Working as a paralegal in England and Wales requires much more than an understanding of legal terminology. Paralegals play an important role in supporting solicitors, barristers, law firms, businesses and clients, often taking responsibility for substantial elements of a legal matter.
Whether you are considering a career as a paralegal or already working in a legal environment, understanding the skills required can help you identify where your strengths lie and where you may need further development.
Legal research skills
One of the most important skills for a paralegal is the ability to carry out effective legal research. Paralegals may need to research legislation, case law, regulations, legal procedures and guidance to help establish the legal position relating to a particular matter.
Good legal research is not simply about finding information. You need to identify reliable sources, understand what the information means and determine how relevant it is to the matter you are working on.
You may also need to present your findings clearly so that a solicitor or other legal professional can use them when advising a client or progressing a case.
Legal drafting
Paralegals are often involved in preparing a wide range of legal documents and correspondence. Depending on the area of law, this could include letters to clients or other solicitors, court forms, witness statements, contracts, applications, schedules and other documents required during a legal matter.
Good drafting requires accuracy and clarity. You need to understand what the document is intended to achieve, use appropriate legal terminology and ensure that the information it contains is correct. You can find out more about our drafting training course here, and the CPD points it bring with it.
Attention to detail
Attention to detail is essential in legal work. A small error in a name, date, figure or piece of information can have significant consequences. Paralegals therefore need to be able to review documents carefully and identify inconsistencies, omissions and errors. This is particularly important when reviewing contracts, preparing court documents, checking evidence or compiling large quantities of information.
Being thorough is not simply about spotting spelling mistakes. It is about understanding which details matter and recognising when something does not appear to be correct.
Case and matter management
Paralegals frequently have responsibility for managing aspects of legal matters from beginning to end. This can involve organising documents, maintaining files, preparing case chronologies, gathering evidence, communicating with clients and ensuring that important actions are completed on time.
Legal work is often deadline-driven, so effective organisation is essential. A good paralegal needs to know what needs to be done, when it needs to be done and what information or documents are required to complete the task.
Time management and prioritisation
Paralegals rarely work on just one task at a time. You may have several matters in progress, each with different deadlines and priorities. Being able to manage your workload effectively is therefore an important part of working in a legal environment.
Good time management means being able to prioritise urgent work without losing sight of longer-term deadlines.
It also means recognising when a task needs to be escalated to a solicitor or another member of the legal team.
Communication skills
Communication is another key skill for paralegals. You may communicate with clients, solicitors, barristers, courts, experts, opposing parties and other organisations. The ability to communicate clearly and professionally is essential.
Written communication is particularly important because much of a paralegal’s work involves preparing correspondence and legal documents.
However, verbal communication is equally important. Paralegals may need to speak with clients to obtain information, explain the next stage of a process or clarify what documentation is required.
Working with clients
Paralegals can have significant contact with clients, particularly in areas such as family law, personal injury, immigration, employment and residential conveyancing. This requires more than good communication skills. You also need to be able to listen carefully, ask appropriate questions and obtain accurate information.
Clients may be unfamiliar with legal terminology or processes, so being able to explain information clearly and professionally is important.
You must also understand the boundaries of your role and know when an issue needs to be referred to a qualified legal professional.
Legal technology skills
Technology plays an increasingly important role in the legal profession. Paralegals may work with legal research platforms, case management systems, document management systems, electronic filing systems and digital disclosure platforms. Common software such as Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel can also be important.
The ability to learn and use new technology is therefore a valuable skill for a modern paralegal.
Analytical and problem-solving skills
Legal work involves dealing with information and identifying what is important. A paralegal may need to review hundreds of pages of documents, identify relevant evidence, prepare a chronology or establish which facts are important to a particular issue. This requires analytical thinking.
You also need to be able to approach problems logically and identify practical ways of progressing a matter while recognising when an issue requires input from a solicitor or another legal professional.
Commercial awareness
Commercial awareness can be particularly important for paralegals working in commercial, corporate, property or employment law. Understanding the client’s objectives and the wider commercial context can help you appreciate why particular legal issues matter.
For example, a legal solution may be technically sound but impractical from a commercial perspective. Understanding the client’s priorities can help the legal team provide more useful advice.
Confidentiality and professional conduct
Paralegals regularly handle confidential and sometimes highly sensitive information. Understanding the importance of confidentiality, data protection, professional conduct and conflicts of interest is therefore essential. You need to understand how information should be stored, shared and communicated and recognise situations where an issue may need to be referred to a senior member of the legal team.
Professionalism is fundamental to working in any legal environment.
Skills vary between areas of law
The precise skills required will depend on the area of law in which you work. A litigation paralegal may spend considerable time researching case law, reviewing evidence and preparing court documents. A property paralegal may need a strong understanding of conveyancing procedures and Land Registry processes. A family law paralegal may need particularly strong client communication and evidence-gathering skills, while a corporate paralegal may focus more heavily on contracts, due diligence and company law.
This means that becoming a successful paralegal is not about developing one fixed set of skills. Your knowledge and experience will develop alongside your chosen area of law.
Developing your skills as a paralegal
Many of the skills required by paralegals can be developed through education, practical experience and working within a legal environment. Legal knowledge provides the foundation, but practical application is equally important. Being able to take what you have learned and apply it to a real legal matter is a valuable part of developing as a paralegal. If you are considering becoming a paralegal, it is therefore worth looking beyond the job title and thinking about the skills you will need to develop. Check this article to see if you are already working as a paralegal
Strong legal research, drafting, organisation, communication, analytical and technology skills can provide a solid foundation for a career in the legal profession.
Start developing the skills for a career as a paralegal
A career as a paralegal can provide an opportunity to work within the legal profession and develop practical legal experience across a wide range of practice areas. Understanding the skills employers are looking for is an important first step. The next is developing those skills and gaining the knowledge needed to apply them effectively in the workplace.