# paralegal

/ˌpɛɹəˈɫiɡəɫ/ (US) · /pˈæɹəlˌiːɡəl/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/paralegal
Updated: 2026-05-28

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.