paralegal

adjective

para·​le·​gal ˌper-ə-ˈlē-gəl 

ˌpa-rə-

: of, relating to, or being a paraprofessional who assists a lawyer

paralegal

ˈper-ə-ˌlē-gəl 

ˈpa-rə-

noun

Did you know?

Much of the work in a law office can be done by paralegal assistants, also called legal aides or simply paralegals, who work alongside licensed lawyers. Often a paralegal is trained in a narrow field and then entrusted with it. In this respect, paralegals are similar to paraprofessionals in other fields, such as engineering. Paraprofessionals used to be trained in the office itself, but today it's common to study for a paraprofessional certificate or degree at a community college or university.

Examples of paralegal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Associates degrees at Campus include business administration and paralegal studies, and students can get certificates in areas such as medical assisting and phlebotomy. —Britney Nguyen, Quartz, 6 Nov. 2023

Natalie, who is a paralegal and part-time caregiver for her dad, loves her life. —Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025

While incarcerated in Texas, Saldívar has studied law, earning a paralegal and associate degree in criminal justice, according to the Associated Press. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2025

Cross-Reference Review: Have a second attorney or paralegal independently verify key citations. —Lars Daniel, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for paralegal

• extralegal
• beagle
• eagle
• legal
• regal
• riegel
• spiegel
• illegal
• viceregal
• medicolegal

Legal Definition

paralegal

adjective

para·​le·​gal ˌpar-ə-ˈlē-gəl 

: of, relating to, or being a paraprofessional who assists a lawyer compare clerk sense 2b

paralegal noun