Key facts
- The ONS counts paralegals in legal professionals n.e.c. (SOC 2020 code 2419), together with legal executives and conveyancers.
- Median full-time pay in that group: £40,000 a year and £20.39 an hour (ASHE 2026 provisional); for solicitors and lawyers, £57,198 a year.
- Paralegal work counts as QWE if it involves legal services, gives you the chance to develop at least two competences and is confirmed by a solicitor or COLP.
- Part-time work counts in proportion: at 21 of 35 hours a week, two years’ full-time QWE takes 3 years 4 months.
- The Law Society’s guidance for people doing QWE is at least the real Living Wage: £14.10 (check the official website) an hour outside London, £15.45 (check the official website) in London.
How much do paralegals earn?
The ONS does not publish paralegal pay on its own. It counts paralegals in “legal professionals n.e.c.” (SOC 2020 code 2419), with legal executives and conveyancers. The median full-time job in that group paid £40,000 in the tax year to April 2026 and £20.39 an hour in April 2026 (provisional). (ONS, SOC 2020 Volume 1) (ONS, ASHE 2026 provisional, Table 14) (ONS, ASHE 2026 provisional, Table 14.5)
For anyone heading for the solicitor route, paralegal work matters for a second reason: it can count as qualifying work experience (QWE), the two years you need besides SQE1 and SQE2. This page sets out what the published earnings data shows, when paralegal work counts, and how long QWE takes if you work part-time.
What does the ONS data show?
| Point in the distribution | A year, full-time | An hour, full-time | An hour, part-time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | – | £13.66 | – |
| 20th percentile | £27,113 | £14.84 | £14.35 |
| 25th percentile | £28,116 | £15.38 | £14.55 |
| 30th percentile | £30,192 | £16.17 | £15.47 |
| 40th percentile | £34,611 | £18.14 | £16.42 |
| Median | £40,000 | £20.39 | £17.86 |
| 60th percentile | – | £23.59 | – |
| 70th percentile | – | £29.05 | – |
Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2026 provisional, Table 14 (14.7a annual pay, 14.5a hourly pay), occupation code 2419; public sector information under the Open Government Licence v3.0; annual figures rounded to whole pounds. “–” marks estimates the ONS does not publish because they are unreliable (coefficient of variation over 20%). (ONS, ASHE 2026 provisional, Table 14) (ONS, ASHE 2026 provisional, Table 14.5)
- How precise: the coefficient of variation of the annual median is 16%, so treat it with caution; the hourly medians are firmer (4.9% full-time, 12% part-time). The annual figures count only employees who had been in the same job for more than a year.
- For comparison: full-time “solicitors and lawyers” (code 2412) had a median of £57,198 a year and £31.15 an hour. (ONS, ASHE 2026 provisional, Table 14.5)
- Occupation data, not the effect of a qualification. The group mixes trainee paralegals with experienced legal executives and conveyancers at every stage of a career, so the median is not a starting salary. ASHE covers employees, not the self-employed.
Does paralegal work count as qualifying work experience?
It can. The SRA names work as a paralegal among its examples of QWE, which can be paid or voluntary. (SRA, qualifying work experience) For a role to count, it must:
- involve providing legal services – real work, not simulated;
- give you the chance to develop at least two of the competences in the Statement of Solicitor Competence;
- be confirmed by a solicitor of England and Wales or a compliance officer for legal practice (COLP);
- together with your other QWE, come from no more than four organisations and add up to two years’ full-time or equivalent.
(SRA, qualifying work experience) Past paralegal work can count retrospectively, with no limit on how far back, if someone can still confirm it. (SRA, qualifying work experience) Confirmation is given in mySRA, separately for each organisation. (SRA, SQE Q&A) More detail is in what counts as QWE.
How long does QWE take if you work part-time?
