A paralegal does substantive legal work that a lawyer delegates and supervises: researching facts and law, drafting documents, managing case files, preparing for trials and closings, and keeping deadlines. Paralegals cannot give legal advice, set fees or represent clients in court. In May 2025 the median US paralegal earned $62,890, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This guide covers what paralegals actually do, the legal limits on the role, the main specialisms, the skills employers want and what a real working day looks like.
What is a paralegal?
A paralegal is a non-lawyer trained to carry out legal work under a lawyer’s direction. The American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Paralegals maintains the profession’s working definition, most recently updated by the ABA House of Delegates in February 2020.
California writes its definition into statute. Business and Professions Code section 6450 describes a paralegal as someone qualified by education, training or work experience who performs substantial legal work that a lawyer has specifically delegated. The statute lists typical tasks: case planning and management, legal research, interviewing clients, fact gathering, and drafting and analysing legal documents.
“Paralegal” and “legal assistant” are often used interchangeably in the US. BLS counts them together. In some firms, though, “legal assistant” means a secretarial role, so read job descriptions closely.
What does a paralegal do day to day?
The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook lists the core duties. Paralegals typically:
- Investigate the facts of a case and carry out legal research.
- Organise and maintain documents, in paper and electronic systems.
- Draft correspondence and legal documents for lawyer review.
- Obtain affidavits and other formal statements.
- Help lawyers prepare for and run trials.
- File documents with courts and agencies.
- Schedule depositions, client meetings and other appointments.
In practice, much of the job is project management. A litigator might own the strategy, but the paralegal often owns the calendar, the exhibit list and the document database. When those fail, the case suffers.
What can’t a paralegal do?
The line is the unauthorised practice of law. Lawyers are allowed to delegate, but they must supervise and they remain responsible.
The ethics rules lawyers follow
Most US states base their ethics rules on the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct. Two rules matter here:
- Rule 5.5 (unauthorised practice). A lawyer must not practise law in breach of a jurisdiction’s rules “or assist another in doing so”. Comment 2 adds that the rule does not stop a lawyer “employing the services of paraprofessionals and delegating functions to them, so long as the lawyer supervises the delegated work and retains responsibility for their work”. That is the wording adopted in Massachusetts, which follows the Model Rule.
- Rule 5.3 (non-lawyer assistance). Firm managers must have measures in place so non-lawyer staff act consistently with the lawyer’s own duties. Supervising lawyers must make reasonable efforts to ensure the same. A lawyer is personally responsible for a non-lawyer’s misconduct if they ordered or ratified it, or knew and failed to fix it. North Carolina’s Rule 5.3 is a close match to the Model Rule.
Specific limits
California spells the limits out. Under section 6450(b), a paralegal must not:
- Give legal advice.
- Represent a client in court.
- Select, explain, draft or recommend a legal document for anyone other than the supervising lawyer.
- Set the fees charged to a client for paralegal work.
- Engage in conduct that amounts to the unlawful practice of law.
The North Carolina State Bar’s Guidelines on the Use of Paralegals add a practical rule: paralegals should disclose that they are not lawyers early, so clients and opposing parties are not misled.
Where the line is moving
Some states now license paraprofessionals to do limited legal work on their own. Arizona’s Legal Paraprofessional programme lets licensed LPs give advice and appear in court in defined areas such as family law and limited-jurisdiction civil cases. NALA’s 2024 survey found 81% of respondents were interested in limited licensure. A standard paralegal role still works under a lawyer.
What are the main paralegal specialisms?
Paralegals tend to specialise as they gain experience. The common tracks are:
| Specialism | Typical work | Where you’ll find it |
|---|---|---|
| Litigation | Discovery, document review, exhibit and trial binders, court filings, deposition logistics | Law firms, government, insurers |
| Corporate and transactional | Entity formation, board minutes, due diligence, closing checklists, filings | Law firms, corporate legal departments |
| Real estate | Title review, closing documents, lease abstracts | Law firms, lenders, developers |
| Intellectual property | Patent and trademark docketing, filings, renewals | IP firms, tech companies |
| Family and estates | Financial disclosures, wills and trust documents, probate filings | Smaller firms |
| Immigration | Visa petitions, supporting evidence, government forms | Immigration firms, employers |
| Compliance and regulatory | Policy tracking, filings, contract databases | Banks, insurers, corporates |
Litigation is the most common. The State Bar of Texas 2025 survey found 34% of its paralegal respondents worked in litigation in 2024. Pay also varies by setting. BLS data for May 2025 shows a median of $61,770 in law firms against $81,470 in the federal executive branch and $80,120 in finance and insurance. Our paralegal salary guide breaks this down further.
What does a day in the role look like?
Here is a realistic day for a mid-level litigation paralegal at a mid-sized firm. Details vary, but the rhythm is common.
- 8:30. Check the docket and the court’s e-filing notices. Update the shared deadline calendar.
