Family law paralegals play an integral part in the legal process. They assist attorneys by handling paperwork, keeping their client organized, and conducting legal research pertaining to the case at hand.
They provide assistance with court presentations by producing charts and videos that explain the case to both judge and jury. Working as a team, they ensure everything runs smoothly in court.
Paralegal Salary
Family law paralegal careers offer those interested in helping families through difficult times an ideal career choice. Paralegals work alongside attorneys to prepare legal documents, conduct legal research and communicate with clients – unlike legal assistants they tend to become more engaged with each case and often earn higher rewards as a result of their efforts.
Family law paralegals will frequently need to communicate with their clients via telephone and/or email, and must possess excellent interpersonal communication skills so they can identify with and empathize with their needs.
Another key part of their job as paralegals is keeping attorneys up-to-date with any new information related to their cases. Since there can be multiple updates per day, paralegals must manage multiple inboxes so that attorneys are able to address urgent matters first.
Paralegals are charged with the responsibility of preparing court forms and other tasks necessary to prepare for hearings or trials, such as gathering evidence, communicating with witnesses and writing reports. The size of a firm also plays an influential role in how complex paralegal duties may become; smaller offices tend to assign more responsibilities for their paralegals than larger firms.
Paralegal Education Requirements
Becoming a family law paralegal typically requires at least an associate degree in paralegal studies from either community college or online study programs, though some schools also provide bachelor’s and postbaccalaureate certificates in paralegal studies for more advanced students who want to follow this career path.
Once you’ve completed paralegal studies, the next step should be finding work with a law firm specializing in family law cases. Depending on the size and focus of the firm you find employment with, your pay and level of responsibility could differ considerably; for instance a small firm that only deals with adoptions and child custody could expect you to focus solely on these topics while larger firms that cover every aspect of family law may employ paralegals who will take on more varied responsibilities.
Family law paralegals work on various documents related to divorce or reunification proceedings; petitions for divorce/reunification; custody agreements/visitation agreements/support orders/spousal support orders/modification of existing legal documents etc. They should have knowledge of various laws, statutes and regulations as well as research expertise for conducting thorough investigations. They often help gather financial data such as income statements/bank records/asset valuations while simultaneously collecting witness details such as full name/contact info etc.
Paralegal Job Description
Family Law Paralegals (FLPs) specialize in working alongside attorneys and government agencies to represent clients involved in family law cases such as divorce, custody, child support and adoption cases. As legal professionals they often assist their client’s attorneys by preparing legal documents, collecting financial data and attending court hearings; while also performing tasks like answering phone calls and filing paperwork.
Legal Research and Document Prep
A key part of being a family law paralegal involves conducting thorough legal research. This involves finding information that will aid a case, such as the status of a divorce petition or other legal documents, filing them correctly, and understanding court papers or legal documents which might otherwise be unfamiliar.
Client Support
One of the primary purposes of family law paralegals is providing client support. This is especially crucial during emotionally charged times like divorce proceedings; paralegals are trained to be sensitive and understanding when communicating with clients during these trying times. They act as second sets of eyes reviewing files, monitoring deadlines, and tracking any issues as needed – saving attorneys both time and money while helping their clients reach positive resolutions for their cases.
Paralegal Job Outlook
Paralegals work across many legal fields, yet can also specialize in specific forms. Paralegals should possess an in-depth knowledge of current laws and procedures as well as excellent organizational abilities – they often play an instrumental role in preparing and filing documents.
They must communicate effectively with clients to explain legal processes and offer emotional support, especially in family law. As paralegals are often the initial contact for new clients, it is critical that they be compassionate and understanding when collecting all relevant information about each one, including income sources, employment history and any financial details about each one as well as details of any witnesses that could appear before a court such as name, relationship to client and occupation details.
Lawyers enlist their assistance when appearing before judges and juries in court proceedings, helping present their cases clearly and understandably to both judges and juries. A paralegal can prepare courtroom charts or visual aids that make an argument more convincing, or create videos to instruct clients how to complete something such as filing forms.