What does a Paralegal / Legal Executive actually do?

The short version

Paralegals do real legal work — research, drafting, bundles, case prep — under a solicitor's supervision, without needing a degree or a regulated title. It's the lowest-risk door into the legal industry, and since the SQE it can double as the first two years of qualifying as a solicitor.

The pitch: accessible entry, paid legal experience from day one, and your hours can count as qualifying work experience. The catch: pay is modest and plateaus early, the title is unregulated so quality varies by employer, and the paperwork-heavy end of the job is where legal AI is biting first.

Entry routes that actually work

• Walk in with any degree — the title isn't regulated; firms hire on skills.
• Level 3 paralegal apprenticeship — paid, degree-free, around two years.
• CILEX qualifications — study while working; a respected alternative qualification in itself.