Introduction
The legal sector in Nigeria is undergoing a quiet revolution. Technological advancements, regulatory reforms and shifts in professional practice models are gradually altering the traditional architecture of legal services delivery. In the midst of these transformations lie the evolving role of the paralegal - a crucial but often under-appreciated component of the legal workforce. While the concept of paralegalism is well-entrenched in jurisdictions such as the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, its institutionalization in Nigeria is still emerging. Nonetheless, the potential for paralegals to shape the future of legal services in the country is enormous.
This article examines what the future holds for a paralegal in the Nigerian legal sector by analysing current trends, challenges, opportunities and projected trajectories.
- Understanding the Paralegal Profession
A paralegal is a legal professional trained to assist lawyers in legal research, document preparation, client interviews, case management and other related duties, but who is not licensed to practice law. They function under the supervision of a qualified legal practitioner. According to the American Bar Association (ABA), a paralegal is defined as "a person, qualified by education, training or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible."1
In Nigeria, the term is not yet formally defined in legislation, nor is it regulated by a distinct statutory body. However, with increasing awareness and educational opportunities through institutions such as the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), Institute of Paralegal Services (IOPS) and some faculties of law, the role of the paralegal is gaining clarity and legitimacy.
- Current Challenges Faced by Paralegals in Nigeria
3.1 Lack of Regulatory Framework
Perhaps the most significant challenge facing paralegals in Nigeria is the absence of a defined legal and institutional framework to govern their practice. Unlike lawyers, who are regulated by the Legal Practitioners Act and supervised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), paralegals operate in a grey zone devoid of official recognition or statutory protection.2 This creates ambiguity around their professional status and the scope of services they can offer.
3.2 Limited Awareness and Professional Recognition
There remains a widespread misconception among both legal practitioners and the public about what paralegals do. Many are either unaware of the concept or consider paralegals as glorified clerks. This has impeded efforts to integrate them formally into legal practice settings and has limited their utility within the justice delivery ecosystem.
3.3 Educational and Training Gaps
While some institutions offer certificate and diploma programs for paralegals, there is no unified curriculum or accreditation process. This inconsistency in training undermines the credibility of paralegal qualifications and contributes to skepticism among law firms and employers regarding their capabilities.
- Emerging Opportunities
Despite these challenges, several factors suggest that the future is promising for paralegals in Nigeria. These include structural shifts in the legal industry, the increasing demand for affordable legal services and global trends in legal process outsourcing and legal technologies.
4.1 The Rise of Alternative Legal Service Providers (ALSPs)
Alternative Legal Service Providers such as legal tech startups and process outsourcing firms are beginning to gain traction in Nigeria. These firms often require a large support base for tasks like legal transcription, document review and contract management - services ideally suited for paralegals.3 As cost pressures mount on traditional law firms, ALSPs will become more popular, driving demand for skilled paralegals.
4.2 Digital Transformation of the Legal Sector
Technology is reshaping how legal services are delivered. Tools such as AI-powered legal research engines, document automation platforms and virtual law offices are fast becoming part of legal practice in Nigeria, particularly among forward-looking firms.4 Paralegals who acquire digital skills will find themselves indispensable in this new terrain.
4.3 Increased Access to Justice Initiatives
Various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and public interest law outfits increasingly rely on paralegals to bridge the gap between under-served communities and formal justice mechanisms. For instance, legal aid schemes and prison decongestion projects often deploy community-based paralegals to assist detainees and low-income litigants.5
- The Path Towards Professionalization
To solidify the future of paralegals in Nigeria, concerted steps must be taken toward professionalization. This involves standardizing education and certification, creating regulatory oversight and building professional networks.
5.1 Institutionalization and Regulation
There is a pressing need for legislation or policy instruments that formally recognize paralegals as a distinct category of legal professionals. This can be accomplished through an amendment to the Legal Practitioners Act or the establishment of a paralegal council/committee under the auspices of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Council of Legal Education, or a related regulatory body.6 A typical example of this is the Standing Committee on Paralegals of the American Bar Association (ABA).7
5.2 Standardized Education and Certification
Just as the Council of Legal Education (CLE) oversees the training of lawyers,8 a similar framework should be developed for paralegal education. This could involve accreditation of paralegal training programs, national competency tests and periodic continuing education requirements to ensure quality assurance.
5.3 Professional Associations
The creation of a national body for paralegals, similar to the National Association of Legal Assistants in the U.S, would foster community building, offer a platform for advocacy and promote professional ethics. Such an association can also provide job boards, training workshops and certifications to enhance career progression.
- The Role of Paralegals in the Future of Legal Practice
As the legal profession continues to evolve, the role of paralegals will expand across various domains:
6.1 Litigation and Legal Drafting
Paralegals will increasingly take on substantive roles in litigation support under the supervision of a legal practitioner. From drafting pleadings and motions to conducting discovery and collating and organising evidentiary data, their contribution can streamline court proceedings and reduce case backlog.9
6.2 Corporate Law and Compliance
In corporate settings, paralegals can assist in company secretarial work, regulatory compliance, due diligence and contract administration. With the latest amendment done to the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 by the Business Facilitation (Miscellaneous Provisions), Act 2023, which emphasizes digital documentation and filings, and holding of annual general meetings of a company virtually,10 paralegals with knowledge of corporate law and regulatory technology will be in high demand.
6.3 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
As mediation and arbitration gain popularity, especially under the Arbitration and Mediation Act, 2023,11 trained paralegals will find opportunities as case administrators, clerks or record keepers in ADR forums.12
6.4 Legal Technology and Innovation
The paralegal of the future is likely to be tech-savvy, fluent in using e-discovery tools, legal analytics platforms and case management software. They may also collaborate in legal design projects or assist in developing legal chatbots and self-help tools for the public.
