2. Criminal Law Paralegal
A criminal law paralegal works in the area of criminal law. The average salary of criminal law paralegal is £23,000 per year.
You can find criminal paralegal jobs in private defence firms and state agencies. In a private defence firm, you will be assisting your employer, who represents the accused clients. On the other hand, in state agencies, you will assist the lawyer in prosecuting charged people.
The daily tasks of criminal law paralegals are the same as other paralegals. However, some daily tasks are different from other paralegals. The everyday duties of a criminal law paralegal include:
- Interviewing witnesses
- Communicating with probation officers
- Making the necessary arrangements to post bail
- Filing motions requesting a reduction in bond
- Gathering discovery information regarding a case
- Completing legwork to prepare for plea bargains or a change of plea
- Writing motions.
3. Family Law Paralegal
Family law paralegal helps attorneys in representing clients in a custody dispute, adoption and divorce. As a family law paralegal, you must prepare an agreement contract and send them to opposing counsel. The other duties and responsibilities of family law paralegal are below:
- Keep track of the attorneys’ schedules
- Interview clients and witnesses
- Research family and divorce law cases
- Help the litigating attorney prepare for trial.

Also, you have to execute other general paralegal duties such as organising the file, negotiating with clients, etc. Although, you will be spending most of your working hours corresponding with the clients. The clients are often emotionally distraught due to their family circumstances. As a result, you usually will have to show your empathy skills and support the clients.
4. Estate Planning and Probate Paralegal
Paralegals who are experts in estate planning and probes usually work in a law firm or a court. In law firms, they generally work for lawyers who deal with estate planning. Below are the primary duties and responsibilities of a paralegal include:
- Preparing probate forms
- Talking with clients
- Examining their financial situations
- Preparing estate tax returns
- Preparing drafts of wills, trusts, or related documents
- Meeting with clients whose relative has died
- Helping collect and liquidate the deceased’s assets
- Assessing creditors’ claims

As an estate planning and probe paralegal, you will have to communicate with clients and notify them about the case progress. If necessary, you also have to assist them with the paperwork. So, you will need to have various skills to excel in this specialised career path. For example, excellent writing and communication skills will help you in managing estate taxes.
5. Government Paralegal
Many government agencies hire paralegals to support their legal team. As a paralegal, you will be working single or with a group of paralegals under the supervision of a government lawyer. Although, the duty and responsibilities will slightly vary depending on the agency and their work. The day-to-day task of a government paralegal are:
- Helping lawyers prepare for court cases
- Community outreach
- Researching cases
- Presenting various types of applications to Judges
- Organising case files
- Drafting primary documents and letters
- Administrative work such as organising diaries.
Also, the skills required for this job are the same as other paralegal jobs. Although, government paralegal positions are not always advertised under the paralegal section. They often listed this position as a legal secretary, but the duties and responsibilities are the same. So, you may not always find a job under the paralegal section when applying for this position.