Two years’ full-time or equivalent means part-time work counts in proportion to your hours. The SRA does not define full time and leaves it to the employer (SRA, qualifying work experience), so the table measures against a 35-hour full-time week. We count two years as 2 × 365 days at full time, as the QWE calculator does, and round down to whole months.
| Hours a week | Share of full time | Calendar days | Time needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 of 35 | 100% | 730 | 2 years |
| 28 of 35 | 80% | 913 | 2 years 6 months |
| 21 of 35 | 60% | 1,217 | 3 years 4 months |
| 17.5 of 35 | 50% | 1,460 | 4 years |
If your QWE comes from several roles, or roles that overlap, the QWE calculator adds them up and checks the four-organisation limit.
What is the minimum pay for paralegals gaining QWE?
- The law: paid work must meet the National Minimum Wage for your age. (GOV.UK, minimum wage rates)
- The Law Society’s guidance: since 2026, at least the real Living Wage for people doing QWE – £14.10 (check the official website) an hour outside London and £15.45 (check the official website) in London, or £27,495 and £30,128 a year for a 37.5-hour week. (Law Society Gazette, 25 September 2026 (secondary source))
Guidance is not a legal minimum. The guide to the real Living Wage for trainees explains what changed in 2026, and the take-home pay calculator shows what a salary leaves after tax and student loan.
Paralegal QWE or a training contract?
| Question | Paralegal role | Training contract |
|---|---|---|
| Counts as QWE? | If it meets the SRA’s requirements and someone confirms it | Yes, it is one of the SRA’s examples |
| Who pays for the SQE? | You, unless your employer sponsors you | The employer often covers or sponsors preparation and assessment costs |
| What to check | That the work covers at least two competences, and who will confirm it | Which areas of law you will work in, and who will confirm your QWE |
| Several employers? | Up to four organisations can add up to your two years | One firm |
(SRA, qualifying work experience) (LawCareers.Net, 28 October 2025 (secondary source)) Whether to pay for the SQE yourself while you work as a paralegal is a separate decision – see self-funding the SQE before a training contract.
How do you make paralegal work count?
- Before you accept a role, ask who could confirm your QWE – a solicitor or the COLP – and whether they have done it before.
- Keep a simple record each month: dates, hours, the matters you worked on and the competences they involved.
- Ask for work beyond one task, so that at least two competences are covered.
- Get each period confirmed in mySRA before you leave the organisation, while people still remember your work.
- Count your organisations: no more than four in total.
- Plan SQE1 alongside: the free SQE1 quick test shows where you stand in a few minutes.
Where can paralegal work lead?
- Paralegal: pay as in the ONS table above, and experience that can count as QWE if it meets the SRA’s requirements.
- Solicitor: a degree or an equivalent qualification, SQE1 and SQE2, the SRA’s character and suitability requirements and two years’ QWE, which paralegal work can make up in part or in full. (SRA, SQE route) Full-time solicitors and lawyers had a median of £57,198 a year (ONS, above); see trainee and NQ salaries for the first years after qualifying.
- CILEX Lawyer: qualify through the CILEX Professional Qualification while you work, with practice rights in at least one specialist area – compared in the SQE or the CILEX route.
Whether qualifying pays back depends on your own salaries: the solicitor payback calculator compares pay while you qualify and afterwards with the salary you would earn otherwise, in take-home pay.
Common mistakes
- Reading the ONS median as a starting salary: it covers experienced legal executives too.
- Assuming every paralegal job counts as QWE without checking the competences and who will confirm it.
- Leaving confirmation until years later, when your supervisor has moved on.
- Collecting short roles in five or more organisations: only four count.
- Comparing part-time pay with full-time salaries instead of comparing hourly rates.
What this means for you
A paralegal role can pay a salary and count towards qualifying as a solicitor at the same time – if it involves real legal work, covers at least two competences and someone confirms it. Use the hourly figures to compare offers, the QWE calculator to see when you reach two years, and trainee and NQ salaries for what comes after. Our SQE1 course fits short sessions around a working week. This page is general information, not careers or financial advice.
