Paralegal
Assist legal professionals to deliver legal services.
Job opportunities
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Jobs on SEEK right now
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Projected job growth in 5 years
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Typical salary
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What's it like to be a Paralegal?
Paralegals assist Solicitors, Lawyers and Barristers to deliver legal services. They are trained in law, but can’t provide legal advice or work without the supervision of a registered member of the legal community. Due to the volume and calibre of work they do on cases Paralegals can charge clients for their time, unlike Legal Assistants.
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Tasks and duties
- Managing the discovery phase of a case, including interviewing clients, undertaking research and investigating precedents.
- Drafting legal documents, including subpoenas, contracts, complaints and briefs.
- Organising and managing files, paperwork, data and evidence.
- Filing documents with the courts.
- Providing administrative support behind the scenes at hearings.
- Arranging mediation between parties that are in dispute.
- Arranging psychological evaluations and meetings in family law matters.
How to become a Paralegal
- Consider starting off as a Legal Secretary or assistant working under the supervision of a Lawyer, gaining knowledge, experience and skills over time.
- You can also develop key skills for the role by completing a relevant VET course with a TAFE or registered training organisation. This could be a Certificate IV in Legal Services (BSB40620).
- Alternatively, you can complete a Bachelor of Law. While not essential, a degree can improve your employability and broaden your career options. This usually takes four years of full-time study.
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Latest Paralegal jobs on SEEK
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Location
AustraliaSkills and experience employers are looking for
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Working hours for Paralegals
Overtime
Weekends
Shift work
Late nights
Often
Sometimes
Never
Job market trends for Paralegals
Location
AustraliaSource: SEEK job ads and SEEK role reviews
Latest Paralegal reviews
Latest reviews from 30 Paralegals surveyed on SEEK.
All
Positive
Negative
Aug 2019
The legal industry is frought with much risk of career burnout but is also rich with the reward of human experience and making real difference to people's lives.
Reviewer's Qualification
Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice
Experience
1 – 4 years
Organisation size
Large (200+ employees)
Specialisation
Personal injuries
The good things
There is much variety in the role of a legal graduate with many job opportunities due to the ability to choose different career paths.
I have been graduated for four years, and within those four yea...
The challenges
It is well understood the legal industry is a demanding industry with high levels of career burnout. As a young graduate you are particularly at risk of this burnout, as you attempt to climb the caree...
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Aug 2019
Mortgage recovery may be taxing, but the work is varied, stimulating and fulfilling
Reviewer's Qualification
Juris Doctor
Experience
1 – 4 years
Organisation size
Large (200+ employees)
Specialisation
Solicitor
The good things
Despite the (sometimes) sad nature of the role, no day is the same. The variety and circumstance behind each file provides for a very interesting, challenging but fulfilled work life. Working as in-ho...
The challenges
Whilst fulfilling, attention to detail is paramount, so due care must be taken which can sometimes slow down the process. It can sometimes become challenging when a file progresses such that repossess...
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Source: SEEK job ads and SEEK Profile data