Just as doctors are supported by skilled nurses, solicitors are much indebted to paralegals. In general, the work of a paralegal echoes that of a solicitor but involves less client contact and more support work. For a student or graduate searching for a training contract, working as a paralegal is a great way to pick up some essential experience.

Leontia McArdle started working as a paralegal at international firm DLA Piper, having already secured a training contract at the firm. “When I was doing my application forms for training contracts, I thought it would really help if I had more experience in a law firm,” she remembers. “I started applying for paralegal positions to confirm my interest and to show it was definitely the career I wanted.” Leontia worked as a paralegal at a firm in Cyprus and then, upon winning a training contract at DLA, got a job as a paralegal with the firm in the meantime.

The role of the paralegal is rapidly becoming recognised as its own profession, a change necessitated by economic reasons (paralegals’ time often has a higher profit margin than solicitors’) and reforms to the legal sector. The Carter reforms to the legal aid system and the implementation of the Legal Services Act means paralegals will have more work and more responsibility. But for graduates, it’s still a great way to get experience. James O’Connell, chief executive of the Institute of Paralegals, confirms that firms increasingly require paralegal experience of applicants. “That’s partly a way of testing applicants,” he explains. “But it’s also because after a year’s practical experience you’re a hundred times more useful on day one of a training contract.”

While firms encourage applicants to have done paralegal work as a way of building up their portfolio of relevant experience, it’s sensible not to become complacent. Getting a job as a paralegal is no shortcut to a training contract. Many firms request that their own paralegals go through the same application process as external candidates for training contracts, as a way of keeping the recruitment practice fair. Similarly, as a paralegal you’d have to be prepared to continue working in a firm that had rejected your training contract application. Paralegal jobs can also be flexible, which means they’re perfect for recent graduates. You may be able to find part-time paralegal positions or even fixed-term contracts for four to six months, giving you time to bag both experience and cash to go travelling with for the rest of the year.

Leontia says: “One of the big pieces of work that I’m doing is a series of transfers of land. It’s not a hard transaction but it’s just there’s a huge volume of work so I’m working on all the daily correspondence. The trainee does the drafting and client contact, and I have more of an administrative, support role. Being a paralegal is great experience. While it may not guarantee you a training contract, it’ll certainly open doors.”

Leontia adds: “When I was applying for paralegal jobs I used LawCareers.Net!” Follow in her footsteps by finding current paralegal opportunities among our immediate vacancies here.