How businesses can benefit from the evolution of the role of paralegals
Over the last few decades, the perception of what paralegals are—and what they can do—has changed significantly.
This evolution in the role of the paralegal has been good news for businesses, with paralegals offering a wide range of benefits.
What is a paralegal?
A paralegal is someone who has been trained and educated to perform legal tasks but who is not a qualified solicitor, barrister or chartered legal executive.
Some have achieved competency by completing legal qualifications or by gaining experience or both, and most paralegals tend to specialise in just one or two areas of law. Generally, paralegals can do the work that a solicitor does with the exception of certain ‘reserved legal activities’.
How the role of the professional paralegal has evolved
Since the Legal Services Act 2007, those who can offer legal services has been extended to include Alternative Business Structures (ABS). As a consequence, we have seen the emergence of organisations such as ‘Which? Legal Service’ and ‘Cooperative Legal Services’ that employ mostly paralegals to deal with certain types of business. These organisations offer legal assistance on a fixed fee basis which is beneficial for the end user of their services.
The virtual eradication of Legal Aid some twelve years ago (as a result of The Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012) has contributed to the growth of the paralegal profession, not least because paralegals can offer access to justice at a reasonable cost when providing their services directly to consumers (in comparison to the fees charged by solicitors and barristers).
Slowly but surely, paralegals are also contributing significantly to the sustainability of law firms and businesses. And nowadays, there are recognised qualification pathways for school leavers and career changers to become professional paralegal practitioners as an active career choice.
But there has also been a rise in the use of paralegals by businesses in various sectors, including defence, professional football, the entertainment industry, fashion and retail, and big business.
How paralegals help businesses
One of the most significant contributions by paralegals is providing cost-effective legal support. Paralegals can handle many routine legal tasks—such as drafting contracts, reviewing agreements, managing compliance documentation, or assisting with dispute resolution processes—at a fraction of the cost of instructing a solicitor. This makes legal processes more accessible to businesses that may not have the budget for ongoing legal counsel.
They also offer flexibility and scalability. Many paralegals work on a freelance or contract basis, allowing businesses to bring in legal expertise as and when it is needed without the commitment of hiring full-time staff. This is particularly valuable for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or startups that need legal input for specific projects like commercial leases, intellectual property registrations, or employment contracts but cannot justify a permanent legal hire.
Paralegals often bring specialised knowledge in areas such as data protection, employment law, or regulatory compliance. Their expertise helps ensure that businesses stay on the right side of legal obligations, reducing the risk of penalties or litigation. They can also support internal teams by interpreting relevant legislation, preparing policy documents, or training staff on legal best practices.
Operationally, having a paralegal employed directly by a business can improve efficiency. They can act as a first point of contact for legal matters, handling a number of issues themselves and recommending bringing in external legal help from solicitors where necessary and appropriate.
This streamlines internal processes and enables senior management to make quicker, more informed decisions. In industries with high regulatory demands—such as finance, healthcare, or construction—paralegals can be instrumental in ensuring ongoing compliance and updating internal processes in line with new laws or industry standards.
Ultimately, paralegals provide businesses with accessible, practical, and versatile legal support that enhances compliance, reduces costs, and supports informed decision-making across all levels of the organisation.
Paralegal regulation
Paralegals are not statutorily regulated like solicitors, barristers, chartered legal executives and licensed conveyancers. This means that in theory, anyone can call themselves a ‘paralegal’, whereas an individual cannot describe themselves or even imply that they are a solicitor unless they have successfully completed the prescribed qualifications and training (prescribed by the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority (SRA)) and their name is on the role of solicitors. To do so is a criminal offence.
Paralegals may be voluntarily regulated if they choose to join a membership organisation. If not, then there is no regulation and limited recourse for consumers, so it is important to always check a paralegal’s status before engaging them.
Amanda Hamilton is the Patron of the National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP), a non-profit membership body and the only paralegal body that is recognised as an awarding organisation by Ofqual (the regulator of qualifications in England). Through its Centres
