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- Research and prepare legal documents and liaise with legal clients and courts
- With further study and training progress to become a legal executive or solicitor
- You'll need excellent research skills, writing skills and attention to detail
As a paralegal, you'll be working in a law firm, preparing legal documents, providing advice to clients, working in both an office and court.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Researching and preparing legal documents
- Handling confidential information
- Interviewing clients and witnesses
- Giving clients legal information, and going to court
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You could work for many kinds of employer, including law firms, private companies, local government, the police and the courts.
You could work in an office, in a court, or at a police station.
You'll need
To be a paralegal, you'll need thoroughness and attention to detail, knowledge of English language, administration skills, excellent verbal and written communication skills, the ability to work well with others, legal knowledge (including court procedures and government regulations), and the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure.
You could study for a foundation degree, higher national diploma, or degree in law, legal studies or paralegal practice. This is a competitive degree, so good grades will be needed to apply successfully.
You could take a college course before you look for work, such as a Level 2 Diploma in Legal Studies, a CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice, or a Level 3 Legal Secretaries Diploma.
You could take a paralegal advanced apprenticeship.
You might be able to find work with a legal practice as an admin assistant and do training on the job to qualify. This can be done through the Institute of Paralegals or the National Association of Licenced Paralegals. You'll need GCSEs or A levels and a good standard of English.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With further study, you could qualify as a legal executive or solicitor.