A paralegal, also known as a legal assistant, or paralegal specialist is a legal professional who performs tasks that require knowledge of legal concepts but not the full expertise of a lawyer with an admission to practice law.

A paralegal in India is usually taken to mean a long-term intern who has not yet completed his or her degree in law. Once he or she does so and clears the Bar exam, they officially become an Advocate. Prior to that, however, they cannot provide legal services to people or represent their clients in the court of law.