What exactly is a paralegal?

Jicked

Hi there,

After going to Europe to do a Masters, I'm braving the prospect of returning home and starting work with a firm as a trainee. In the meantime though I'm hoping to get some sort of reasonably permanent job. I fully expect to and wouldn't turn my nose up to, end up working in a pub, restaurant, shop etc, but thought with a good 2.1 in my law degree, Fe1s done and a first in my LLM behind me to at least try to get some legal orientated work.

Not having worked in a firm before, I'm not exactly sure what a paralegal does, and so don't really know if I could apply for such jobs! Is it similar to a legal secretary, or would I be expected to have specifically trained for or received qualification for such work? Obviously admin related stuff, helping to prepare reports that sort of thing, I'd be pretty used to dealing with from my college work, but would I be wasting my time applying without any specific qualifications in this field, or work experience in legal firms?

Basically what I'd like to know is my application going to be shreded on receipt or dumped in the pile with 5,000 other ones. Such an exciting prospect to be returning home eh :rolleyes:

legaleagle10

A paralegal is a basically a Legal Executive. The term "paralegal" is more closely alligned to the States and other jurisdictions (but also used here in some firms). Paralegal's can take on a case that a solicitor has given them and liase with the solicitor and client, go to court to get court dates etc draft letters and court documents but does not have the same legal standing as a solicitor does. In my opinion (which some may find controversial) its the next step up from a good and well experienced legal secretary.

Jicked wrote: »

Hi there,

After going to Europe to do a Masters, I'm braving the prospect of returning home and starting work with a firm as a trainee. In the meantime though I'm hoping to get some sort of reasonably permanent job. I fully expect to and wouldn't turn my nose up to, end up working in a pub, restaurant, shop etc, but thought with a good 2.1 in my law degree, Fe1s done and a first in my LLM behind me to at least try to get some legal orientated work.

Not having worked in a firm before, I'm not exactly sure what a paralegal does, and so don't really know if I could apply for such jobs! Is it similar to a legal secretary, or would I be expected to have specifically trained for or received qualification for such work? Obviously admin related stuff, helping to prepare reports that sort of thing, I'd be pretty used to dealing with from my college work, but would I be wasting my time applying without any specific qualifications in this field, or work experience in legal firms?

Basically what I'd like to know is my application going to be shreded on receipt or dumped in the pile with 5,000 other ones. Such an exciting prospect to be returning home eh :rolleyes: