Word
paralegal
Phoneticspara·le·gal
US/ˌpɛɹəˈɫiɡəɫ/
UK/pˈæɹəlˌiːɡəl/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a person who has special training in law and helps lawyers with their work. They can do many legal tasks, but they are not allowed to represent people in court.
n. a person trained in legal procedures who assists lawyers in the practice of law. While they perform many administrative and research tasks, they are not licensed to practice law independently or represent clients in court.
Examples
“The paralegal prepared the documents for the trial.”
“After finishing her degree, she worked as a paralegal to gain experience before applying to law school.”
“The firm hired a senior paralegal to manage the discovery process, ensuring that all evidence was properly organized and accessible for the lead attorney's cross-examination.”
Examples
simple
“The paralegal prepared the documents for the trial.”
contextual
“After finishing her degree, she worked as a paralegal to gain experience before applying to law school.”
complex
“The firm hired a senior paralegal to manage the discovery process, ensuring that all evidence was properly organized and accessible for the lead attorney's cross-examination.”
Etymology
From para- + legal.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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