The paralegal profession has grown significantly in recent years. There are now over 300,000 paralegals working in England and Wales, and the role is increasingly recognised as a professional career rather than just a stepping stone.
1. What Paralegals Do
Paralegal work varies enormously depending on the employer and practice area:
- Litigation paralegals: Prepare court bundles, draft witness statements, manage case files, attend hearings
- Corporate paralegals: Assist with due diligence, company formations, board minutes, regulatory filings
- Conveyancing paralegals: Conduct property searches, draft contracts, liaise with clients and agents
- Immigration paralegals: Prepare visa applications, compile evidence bundles, attend Home Office interviews
2. Salary Expectations
| Level | London | Outside London |
|---|---|---|
| Junior paralegal (0–2 years) | £22,000–£30,000 | £18,000–£25,000 |
| Senior paralegal (3–5 years) | £30,000–£40,000 | £25,000–£35,000 |
| Specialist/team lead | £40,000–£55,000 | £32,000–£45,000 |
3. Paralegal Work as QWE
Under the SQE route, paralegal work counts as qualifying work experience (QWE) if confirmed by a solicitor. This means you can work as a paralegal while preparing for the SQE assessments, effectively earning and learning simultaneously.
4. Career Progression
Paralegals can progress in several directions:
- Qualify as a solicitor: Via the SQE route, using paralegal experience as QWE
- Become a Chartered Legal Executive: Via the CILEx route (no degree required)
- Specialise as a senior paralegal: Some firms have paralegal career tracks with increasing responsibility and pay
- Move in-house: Corporate legal teams often hire experienced paralegals directly
5. How to Find Paralegal Roles
- Legal job boards: LawCareers.Net, TotallyLegal, Simply Law Jobs
- Recruitment agencies: Hays Legal, Michael Page Legal, Douglas Scott
- Direct applications: Many smaller firms do not advertise — send speculative applications
- Networking: Attend law fairs, join the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives, use LinkedIn