A Rewarding Career: Family Law Paralegal

Family law is a unique area of practice that involves the study of law pertaining to the many types of relationships between individuals sharing a domestic connection. Family law paralegals are involved in all aspects of family law, completing tasks such as preparing and drafting legal documents, performing legal research, maintaining attorney calendars and case files, and scheduling appointments. Family law paralegals must possess excellent interpersonal communication skills as they are responsible for liaising between the client and attorney, conducting client interviews, and providing emotional support to clients. They must also be capable of handling sensitive and emotionally charged issues such as child custody, child support, and division of assets. Family law paralegals play a crucial role in supporting family law cases and ensuring the smooth functioning of legal processes.

High client contact

Family law paralegals have one of the highest ratios of client contact of any paralegal specialization. They are responsible for serving as a liaison between the client and the attorney, conducting client interviews, and maintaining effective communication with clients. This involves a lot of face-to-face contact and phone calls with clients, witnesses, and other involved parties such as guardians ad litem and social workers.

Family law often involves emotionally charged issues such as child custody, child support, and division of assets, so family law paralegals must have excellent interpersonal communication skills and the ability to handle clients who may be anxious, upset, or distressed. They must also be capable of defusing clients when they lose a custody battle or the family home in a divorce, for example.

Paralegals in this field must be able to keep their own reactions in check and project smooth, confident competence when working with clients and other parties involved in a case. They must also be intuitive when choosing which calls to handle with priority and have the ability to take detailed notes over the phone.

In addition to client contact, family law paralegals also assist with discovery requests, which can include producing documents, answering questions in a deposition, and answering interrogatories. They may also help with intake calls and the potential client intake process.

Emotional challenges

Family law is a unique area of practice, as it involves the study of law pertaining to the many types of relationships between individuals sharing a domestic connection. Family law paralegals are involved in all aspects of family law, completing job duties as assigned by a family law attorney.

Family law often involves emotionally charged issues such as child custody, child support, and division of assets. Family law paralegals must have excellent interpersonal communication skills and must be capable of handling clients who may be anxious, upset, or distressed.

Family law paralegals must learn to keep their own reactions in check and project smooth, confident competence when working with clients and other parties involved in a case. They must absorb the ire of clients and communicate with them in a way that does not compromise their integrity or professionalism.

The work can be emotionally draining, as paralegals witness the lives of their clients fall apart, and they may have to interact with abusive spouses. They must also deal with the distress of learning about the horrific ways parents abuse their children and seeing the evidence.

Paralegals in family law must also be prepared for the constant drama and arguing of clients over petty and worthless things. They must maintain professional boundaries and not allow clients to cross the line into friendship, which could put them at risk of an ethics violation.

While family law can be rewarding, with paralegals feeling pride and joy as they draw up adoption papers and oversee the formation of a new family, it can also be frustrating and upsetting. It can be challenging to remain emotionally stable when dealing with the full gamut of emotions that come with the job.

Family law paralegals must be able to handle the stress of having their clients' lives in their hands and treat the position with the highest reverence. They must also be able to handle the pressure of working with strict deadlines and court scheduling, with no room for error.

Overall, family law paralegals must possess emotional intelligence, excellent communication skills, and the ability to remain calm and professional in highly charged situations. They must be able to handle the emotional challenges of the job while providing essential support to their clients.

People skills

Family law is a unique area of practice, as it involves the study of law pertaining to the many types of relationships between individuals sharing a domestic connection. Family law paralegals must have excellent people skills as they are responsible for maintaining effective communication with clients, who may be anxious, upset, or distressed.

Emotional Intelligence

The ability to empathise with clients is paramount in family law. Paralegals must be able to defuse a client when they end up losing the family home in a divorce, or console them when they lose a custody battle. Family law paralegals must learn to keep their own reactions in check and project smooth, confident competence when working with both clients and other parties involved in a case.

Communication Skills

Family law paralegals must be able to communicate clearly and professionally, even if a client is panicking or reacting with anger. They must be able to take detailed notes, whether conducting an informal investigation or working as part of a team on a deposition. Their word choice and body language can take on heightened meaning to clients in very emotional circumstances.

Negotiation Skills

Many divorces are now resolved through mediation rather than going to court, a faster and far less costly way to resolve issues since it is entirely about communication and negotiation. Family law paralegals serve as a valuable buffer in tense situations. When clients communicate through their lawyers, it removes some of the raw emotional aspects of dealing directly with an estranged family member. A paralegal can serve as a trusted medium to convey information and requests.

Interpersonal Skills

Family law paralegals must be capable of handling clients who may be anxious, upset, or distressed. They must also communicate well with other professionals, such as bank personnel, healthcare providers, accountants, and financial officers.