- Economic and Social Impacts
7.1 Reduction in Cost of Legal Services
With appropriate training, paralegals can handle routine legal tasks at lower costs than lawyers. Their inclusion in law firms and legal departments can reduce overheads, enhance efficiency and promote broader access to legal services for middle and low-income individuals.
7.2 Boost to Employment
In a country where graduate unemployment remains high, a well-regulated paralegal sector can absorb thousands of young Nigerians, including law graduates who do not, or are unable to proceed to the Nigerian Law School. This creates an alternative legal career path and reduces the bottlenecks of legal education.13
7.3 Community Justice and Legal Empowerment
Paralegals can play a crucial role in community-based legal education, mediation and rights enforcement. Their work is especially impactful in rural areas where access to lawyers is limited. Programs such as the Open Society Justice Initiative's community paralegal program demonstrate how this model can promote grassroots legal empowerment.14
- Recommendations for Stakeholders
8.1 Policy makers should prioritize the development of a regulatory framework for paralegals through legislation or administrative guidelines.
8.2 Educational institutions should design accredited paralegal training programs tailored to different legal sectors - corporate, criminal, civil, technology, intellectual property, ADR, etc.
8.3 Law firms and legal departments should actively recruit and train paralegals to support diverse legal operations, especially in light of increasing digitization.
8.4 The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) should lead the campaign for the formal recognition and ethical regulation of paralegal practice in Nigeria.
8.5 International donors and NGOs should continue to fund pilot programs that integrate paralegals into justice delivery systems - particularly in underserved communities.
- Conclusion
The paralegal profession in Nigeria stands at a pivotal juncture. Though presently under-developed and poorly understood, it holds immense potential to transform the delivery of legal services, reduce costs, promote the administration of justice and create employment. As the legal industry grapples with evolution, from globalization and digital disruption to shifting client expectations, paralegals are well-positioned to offer scalable, efficient and cost-effective solutions. But to realize this potential, strategic efforts must be made to institutionalize the profession through regulation, training and advocacy. The future is not only bright for Nigerian paralegals, it certainly holds immense opportunities.
Footnotes
1 American Bar Association (ABA) (2020), "Current ABA Definition of Paralegal" available at < http://americanbar.org/groups/paralegals/profession-information/current_aba_definition_of_legal_assistant_paralegal/ > accessed on 12th June, 2025.
2 Section 2 of the Legal Practitioners Act Cap. L11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 available at < https://www.commonlii.org/ng/legis/num_act/lpa207/ > accessed on 7th July 2025.
3 See, Lauren Croft (2023), "Alternative legal services providers: The future of legal work?" available at < https://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/biglaw/38161-alternative-legal-services-providers-the-future-of-legal-work > accessed on 17th June, 2025 and O.M. Atoyebi, (2024) "Understanding the New Legal Economy" available at < https://omaplex.com.ng/understanding-the-new-legal-economy/#post-2697-footnote-ref-3 > accessed on 18th June, 2025.
4 Kelvin Isibor (2021), "Technology and the Future of Legal Practice in Nigeria" available at < https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/technology-future-legal-practice-nigeria-kelvin-isibor/ > accessed on 19th June, 2025.
5 Legal Aid Council of Nigeria. (2020), "Towards a National Paralegal Movement in Nigeria" available at < https://legalaidcouncil.gov.ng/2020/07/15/towards-a-national-paralegal-movement-in-nigeria/ > accessed on 18th June, 2025.
6 Macaulay J. D. Akpan (2022), "Issues, Challenges, and Prospects of the Introduction of the Practice of Paralegals: The Role of NBA Vis-À-Vis Access to Justice in Nigeria" available at < https://gprjournals.org/journals/index.php/ajlps/article/download/79/85/304 > accessed on 20th June, 2025.
7 American Bar Association (ABA) (2024), "Standing Committee on Paralegals" available at < https://www.americanbar.org/groups/paralegals/ > accessed on 26th June, 2025.
8 The Council of Legal Education (CLE) was established by the Legal Education (Consolidation, etc.) Act, Cap. L10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
9 American Bar Association (ABA) (2019), "Information for Lawyers: How Paralegals Can Improve Your Practice" available at < https://www.americanbar.org/groups/paralegals/profession-information/information_for_lawyers_how_paralegals_can_improve_your_practice/ > accessed on 26th June, 2025.
10 Paragraphs 7 and 11, Part I, section 9 of the the Business Facilitation (Miscellaneous Provisions),
Act 2023, Act No. 5, Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette No. 32, Vol. 110.
11 See, Arbitration and Mediation Act, 2023 available at < https://www.lawyard.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Arbitration-and-Mediation-Act.pdf > accessed on 7th July 2025.
12 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) forum refers to a platform or venue where alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes are conducted. Examples of them in Nigeria are Lagos Court of Arbitration (LCA), Kaduna Multi-Door Courthouse, Lagos State Citizens' Mediation Centre, Rivers State Multi-Door Courthouse, Lagos Chamber of Commerce International Arbitration Centre (LACIAC) etc.
13 National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) (2024), "Nigeria Labour Force Statistics Report Q2 2024" available at < https://www.nigerianstat.gov.ng/elibrary/read/1241594 > accessed on 23rd June, 2025.
14 Open Society Justice Initiative (2010), "Community-based Paralegals – A Practitioner's Guide" available at < https://www.justiceinitiative.org/uploads/6001868b-f85d-4883-8da7-bdf2ebc93a4c/OSJI-Paralegal-Manual-US-11-05-2014.pdf > accessed on 26th June, 2025.
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