What is a Family Court Paralegal?
A family court paralegal is a firm employee who supports the work of the attorney(s) and/or law clerks on family law and related legal cases or matters. The paralegal works under the supervision or direction of the attorney to whom they report and assists with the attorney’s administrative and legal tasks. These employees help to prepare for hearings, gather case materials such as documents and records, and in some cases, contact witnesses or other parties to assist in the preparation of cases. For example , the paralegal may draft pleadings to commence a case or prepare supporting legal documents.
Family law paralegals are responsible for managing or tracking the legal processes of its clients, so a degree of legal knowledge is often required. People in this role often typify these types of duties: Paralegals working on family law matters must be able to handle sensitive information and communications between clients and the law firm. Given the often complex nature of family law cases and the changing laws, skills related to research, client relations, and time management are also important.
Skills and Qualifications of a Family Court Paralegal
Successful family court paralegals possess a unique set of attributes and skills. Beyond the required professional education and training, a family court paralegal must have a firm grasp of both civil and criminal aspects of family law. From divorce to complex guardianship cases, the scope of work for a family court paralegal can be vast.
The roles of a family court paralegal are typically divided between administrative support tasks, basic legal tasks, and client relations. Along with the necessary professional education, the following paralegal skills are imperative to succeed in this field:
Communication Skills
All too much of the job requires legal jargon and professional correspondence. A family court paralegal must be proficient in speaking, writing, and reading legal terminology. This not only means knowing the law from A to Z, but being able to articulate it in a variety of ways that present information to clients, attorneys, and the courts.
One of the major roles of this specialty is to perform document drafting, which varies from simple engagement letters to complex discovery requests. With this in mind, family court paralegals must be proficient with word processing software. More advanced skills like e-filing and managing PDF’s are also becoming preferred.
Organizational Skills
Above all, critical thinking and organization is essential to the family court paralegal position. From filing to billing, it is vital to keep all processes organized and timely. This includes mastering the electronic filing process, organizing around strict deadlines, and maintaining accurate and confidential paper or online files.
All documents must be filed timely, accessible to attorneys, and organized. Family court paralegals must remember for every action taken, there is a reaction. That means creating process logs for things like all discovery requests, subpoenas, depositions, hearings, and trials. Line items for the time spent on each task must be recorded to accurately recoup billable hours and accurately invoice clients.
Respect for confidentiality in family law is very important. All cases have the potential for highly sensitive information, including allegations of affairs, abuse, alcohol and drug usage, and sexual abuse. Keeping all client information organized can help keep sensitive information from being exposed or slipping through the cracks.
Daily Responsibilities and Duties
The daily work of a family court paralegal can be fast-paced. It is common for one to be summoned to the front office in order to respond when a client, custodian or defendant has an acute need. Fairly routine communications in a family law practice include: The majority of a paralegal’s day is taken up with the preparation of documents. The paralegal first determines how to proceed with the case, whether by drafting a motion, preparing for trial, or setting up a custody evaluation. He or she will then carry out that task by creating a motion for child support, collecting and preparing exhibits to support the case’s theory, or gathering all evidence pertinent to the case. Family court paralegals must be able to break down sophisticated legal jargon into language non-lawyers can understand in order to properly instruct clients on what they will do next and why. After a motion is drafted, a paralegal will attempt to secure the client’s signature. They must be prepared to explain each part of the motion and how a client’s needs are being met by it. The paralegal will then prepare for (and sometimes conduct) the filing of the motion with the family court, as well as send copies of the filed motion to the other party and any expert witnesses involved. Each day will bring more and more motions, intended to push the case toward a resolution that leaves their client quite satisfied.
Education and Certification Requirements
Education, Certifications and Specialized Training
Although there is no formal accreditation or certification required to enter the field of family court as a paralegal, many employers prefer to hire those who hold a two-year degree or a paralegal certificate. Four-year degrees are not necessary, as legal assistants are not expected to perform at that level, and many employers are wary to provide an entry-level position to someone with a 4-year degree as they may not stay with the job for long. Although there are many four-year paralegal programs offered, there are just as many 2-year programs available from community colleges and private schools. Organizations such as the National Federation of Paralegal Associations and the National Association of Legal Assistants provide approved lists of schools based on their accreditation standards. For those looking to further their careers , obtaining additional certifications such as the Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS) certification from the California Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar or the Professional Certification Program (CFLA) provided by the National Association of Legal Assistants/Certified Legal Assistants may set you apart from the competition. Other relevant certifications include the American Bar Association-approved Paralegal Program (ABA-approved), the ABA-approved Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Paralegal Studies, the CPM-Certified Paralegal-Moultrie Median Group, Inc., the ACP-Advanced Certified Paralegal, the CLA/CP-Certified Legal Assistant/Certified Paralegal, and the NALS, AP/NFPA Paralegal.
Other skills and specialized areas of training can assist a family court paralegal in their duties. For example, earning a Family Law Certified Specialist designation from the California Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar requires passing an exam and fulfilling strict requirements.
Benefits and Difficulties of Being a Family Court Paralegal
Challenges Faced by a Family Court Paralegal
While a family court paralegal must be focused, able to juggle multiple tasks at once, sensitive and have excellent people skills, on occasion it can be a humbling experience. The following is a list of some of the standard challenges and potentially stressful situations that family court paralegals encounter:
Covering for staff that are out sick or on vacation or maternity leave.
Short time frames for completing wide ranging tasks.
Working with antagonistic or sensitive clients.
Working with complicated, sometimes able, litigants that know how to work the system.
Administrative duties.
A family court paralegal should be able to perform all of these functions confidently and seamlessly.
Job Outlook and Opportunities
Professionally, the demand for family court paralegals is expected to grow at a higher than average rate over the next decade. As long as there is an ongoing increase in the number of people seeking divorce, child custody modifications, or a variety of other matters related to family law, paralegals will be needed to assist attorneys in handling this important work. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that they anticipate there will be an increase of around 8% in the number of legal assistant jobs through 2024 . Technology continues to replace some of the outsourcing of tasks and activities that law firms previously turned over to outside vendors, but paralegals generally remain in demand.
While there is no license required specifically for paralegals, many choose to obtain professional certification through organizations like NALA, the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc., the Association for Legal Administrators, or the National Federation of Paralegal Associations. In time, individuals may progress to positions of increasing responsibility, either within their department or by moving up within the company or law firm as a whole.
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