Organisation Skills

Family law paralegals also need top-notch organisational skills. Much of their time is spent booking appointments with clients and filing paperwork. Mistakes in appointment books and on paper can be detrimental to their career.

Legal knowledge

Family law is a unique area of practice, requiring an understanding of the law as it pertains to the many types of relationships between individuals sharing a domestic connection. Family law paralegals must possess expertise in the statutes and case precedents associated with a wide range of issues, including termination of marriages or romantic relationships, divorce, separation, annulment, division of property, spousal support, protection from abuse, parental rights, child support, child custody, termination of parental rights, establishing or disproving paternity, grandparents' rights, state child protection, and guardianship.

To excel in this field, a family law paralegal must have a comprehensive knowledge of legal procedure. They must be able to perform legal research, draft legal documents, and maintain effective communication with clients, attorneys, law enforcement officials, court officials, business owners, and other entities. They are responsible for preparing and drafting motions, pleadings, judgments, statements, and other correspondence, as well as maintaining attorney calendars and case files.

Family law paralegals often act as a liaison between the attorney and the client, conducting client interviews and serving as a trusted medium to convey information and requests. They play a crucial role in emotionally charged situations, such as child custody battles, divorce proceedings, and domestic violence cases. As such, they must have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to handle clients who may be anxious, upset, or distressed.

In addition to strong communication skills, family law paralegals need top-notch organizational skills. They are responsible for scheduling appointments, court appearances, and mediation or deposition hearings, ensuring that all relevant parties are informed of important dates and deadlines. They also assist with discovery requests, collecting and organising documents, and facilitating the exchange of information between parties.

While family law paralegals do not require specific certification, completing a paralegal program approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) is recommended. Advanced specialty certification in family law, offered by organisations such as the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), can enhance career prospects and demonstrate expertise in specific areas of family law.

Overall, family law paralegals must possess a strong understanding of the legal system and the ability to apply this knowledge to a diverse range of situations, always adapting to the constantly changing nature of the law.

Career prospects

Family law is a unique area of practice, as it involves the study of law pertaining to the many types of relationships between individuals sharing a domestic connection. Family law paralegals are involved in all aspects of family law, completing job duties as assigned by a family law attorney.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Family law paralegals have a wide range of responsibilities, including:

• Preparing and drafting motions, pleadings, judgments, statements, documents, and other correspondence
• Performing legal research
• Maintaining attorney calendars and case files
• Scheduling appointments, court appearances, and mediation/deposition hearings
• Serving as a liaison between the client and attorney, conducting client interviews
• Preparing trial notebooks and providing assistance in trial settings
• Preparing and reviewing discovery packages, including disclosure statements, answers to interrogatories, and production requests
• Communicating with clients, witnesses, and other involved parties such as guardians ad litem and social workers
• Calculating and arranging for the collection and distribution of court-ordered child support
• Working with self-representing litigants to brief them on family law processes and requirements
• Reviewing cases referred to child protective service agencies and recommending further actions
• Drafting protective orders and custody agreements for social service agencies
• Acting as guardians ad litem in various child advocacy programs, serving as impartial advocates for children or incapacitated individuals involved in court proceedings
• Arranging immigration formalities for overseas adoptions
• Obtaining social security numbers for adoptees
• Ensuring that adoptive parents meet visitation and other requirements

Education and Certification

The first step to becoming a family law paralegal is completing a paralegal program approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). The ABA approves paralegal programs at every level, from certificate programs to master's degree programs. However, the standard educational route is the completion of an ABA-approved associate or bachelor's degree program in paralegal studies.

Professional certification is voluntary but can be a valuable addition to a paralegal's education and experience, signifying advanced competency and knowledge. Advanced specialty certification in family law is beneficial for paralegals interested in pursuing a career in this area. The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) offers advanced certification in various areas of family law, including adoption and assisted reproduction, dissolution case management, child custody and support, and division of property and spousal support.

Employment Opportunities

Paralegals have a diverse range of organizations to seek employment through, including fields like government, education, or medicine. Many firms require their family law paralegals to have a two- or four-year degree in a related legal subject, and some may even require certification. Internships, preferably at a firm specialising in family law, are also valuable for gaining knowledge and experience in this field.

Challenges and Rewards

Working in family law can be emotionally challenging, as paralegals deal with highly personal and often upsetting issues for their clients. It requires a sharp mind, comprehensive knowledge of legal procedure, and the ability to remain calm and professional in tense situations.

However, it can also be a rewarding career, providing one of the highest ratios of client contact of any paralegal specialisation. Family law paralegals have the opportunity to make a positive impact on their clients' lives, helping them through difficult times and seeing their lives improve as a result of their work.

Frequently asked questions