How to Become a Paralegal in the UK

Want to know what it takes to become a paralegal? Learn more about what this profession has to offer right here.

Paralegals play an essential role in the legal industry, helping solicitors and barristers with their research, preparing legal documents for court cases, and performing administrative tasks. A paralegal is often described as a legal assistant. However, as a paralegal, you'll be involved more with the technicalities of the law, whereas a legal assistant deals primarily with clerical duties. If you have a keen eye for detail, are highly organised, and enjoy working on a team, read on to learn how to become a paralegal.

The UK legal services industry generates more than 37 billion British pounds annually and is predicted to increase significantly in the coming years. If you are thinking of becoming a paralegal, now is the perfect time to start your job search. In addition, a paralegal profession can prove to be an excellent alternative to becoming a solicitor as the barrier to entry is significantly lower.

What Does a Paralegal Do?

Paralegals carry out various legal tasks and services that vary depending on their area of specialisation and level of experience. As a paralegal, there are numerous areas of law you can choose to specialise in, such as:

  • matrimonial and family law
  • personal injury
  • advocacy and mediation
  • criminal and civil litigation
  • conveyancing and property
  • employment law

More experienced paralegals can, for example, interview clients and witnesses in criminal cases or offer legal information and are increasingly taking on more of the work that lawyers used to undertake.

In this role, you could work in various settings, including law firms, a set of chambers, corporate legal departments, government agencies, the military, the private or public sectors, or not-for-profit organisations. There are many job opportunities to be found in niche, mid-sized or larger commercial firms.

The variation of your work depends on your employer and the size of the legal team. Some typical daily duties could include:

  • conducting legal research and investigations
  • drafting legal documents
  • providing legal advice
  • conducting client interviews
  • assisting in preparation for court cases
  • analysing and inputting data
  • performing administration tasks
  • attending court inquests and tribunals

How to Become a Paralegal

So, what does it take to become a paralegal? While there are no set requirements to enter the profession, it will benefit you to have good GCSE and A-Level grades. Also, it's essential to know that the level of competition for paralegal positions is high, and you'll be contending with many law graduates. With this in mind, you could consider the following steps to make you more appealing to employers:

  • study at university – for a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in law, legal studies, or paralegal practice. You'll need 2 to 3 A levels to apply.
  • train to be a paralegal - you can obtain training through the National Association of Licensed Paralegals. You can take entry-level courses or even a postgraduate level diploma.
  • complete a paralegal advanced apprenticeship – this usually takes two years and combines workplace learning and academic study.
  • join a professional body – such as the Institute of Paralegals, where you'll have access to networking, training, and conferences to keep your legal skills and knowledge up-to-date.

Before applying for a paralegal job, it's advisable to complete at least six months of legal work. Gaining work experience in the specific area of law you are interested in can be extremely useful. You could find work in legal practice as an admin assistant and train on the job.

Look for pro bono work or work placements in charities or governments or volunteer in your community. You can attend court hearings or open days at a law firm- all these avenues will help demonstrate your motivation and enthusiasm for the legal field and allow you to stand out from other candidates.

Legal employers seek candidates with the following qualities and skills:

  • attention to detail
  • discretion and integrity
  • ability to work well in a team
  • problem-solving and critical thinking
  • excellent verbal and written communication
  • time management
  • ability to work well under pressure
  • research and IT skills

How Much Do Paralegals Make?

In the UK, the average salary for a paralegal is £35,360 per year. However, how much you earn depends on your experience, qualifications, training, and what part of the UK you live in. It's essential to understand what you're worth in your desired profession. You can research salary expectations for this job and related roles online. With training and experience, you could qualify as a chartered legal executive, solicitor, or even barrister, resulting in a significant salary increase.

How to Apply for Paralegal Jobs

Are you ready to start your search on Monster? Now that you've learned how to become a paralegal, you can start by reviewing and updating your CV and writing a persuasive cover letter before applying for jobs.

There are plenty of paralegal job vacancies across the UK. Depending on your location, you may want to look for roles in:

Are You Ready to Find a Paralegal Job? Monster Can Help

Now that you know how to become a paralegal, you can be confident in taking the next step in your job search. Begin your search today by creating your free Monster profile. You'll be able to apply for jobs, upload your CV, receive new personalised job alerts, and access valuable career advice. It's also a terrific way to help potential recruiters find you online.