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

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Is Bob a law firm partner speaking to a new associate paralegal? William Phillips, Forbes.com, 15 June 2026 Special services and litigation work will be billed at the rate of $275 an hour, and any paralegal assistance will cost $210 an hour. Barbara Henry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Dec. 2025 Brent’s mother, Gwen—a former police officer and paralegal—had always dreamed of retiring to Portugal. Ingrid Abramovitch, Architectural Digest, 22 May 2026 McDowell started earning credits toward a college degree and enrolled in a paralegal certification program through the mail. Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 27 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for paralegal

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of paralegal was in 1966

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Cite this Entry

“Paralegal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paralegal. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Legal Definition

paralegal

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

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