Paralegal

What does a paralegal do?

• Research laws, regulations and earlier cases for supervising lawyers.
• Draft letters, contracts, court forms and other legal documents.
• Organise case files, evidence and documents for hearings and trials.
• Contact clients, courts and other parties to collect information.
• Track deadlines, court dates and filing requirements.
• Review large sets of documents for transactions or court cases.
• Use case management and legal research software.

Where do they work?

Paralegals work in law firms, in the legal teams of banks, insurers and other companies, and in government departments, courts and non-profit legal advice services. Many specialise in one area, such as property, litigation, immigration, company or family law. The work is mostly office-based during normal business hours, and remote or hybrid working is increasingly common. Busy periods before trials or deal deadlines can mean long days.

What skills do you need?

• Legal research
• Accurate writing and proofreading
• Organisation and time management
• Attention to detail
• Confidentiality and professional ethics
• Legal software and document management
• Clear communication with clients

Official skills profile (ESCO)

Essential skills listed for this occupation in ESCO, the European Commission's multilingual classification of skills and occupations.

• follow given instructions
• revise legal documents
• meet deadlines for preparing legal cases
• compile legal documents
• pose questions referring to documents
• study court hearings
• manage accounts
• handle evidence

Essential knowledge: legal department processes · legal terminology · legal research · court procedures · legal case management

How do you become a paralegal?

There is no single international route. Many paralegals have a law degree and use the job to gain experience before or during their professional training as a lawyer. Others take a paralegal certificate or a two-year associate degree, which is common in the United States, or a vocational qualification for legal assistants. Employers value accuracy, organisation and knowledge of one area of law. Career changers from administrative, compliance or police backgrounds can often move into paralegal work, especially if they add a short legal course.

1. Law degree. A law degree gives you a strong base in legal research and the main areas of law. Many graduates work as paralegals while they apply for training positions or prepare for professional exams, and some decide to make paralegal work their long-term career. Degrees in criminology or business that include law modules can also help.
2. Paralegal certificate or college diploma. In the United States and Canada, colleges offer paralegal certificates, diplomas and two-year associate degrees that focus on practical legal skills. Similar short courses exist in many other countries, sometimes run by professional associations. They suit school leavers and career changers who want a direct, practical route into legal work.
3. Apprenticeship or vocational training. In countries with strong vocational systems, such as Germany, you can train as a legal assistant in a law office while attending a vocational school. England also offers paralegal apprenticeships. These routes let you earn while you learn, and in some countries they can lead on to further legal qualifications.

Degrees that lead to this career

• Law

  A law degree teaches how legal systems work and how to find, interpret and apply the law, from contracts and crime to human rights.

  6 linked careers

• Criminology

  A criminology degree studies crime, why people commit it and how societies respond through policing, courts, prisons and prevention.

  5 linked careers

• Business management

  A business management degree teaches how organisations are run, including strategy, marketing, finance, people management and operations.

  6 linked careers

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Do you need a licence to work as a paralegal?

Paralegal work is not a licensed profession in most countries, because paralegals work under the supervision of a qualified lawyer. Some tasks, such as representing clients in court, are usually reserved for licensed lawyers. There are exceptions: in Ontario, Canada, paralegals are licensed and can represent clients in some lower courts and tribunals, and a few US states have created similar licensed roles. Voluntary certificates from professional associations can improve your job prospects.

How much does a paralegal earn?

Pay in the United States

• $62,890Median annual wage, May 2025
• $44,740–$101,500Range from the lowest-paid 10% to the highest-paid 10%
• 392.9KPeople employed in the US

US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, SOC 23-2011, May 2025. National estimates across all industries; excludes the self-employed.

Earnings of Technicians and associate professionals around the world

Most countries do not publish pay for single job titles. The International Labour Organization collects median monthly earnings for broad occupation groups instead. This career belongs to ISCO-08 major group 3, "Technicians and associate professionals". The table covers the whole group, which includes paralegal and many other occupations.

Source: ILOSTAT, median monthly earnings of employees, latest year available. PPP$ adjusts for price differences between countries so figures can be compared. "vs all employees" compares the group's median with the median for all occupations in the same country.

Career progression

1. Legal assistant or junior paralegal
2. Paralegal
3. Senior or specialist paralegal
4. Paralegal manager or legal operations manager

Job outlook

Law firms and legal departments use paralegals to handle work at a lower cost than lawyers, which supports demand. At the same time, legal technology and AI tools can now search, sort and draft documents quickly, so routine tasks such as document review are likely to shrink. Paralegals who specialise in an area of law, manage complex cases or work confidently with legal technology are in a stronger position.

Questions about becoming a paralegal

What is the difference between a paralegal and a lawyer?

A lawyer is licensed to give legal advice, represent clients and take responsibility for legal work in their own name. A paralegal does much of the preparation, such as research, drafting and managing files, but usually works under a lawyer's supervision. Paralegals need less formal training, and their pay and responsibility are generally lower. Many lawyers start their careers as paralegals.

Do you need a law degree to be a paralegal?

No, although many paralegals have one. Employers also hire people with paralegal certificates, associate degrees, vocational qualifications or relevant office experience. For specialist roles in areas such as property, immigration or company law, knowledge of that area and accurate, organised work often matter more than the type of degree you hold.

Is working as a paralegal a good way to become a lawyer?

It can be. Paralegal work shows you how legal practice works, strengthens your CV and gives you useful contacts. In some systems, such as the solicitor route in England and Wales, relevant paralegal experience can count towards the qualifying work experience you need. But paralegal work alone does not make you a lawyer: you still need the required degree, exams and training.

Can a paralegal give legal advice?

In many countries, paralegals may not give independent legal advice or represent clients in court, and they work under a lawyer's supervision. The rules differ, though. In England and Wales, only certain legal activities are reserved for authorised lawyers, and in Ontario, Canada, licensed paralegals can advise and represent clients in some matters. Always check the rules where you work.

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Sources

1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — SOC 23-2011, national estimates, May 2025
2. ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — ISCO-08 major groups, latest year per country
3. European Commission — ESCO occupation profile — ESCO code 3411.7

How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). How to become a paralegal: degrees, skills and salary. https://coursetojob.com/careers/paralegal/ (accessed September 26, 2026)

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