Paralegal Job Description
Use this template to create a clear, professional Paralegal vacancy that attracts candidates with the right legal experience and attention to detail.
What does a Paralegal professional do?
Paralegals provide legal support to solicitors and legal teams by researching law, preparing documents, supporting litigation and managing case files.
Paralegal job description template
Use this employer-ready example as a starting point, then replace the placeholders and adjust the content so it accurately reflects your vacancy.
Paralegal
About the role
We are recruiting a Paralegal to join our [Team/Department] in [Location]. You will support solicitors with legal research, drafting and case management across [practice area(s)], prepare documents for court or transaction work, liaise with clients and third parties, and help maintain accurate files and billing records. This role is suitable for a candidate with proven legal administration or paralegal experience and strong drafting skills. Salary: [Salary or range].
Key responsibilities
- Conduct legal research and summarise findings for fee-earners
- Draft and proofread standard legal documents, correspondence and court forms
- Prepare witness bundles, disclosure schedules and exhibit lists for litigation
- Open and maintain matter files, ensure documents are indexed and stored correctly
- Assist with due diligence, evidence gathering and preparation of transaction packs
- Liaise with clients, courts and external counsel under supervision
- Support fee-earners with diary management for hearings, deadlines and meetings
- Prepare time/cost records and assist with billing and file closure tasks
Essential skills and experience
- Previous paralegal, legal assistant or law firm experience, or relevant internship experience
- Strong written English and experience drafting clear legal correspondence
- Good understanding of confidentiality, client care and basic court procedures
- Organised approach to managing multiple matters and deadlines
- Proficient with common office software and comfortable using case-management systems
- Ability to work accurately under supervision and escalate issues appropriately
Desirable
- Law degree, CILEx qualification or study towards legal qualification
- Experience in the practice area(s) advertised (e.g. litigation, commercial, family or property)
- Experience preparing court bundles or attending hearings
- Familiarity with legal research platforms (for example LexisNexis or Westlaw)
- Experience with billing/time recording and basic invoicing processes
What we offer
- Pension scheme
- Flexible or hybrid working options (where available)
- Support for professional training and CPD
- Annual leave allowance (details to be specified)
- Employee assistance programme or wellbeing support
- Performance-related bonus or recognition scheme (if applicable)
How to apply
Apply with your CV and any additional information requested. Make the interview process, closing date and any assessment stages clear where known.
Use this as a starting point rather than a final advert. The strongest version will reflect the real role, salary, location, systems, responsibilities, benefits and working arrangements.
What is a Paralegal role?
A paralegal provides day-to-day legal support to solicitors, legal executives and clients. Typical duties include researching case law and legislation, drafting documents and court forms, organising evidence and file systems, and liaising with clients and external parties. Paralegals work across many practice areas and are vital in preparing matters for hearings, negotiations or transactional completion.
Typical tasks
Legal research, drafting documents, managing case files, preparing bundles and assisting with hearings or transactions.
Work environment
Usually office-based within a law firm or in-house legal team; roles may include court attendance and occasional travel to clients.
Career stage
Entry to mid-level role. Can lead to specialist paralegal, fee-earner training (trainee solicitor/CILEx), or senior support roles.
Typical Paralegal responsibilities
Responsibilities should reflect the real scope of the vacancy rather than every task someone in this profession might ever complete.
Conduct legal research
Conduct legal research and summarise findings for fee-earners
Draft
Draft and proofread standard legal documents, correspondence and court forms
Prepare witness bundles
Prepare witness bundles, disclosure schedules and exhibit lists for litigation
Open and maintain matter files
Open and maintain matter files, ensure documents are indexed and stored correctly
Assist with due diligence
Assist with due diligence, evidence gathering and preparation of transaction packs
Liaise with clients
Liaise with clients, courts and external counsel under supervision
Support fee-earners with diary management
Support fee-earners with diary management for hearings, deadlines and meetings
Prepare time/cost records
Prepare time/cost records and assist with billing and file closure tasks
Paralegal skills and experience to look for
Keep the essential list focused on what the person really needs to perform the role. Move useful-but-trainable experience into desirable criteria.
