A paralegal does substantive legal work under the supervision of an admitted attorney: drafting, research, file management and client contact. In South Africa the title is not a regulated profession, which shapes both what the role can do and how it is recognised.
This guide sets out paralegal duties and responsibilities and how the role changes by setting. It sits in the IT, finance and professional duties cluster, part of the wider job duties guide. It is general career information, not legal advice.
What Does a Paralegal Do?
A paralegal prepares the material an attorney works from: drafting pleadings, contracts and correspondence, researching law and precedent, assembling briefs and discovery bundles, running the diary of court dates and deadlines, and dealing with clients on the progress of a matter.
The boundary is the important part. A paralegal may not give legal advice to a client or hold themselves out as an attorney, and a supervising attorney remains responsible for the work. Explaining the process is fine; telling a client what they should do about their case is not.
Deadline control is where paralegals add the most value and carry the most risk. Prescription dates, notices of intention to defend and time bars do not move, and the paralegal is usually the person keeping that diary.
Paralegal job descriptions vary far more than most roles, because the title covers everything from senior litigation support in a large firm to first-line community advice work. Establishing which version of the role is being advertised, and what supervision comes with it, matters before accepting a position.
Key Paralegal Duties and Responsibilities
- Drafting pleadings, notices, contracts and correspondence for attorney review.
- Conducting legal research on legislation, case law and procedure.
- Opening, maintaining and closing matter files and records.
- Managing the diary of court dates, deadlines and prescription periods.
- Preparing discovery bundles, trial bundles and briefs to counsel.
- Liaising with clients on progress, documents and information required.
- Liaising with the courts, sheriffs, correspondents and other attorneys.
- Attending to filing, service and issuing of process.
- Obtaining and collating supporting documents and evidence.
- Assisting with billing, disbursements and fee narratives.
- Maintaining client confidentiality and legal privilege.
- Escalating anything requiring legal advice to the supervising attorney.
Daily Tasks of a Paralegal
- Start of day: check the diary for deadlines, court dates and matters needing action.
- Morning: draft documents and correspondence for review and do research.
- Midday: client and court calls, chasing documents and following up with correspondents.
- Afternoon: file maintenance, bundle preparation and filing or service of process.
- End of day: update file notes, diarise next steps and record time.
Paralegal Skills and Competencies
- Drafting: accurate documents in the correct form for the court or transaction.
- Research: finding the authority and reading it properly.
- Deadline discipline: a diary system nothing falls out of.
- Procedural knowledge: the rules of court and how a matter actually moves.
- Discretion: confidentiality and privilege taken seriously.
- Boundary awareness: knowing when a question needs the attorney.
Paralegal Duties by Workplace or Industry
Law Firms
Duties follow the firm’s practice areas, with litigation paralegals running court diaries and bundles and conveyancing or commercial paralegals handling transaction documents.
Corporate Legal Departments
Focus shifts to contract administration, the contract register, compliance support, records and instructing external attorneys.
Community Advice Offices and NGOs
Paralegals often provide first-line assistance on labour, social grant, housing and family matters, with referral to attorneys where legal advice or representation is needed.
Government and Public Bodies
Duties centre on administrative processes, statutory records, legislative research and supporting legal advisers on departmental matters.
In each of these settings the paralegal is the person holding the detail of the file: what has been filed, what is outstanding and what falls due next. That is where the role earns its place in a legal team.
Paralegal Duties for a CV
Name the practice areas, file volumes and drafting you did. Use the duties for a CV guide for the method.
- Supported two attorneys on a litigation caseload of 120 active matters.
- Drafted pleadings, notices and correspondence for attorney review and signature.
- Maintained the court diary with no missed deadlines over three years.
- Prepared discovery and trial bundles and briefs to counsel.
Related Job Roles and Responsibilities
These guides cover the roles and next steps most closely related to this one.
- Legal Secretary duties and responsibilities
- Lawyer duties and responsibilities
- Administrator duties and responsibilities
- Fiduciary duties
- IT, finance and professional duties
Frequently Asked Questions About Paralegal Duties
What are the duties of a paralegal?
Drafting pleadings, contracts and correspondence for attorney review, conducting legal research, maintaining matter files, managing the diary of court dates and deadlines, preparing discovery and trial bundles, liaising with clients and courts, attending to filing and service, assisting with billing and maintaining confidentiality.
Can a paralegal give legal advice in South Africa?
No. Giving legal advice and representing clients are reserved for admitted legal practitioners under the Legal Practice Act. A paralegal may explain process and prepare documents under supervision, but advice must come from the attorney.
Is paralegal a regulated profession in South Africa?
Paralegals are not currently regulated as a profession in the way attorneys are, and the recognition of paralegal work has been debated for years. Confirm the current position with the Legal Practice Council if it affects your plans.
What qualification does a paralegal need?
A paralegal diploma or certificate is the common route, and some paralegals hold an LLB but are not admitted. Firms differ considerably, and practical experience in a specific practice area is often what secures the position.
This page is general career information and is not legal advice. What a paralegal may do is affected by the Legal Practice Act and the supervising attorney’s professional obligations.
Last reviewed: 2 September 2026