Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
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How to become a paralegal
Put your knowledge of the law and legal procedures to work.
What is a paralegal?
Paralegals carry out a range of legal tasks, often specialising in a particular area such as business law, dispute resolution, conveyancing, debt recovery, crime, family law or personal injury.
How do I become a paralegal?
To become a paralegal you'll need good grades at GCSE and A-level, but a law degree would be a real advantage.
Major employers, such as large solicitors' firms, prefer to recruit law graduates – although competition is fierce for paralegal roles as many graduates see these as a route to qualifying as a solicitor or barrister.
The National Association of Paralegals also offers paralegal training – from entry-level courses through to postgraduate diplomas.
Alternatively, there are paralegal apprenticeships available which combine part-time study with paid work.
What would I do as a paralegal?
As a paralegal you'll find yourself on the front-line, covering the practicalities of putting the law to work.
The role of the paralegal varies widely depending on what area of the law you choose to work in. Typically, your responsibilities could include:
- Office administration, including billing and letter writing
- Organising diaries, planning meetings and answering telephone queries
- Writing first drafts of legal documents, such as contracts
- Carrying out legal research
- Analysing and inputting legal data
- Organising case files, attending court inquests and tribunals, and compiling litigation bundles
- Filing documents at court
- Negotiating contracts and legal documents
- Completing official documentation and writing case reports
- Taking witness statements
- Meeting with experts or claimants
Becoming a paralegal could be for you if...
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You're a legal eagle
You're keen to get into the practical aspects of legal work and learn how the law is applied.
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You're big on the details
The small stuff really matters in legal work and you'll need to stay focused.
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You're a multi-tasker
You could find yourself handling a busy caseload with the need to manage lots of different demands for your time and attention.
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You connect
You'll often be working across teams of legal professionals so you'll need great inter-personal and teamworking skills.
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You get the bigger picture
You can see beyond the immediate task and understand the needs of your clients.
What are the typical working hours for a paralegal?
Your official hours will probably be 09:00 – 17:00 but it's likely you'll have to work extra hours to meet the demands of certain cases.
If you work for an in-house legal team or a public sector organisation then your hours will probably be more predictable.
A junior paralegal starting without a degree will typically earn £14,000 to £22,000.
For graduates starting out, salaries range from around £18,000 to £25,000.
A paralegal with three to five years' experience might receive a salary in the region of £30,000 to £40,000. It's possible for an experienced paralegal to earn up to £55,000.
