a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
- research skills
- the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
- good organisational and time management skills
- computer and administration skills
- respect for confidential information.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) 
Kempston Manor
Kempston
Bedfordshire
MK42 7AB
01234 841000
www.ilex.org.uk
Institute of Paralegals
No 1 Poultry
London
EC2R 8JR
Tel: 020 7099 9122
www.theiop.org
National Association of Licensed Paralegals
3.08 Canterbury Court
Kennington Business Park
1-3 Brixton Road
London
SW9 6DE
Tel: 020 3176 0900
www.nationalparalegals.com
All About Law - The Law Careers Website
www.allaboutlaw.co.uk
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
You could work as a paralegal for many kinds of employer, including law firms, private companies, local government, public bodies, the police, courts and the probation service.
Jobs may be advertised in the local press, in Jobcentre Plus offices or by specialist legal recruitment agencies.
With experience and further study, you could qualify as a legal executive and eventually as a solicitor. If you have already completed the Legal Practice Course (LPC), some law firms may offer you a training contract to allow you to qualify as a solicitor.
You may find the following useful for vacancies and general reading (links open new window):
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
LMIData
Related industry information
Industry summary
Courts and tribunals are part of the justice sector, which is represented by Skills for Justice Sector Skills Council. It includes: forensic science; police and law enforcement; prosecution service; custodial care; community justice; plus fire and rescue services. The UK justice sector works to create and maintain a safe, just and stable society. The purpose of the sector is to reduce crime and re‐offending, promote confidence in the criminal justice system, protect people and contribute to the reduction and fear of crime, and support the administration of justice. The sector employs around 600,000 employees in the UK across a range of organisations operating with different remits.
The courts and tribunal services have specific responsibilities for providing administration and support to the courts and tribunal services throughout the UK. Court and tribunal services that operate within the UK include: Her Majesty’s Court Service (England and Wales); Scottish Court Service (Scotland); and Northern Ireland Court Service (Northern Ireland).
Key facts:
- In total there are over 26,000 people working in services across the UK, of which:
- approximately 3,000 work in tribunal services
- approximately 23,000 work in administration and support roles to the courts
- 80% of the workforce is in England.
- There are 513 Crown, County and Magistrates’ courts across England with the majority located in London, the North West and the South East.
- The tribunal jurisdictions that now constitute the Tribunals Service deal with over 500,000 cases a year and resolve more disputes than the civil courts.
- The Courts service has the highest female workforce percentages across the justice sector.
Jobs in the industry range from: Legal Advisor, Court Manager, Court Administration Manager, Court Clerk, Administrative Officer, Bailiff/Enforcement Officer, Usher.
National and regional data
The East Midlands has 50 Courts, of which 33 are Magistrates’ Courts, 3 Crown and 14 County Courts. They employ 2,780 full‐time equivalent staff.
The East of England has 51 Courts, of which 33 are Magistrates’ Courts, 5 Crown and 13 County Courts, that employ 1,650 full‐time equivalent staff.
London has 68 Courts, of which 38 Magistrates’ Courts, 12 Crown and 18 County Courts. They employ 5,450 full‐time equivalent staff.
The North East has 32 Courts, of which 22 Magistrates’ Courts and 10 County Courts. They employ 1,270 full‐time equivalent staff.
The North West has 72 Courts, of which 42 Magistrates’ Courts, 4 Crown and 26 County Courts. They employ 3,340 full‐time equivalent staff.
The South East has 80 Courts, of which 52 Magistrates’ Courts, 5 Crown and 13 County Courts. They employ 2,570 full‐time equivalent staff.
The South West has 63 Courts, of which 45 Magistrates’ Courts, 5 Crown and 13 County Courts. They employ 2,570 full‐time equivalent staff.
The West Midlands has 47 Courts, of which 30 Magistrates’ Courts, 3 Crown and 14 County Courts. They employ 2,300 full‐time equivalent staff.
Yorkshire and Humberside has 41 Courts, of which 27 Magistrates’ Courts, 2 Crown and 12 County Courts. They employ 2,280 full‐time equivalent staff.
In Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Court Service (NICtS) was established in 1979 as a separate civil service and is the Lord Chancellor's department in Northern Ireland and currently employs 848 staff. The Northern Ireland Court Service has identified management and leadership skills and policy skills as workforce skills issues that will need developing.
In Scotland, the Scottish Court Service (SCS) employs 1,400 people. There are 220 people working to support the Tribunals Service in Scotland. The Scottish Court Service has identified the following areas for workforce development over the next three years: increased partnership working; leadership and management; keeping up with legislative change; plus ICT and soft skills related to communications.
In Wales, HM Courts Service (HMCS) employs approximately 1,120. The Tribunal Service employs 140 people
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