Do paralegals make good money?

Jul 13, 2022

Written By Helena Kudiabor

A career as a paralegal offers you the chance to experience a variety of aspects of the legal sector. In this article, you’ll learn about the responsibilities of a paralegal, their average salary, as well as how current paralegals can secure a salary increase.

What is a paralegal?

A paralegal provides support for legal professionals, such as solicitors. They work to enforce the law and ensure that clients win their cases.

Specific duties include: interviewing witnesses and clients, preparing legal documents (wills) and attending court. Just like solicitors, paralegals can work at a law firm, as well as on the legal team of a private or non-profit organisation.

What is the difference between a paralegal and a solicitor?

For the most part, paralegals and solicitors have the same responsibilities. However, there are some tasks that paralegals cannot undertake. These are known as reserved activities. Firstly, solicitors are automatically allowed to represent clients in court, while paralegals must ask the Judge for permission. The decision would then be at the judge’s discretion.

Paralegals are also not allowed to conduct a client’s case for them, or file documents on their behalf. Furthermore, paralegals cannot buy and sell items on a client’s behalf (conveyancing.) The final reserved activity relates to wills. In order for the deceased person’s will to be honoured, a document called a Grant of Probate needs to be attained, a document which only solicitors can sign.

It’s important to note that although paralegals cannot complete any of the reserved activities, they can assist their clients through the process.

How much do paralegals earn?

For a non-graduate entry level position, you can expect to earn between £14,000-£22,000. As a graduate in an entry level position, expect a salary of £18,000-£25,000. Finally, a paralegal with five years of experience can earn a salary of £30,000-£40,000. Paralegals with extensive experience can earn up to £70,000 in specific cases.

How can I increase my salary as a paralegal?

One way to increase your salary is by living in a more expensive area. Paralegals working in large cities (London, for example), will earn a higher salary than those outside of the city. This is to compensate for the higher cost of living.

Law firms in larger cities also tend to be larger and more prestigious. Although competition for a career here will be fierce, you’ll be well-rewarded with a high salary and other employee benefits.

Another way to increase your salary is by completing an additional qualification. The average salaries above show that non-graduate paralegals earn less than graduate paralegals, but university degrees aren’t the only way you can boost your salary.

To become a paralegal, you'll typically need a law degree. However, taking a specialist paralegal qualification course after your degree allows you to learn more about the life of a paralegal, and makes you more attractive to employers.

Finally, one way you can boost your salary as a paralegal is by deciding to qualify as a solicitor. The introduction of the SQE route means that it’s easier than ever to become a solicitor as a current paralegal. Solicitors must complete two years of qualifying work experience, and paralegal experience counts towards this.

After this, you’ll need to complete the SQE1 and SQE2 exams, which assess your knowledge of the law. As a paralegal, you’ll have plenty of legal experience, so the exams won’t be too difficult. Newly qualified solicitors can earn £25,000-£40,000, with solicitors in London earning £40-000-£65,000 after five years experience. After ten years, you can earn from £65,000 to a staggering £1,000,000.

The question of whether paralegals make good money is a difficult one to answer, as the idea of ‘good money’ is highly subjective, and depends on your personal experiences. Regardless, hopefully this article has shown you that a career as a paralegal would be an incredibly interesting and rewarding one, with the opportunity to earn a great salary.

Paralegal Work