paralegal
Americannoun
adjective
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of paralegal
Explanation
A paralegal is a legal assistant. Paralegals don't have to go to law school, but they do have special training to help lawyers. The prefix para is used for something that is separate from the word it’s next to but still related to it. A paraprofessional, for example, helps other professionals, like teachers, but isn’t actually a teacher. Paralegals are not lawyers, but they assist lawyers by doing research, filing paperwork, gathering materials, and providing whatever else lawyers need to do their jobs. Without paralegals, the job of a lawyer would be a lot tougher.
Vocabulary lists containing paralegal
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para-
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Our undercover reporter's journey to the group's meeting began in late February when he approached Mazedul Hasan Shakil, a paralegal at Law & Justice Solicitors, an immigration law firm based in Birmingham and London.
From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026
Toruño dropped out of high school amid personal instability and lack of resources, later earned her diploma and pursued a paralegal certification, motivated by her own experiences navigating the U.S. immigration system.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026
As of Friday last week that number has fallen to one, who is working with the three remaining investigators and one paralegal, according to former attorneys in the office.
From Barron's • Feb. 9, 2026
Guerra, a paralegal in Dayton, Ohio, said her husband liked to use his phone to look up information about the movies they were watching.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 7, 2026
She works as a paralegal, is applying to law schools nearby.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