- 9:00. Team call. The partner wants a chronology of key emails for a motion due Friday.
- 9:30 to 12:00. Run searches in the review platform, tag documents and build the chronology with citations to Bates numbers.
- 12:00. Short lunch. Answer a client email about document collection, sticking to logistics rather than legal questions.
- 13:00. Draft a notice of deposition and a subpoena from templates. Send both to the associate for review.
- 14:30. Cite-check a brief. Confirm every quote and pin cite, and format the table of authorities.
- 16:00. Book a court reporter and videographer. Confirm the conference room.
- 17:00. E-file the signed brief before the deadline. Serve it and save confirmations to the file.
- 17:30. Record billable time. Many firms set billable targets. The Texas survey’s median requirement was 25 billable hours a week.
A corporate paralegal’s day looks different: more checklists, signature pages and state filings, fewer court deadlines. In-house roles add contract management and board support. Our guide to in-house counsel explains how those legal teams work.
What skills does a paralegal need?
BLS highlights communication, attention to detail, interpersonal skills, organisation and research. Employers add a few more:
- Technology. Case management, e-discovery and document automation tools. NALA’s 2024 report flags AI as automating parts of research and document preparation.
- Writing. Clean, accurate drafts that need light edits, not rewrites.
- Judgement. Knowing when a question is legal advice and must go to the lawyer.
- Calm under deadlines. Filing windows are not negotiable.
- Confidentiality. You will handle privileged material every day.
What is the job outlook for paralegals?
BLS projects little or no change in paralegal employment from 2025 to 2035, a slight fall of 1,100 jobs from 404,900. It still expects about 40,800 openings each year, mostly to replace people who retire or switch careers. Most paralegals (75%) work in legal services. Government at all levels employs about 12%.
Flexible working has spread. NALA’s 2024 survey found 71% of paralegals had some form of flexible arrangement. See our list of remote paralegal jobs if that matters to you.
Is the paralegal role different in the UK?
The day-to-day work is similar, but the career structure differs. In the UK the title covers a wide range of roles, from entry-level document work to senior fee-earning positions. Many paralegals are law graduates working towards qualifying as a solicitor. Others take professional routes through NALP or CILEX qualifications. Prospects (March 2025) puts junior pay at £23,000 to £32,000. Our guide on how to become a paralegal covers both the US and UK routes.
Frequently asked questions
Can a paralegal give legal advice?
No. Giving legal advice is the practice of law, and only licensed lawyers may do it. California’s B&P Code section 6450 bans it outright for paralegals. A paralegal can pass on a lawyer’s advice and explain logistics, but not advise on rights or strategy.
Can a paralegal represent someone in court?
Generally no. A standard paralegal cannot appear for a client in court. Some administrative agencies allow non-lawyer representatives, and Arizona’s licensed Legal Paraprofessionals may appear in defined practice areas. Those are separate, licensed roles.
What is the difference between a paralegal and a legal assistant?
In the US the terms often mean the same thing, and BLS counts them as one occupation. Some employers use “legal assistant” for an administrative or secretarial role. Check the duties listed in the job posting rather than the title.
Do paralegals need a licence?
Paralegals are not licensed the way lawyers are, and BLS describes certification as optional. California regulates who may use the title and requires continuing education every two years. Voluntary certifications such as NALA’s Certified Paralegal are common. Our certificate programs guide covers the training side.
Is being a paralegal a good step towards law school?
It can be. You learn how cases and deals run, and you find out whether you like legal work before paying for a JD. See our law school timeline if you are weighing that route.
Bottom line
Paralegals do real legal work: research, drafting, case management and filings, under a lawyer’s supervision. The firm limits are advice, court representation and fee-setting. The job rewards organisation, accuracy and tech skills, and it offers a steady path with about 40,800 openings a year in the US.
This article is general information, not legal or career advice. Pay figures are drawn from the sources listed and vary by employer, location and experience.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Paralegals and Legal Assistants (2025 data, 2025-35 projections): bls.gov
- California Business and Professions Code section 6450 (as amended effective 1 January 2007): leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
- Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 5.5 and Comment 2 (accessed October 2026): mass.gov
- North Carolina State Bar, Rule 5.3 Responsibilities Regarding Nonlawyer Assistance (accessed October 2026): ncbar.gov
- North Carolina State Bar, Guidelines on the Use of Paralegals (accessed October 2026): ncbar.gov
- American Bar Association, Standing Committee on Paralegals (accessed October 2026): americanbar.org
- Arizona Supreme Court, Legal Paraprofessional programme (practice areas as of 31 December 2024): azcourts.gov
- NALA, 2024 National Utilization and Compensation Report, Executive Summary (January 2025): nala.org
- State Bar of Texas, 2025 Paralegal Compensation Survey (2024 data): texasbar.com
- Prospects, Paralegal job profile (March 2025): prospects.ac.uk
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