What this page covers
- Last updated
- Based on
- ONS ASHE 2026 provisional, Table 14 (SOC 2020 code 2419, and 2412 for comparison), and SOC 2020 Volume 1; SRA pages on QWE; the fact register for the real Living Wage; GOV.UK on the minimum wage
- Includes
- Pay percentiles by year and by hour, when paralegal work counts as QWE, part-time QWE, pay floors, where the work can lead, a checklist
- Not included
- Salaries at individual firms, regional ONS figures, Scotland and Northern Ireland, careers or financial advice
CILEX is a trade mark of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives. It is named only to identify the qualification; CILEX is not connected with this page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a paralegal earn in the UK?
The ONS has no separate figure for paralegals. In its group legal professionals n.e.c., which includes paralegals, legal executives and conveyancers, the median full-time job paid £40,000 in the tax year to April 2026 and £20.39 an hour in April 2026 (provisional), across all career stages.
Does paralegal work count towards becoming a solicitor?
It can count as qualifying work experience if it involves providing legal services, gives you the chance to develop at least two competences and is confirmed by a solicitor or COLP. You still need SQE1 and SQE2.
Can part-time paralegal work count as QWE?
Yes, in proportion to your hours. At 21 hours of a 35-hour full-time week, two years’ full-time QWE takes 3 years 4 months; at 28 hours, 2 years 6 months.
Can past paralegal work count as QWE?
Yes, with no limit on how far back, if it met the requirements and a solicitor or COLP can still confirm it.
What is the minimum salary for a paralegal doing QWE?
The legal floor is the National Minimum Wage for your age. Since 2026 the Law Society’s guidance is at least the real Living Wage: £14.10 (check the official website) an hour outside London and £15.45 (check the official website) in London.
Is a paralegal job as good as a training contract for qualifying?
Both can count as QWE. A training contract employer often covers or sponsors the SQE costs; as a paralegal you pay yourself unless your employer sponsors you, but you can combine up to four organisations to reach two years.
Related tools and pages
Sources
- Office for National Statistics (Open Government Licence v3.0): Earnings and hours worked, occupation by four-digit SOC: ASHE Table 14 – 2026 provisional, Tables 14.7a (annual pay, gross), 14.7b (coefficients of variation) and 14.9a (paid hours worked, total), full-time employee jobs, United Kingdom (22 October 2026). Accessed 30 October 2026.
- Office for National Statistics (Open Government Licence v3.0): ASHE Table 14 – 2026 provisional, workbook download: Tables 14.5a (hourly pay, gross) and 14.5b (coefficients of variation), full-time and part-time employee jobs, United Kingdom, SOC 2020 unit group 2419 (22 October 2026). Accessed 30 October 2026.
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions of unit groups – section 5 and table 4 (legal occupations). Accessed 30 October 2026.
- Solicitors Regulation Authority: Qualifying work experience (26 January 2024). Accessed 25 October 2026.
- Solicitors Regulation Authority: Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) route (August 2025). Accessed 25 October 2026.
- Solicitors Regulation Authority: SQE questions and answers (28 January 2026). Accessed 25 October 2026.
- GOV.UK: National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates. Accessed 30 October 2026.
- The Law Society Gazette (legal news, secondary source): Society quietly abandons minimum trainee pay benchmark (25 September 2026). Accessed 30 October 2026.
- LawCareers.Net, Law Business Research (careers website, secondary source): How much does the SQE cost? (who pays: firms sponsoring future trainees, apprenticeships, LLM loans, bursaries, the Diversity Access Scheme) (28 October 2025). Accessed 30 October 2026.
- Personnel Today (HR news, secondary source): Real Living Wage increase announced for 2026-27 (15 October 2026). Accessed 30 October 2026.
- Living Wage Foundation: What is the real Living Wage?. Accessed 30 October 2026.
High Performer Certs is an independent study platform. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), and it is not authorised or accredited by the SRA or the SQE assessment provider. The SQE and SOLICITORS QUALIFYING EXAMINATION trade marks are the property of and are used under licence from the Solicitors Regulation Authority.