Usually worth prioritising
- Previous paralegal, legal assistant or law firm experience, or relevant internship experience
- Strong written English and experience drafting clear legal correspondence
- Good understanding of confidentiality, client care and basic court procedures
- Organised approach to managing multiple matters and deadlines
- Proficient with common office software and comfortable using case-management systems
- Ability to work accurately under supervision and escalate issues appropriately
Useful where relevant
- Law degree, CILEx qualification or study towards legal qualification
- Experience in the practice area(s) advertised (e.g. litigation, commercial, family or property)
- Experience preparing court bundles or attending hearings
- Familiarity with legal research platforms (for example LexisNexis or Westlaw)
- Experience with billing/time recording and basic invoicing processes
See our guide to what to include in a job advert before publishing.
How to write a Paralegal job advert
Small role-specific details can make the advert much easier for suitable candidates to assess.
Be specific about practice areas
Mention the practice areas candidates will work in (litigation, commercial, property, family, etc.) so applicants can assess relevance quickly.
List core day-to-day duties
Include concrete tasks such as bundle preparation, drafting pleadings, or time recording rather than vague statements about ‘assisting solicitors’.
Clarify supervision and progression
State who the role reports to, whether the role includes client contact or court attendance, and any routes for development or qualification support.
Highlight required experience not qualifications
If hands-on experience with certain tasks or systems is essential, make that clear; reserve qualifications as desirable unless legally required.
Paralegal salary considerations
Paralegal pay varies considerably. Factors that influence salary include firm size and reputation, practice area specialism, location, level of experience and whether the role is fee-earning or purely support.
depending on experience
- Use a genuine range
- Separate variable pay
- Avoid “competitive” alone
- Match salary to seniority
What Paralegal candidates will want to know
Practical details can influence whether a suitable candidate applies, even when the title and salary are attractive.
What level of supervision will the paralegal receive?
Candidates want to know whether they will work independently on files, or closely supervised by a solicitor, and who they report to.
Are there billable time targets or overtime expectations?
Clear information on fee-earning targets, typical working hours and expectations around overtime or weekend work helps set realistic expectations.
Will the role require court attendance or travel?
Experienced applicants want to know how often they will attend courts, tribunals or client sites and whether travel expenses are reimbursed.
Is there support for professional development?
Candidates are likely to ask about funding or time off for CPD, CILEx or solicitor training contracts and clear progression pathways.
What checks and vetting are required?
Tell applicants if you require background checks, references, Right to Work checks or regulatory disclosures relevant to the role.
Where to post a Paralegal job
Paralegals are commonly recruited through a mix of general UK job boards and specialist legal channels. Use national job boards and LinkedIn to reach a broad pool, while also posting on legal-sector boards, local university law careers services and CILEx or practice-area communities to target candidates with the right experience. Consider local advertising for region-specific roles and specialist forums for niche practice areas.
Related legal job descriptions
Recruiting for a slightly different role? These templates may be a closer fit.
Paralegal job description FAQs
Do paralegals need a law degree or formal qualification?
There is no universal legal requirement for a law degree. Many paralegals have law degrees, vocational qualifications or relevant workplace experience. If your role requires specific qualifications (for example CILEx) state that clearly in the advert.
Should I include billable hour expectations in the job advert?
Yes — if the role includes billable targets or productivity metrics, include an honest summary so candidates can assess fit and avoid misunderstandings later.
What pre-employment checks are recommended for a paralegal?
Typical checks include Right to Work, references and identity checks. Depending on the role you may also require Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks or regulatory clearance for certain client work.
How can I attract candidates for niche practice areas?
Post on specialist legal job boards, reach out to relevant university programmes and use professional networks or specialist LinkedIn groups. Highlight specific technical tasks and tools used in the role.
Ready to recruit a Paralegal?
Customise this template with your location, practice areas and requirements, then publish across general and specialist legal channels to reach suitable candidates.
