Your choice of words and body language can become more important to customers in highly emotional circumstances. Family law paralegals must learn to contain their own reactions and to be competent in harmony and certainty when working with clients and other parties involved in a case. 1. Answer the phone. This is the most common task for many paralegals. Clients, potential clients, courts and opposing lawyers call all day, and it is the responsibility of paralegals to take calls and escalate them as needed. Most of the time, the lawyer won`t be immediately available for phone calls, so it`s important to get good phone messages when working as a family paralegal. Each message should include the caller`s name, phone number, and a full message that makes sense. Don`t be tempted to believe that if you don`t understand what the appellant wants, the lawyer will. Ask questions and make sure you know exactly what the appellant said and what the lawyer needs to do. Some family law paralegals may also choose to become certified family law mediators. Mediators help divorcing couples reach an agreement on the terms of their divorce without going to court. To become a certified mediator, a paralegal must complete 40 hours of mediation training and pass an exam.
This part of the process could mean the difference between working for a small law firm that specializes in adoptions or custody matters, or for a larger firm that handles all aspects of family law. Overall, it`s about finding an environment where you feel comfortable and thrive. Education and experience: Most law firms will train their paralegals in the specific areas of law in which they specialize. For example, a family law firm will train its paralegals on specific family law laws and procedures. Large companies are increasingly relying on in-house legal services as more lawyers try to cut costs by employing paralegals to help them. Job postings for paralegals and paralegals are expected to increase by 12% between 2020 and 2030, faster than the average for all occupations. Paralegals assist and assist lawyers in their cases or in dealing with legal matters on behalf of the organizations for which they work. In many cases, paralegals specialize in one area of law and work almost exclusively on matters in a single area of law. Family law paralegals typically help lawyers who help clients with emotional and often difficult issues such as divorce, custody and child support, injunctions, paternity determinations, guardianships, and adoptions.
Family law is one of the most popular areas of law for paralegals, but what exactly does a paralegal do in family law? Below is a description of the 10 most common tasks of a family law paralegal. The size of the law firm you work for also affects your workload and responsibilities. Office paralegals generally have a wider range of tasks than their counterparts in large corporations. Adoption agencies and adoption law firms also rely heavily on paralegals. Each state has different laws regarding adoptions and an expert is needed to ensure that all requirements are met when a new child is brought into a family. Paralegals who facilitate adoptions cover tasks that include: However, family law paralegals are not always directly in the crosshairs. Some work for government agencies responsible for managing internal affairs, primarily state judicial systems. These paralegals are responsible for: A number of institutions also offer family law courses and family law certificate programs for paralegals. Courses in these programs include studies in: As a family law paralegal, you are responsible for assisting lawyers in family law matters by preparing court documents, conducting legal research, and other people listed in this article. Support the tasks discussed. 10.
Keep the lawyer informed and up to date. This is a common task for many paralegals, not just those who practice family law. Since a paralegal answers the phone and greets clients when they enter, it is the paralegal who receives case updates and new case information first. In a family law firm, there can be many updates per day, and it`s important to keep the lawyer informed when new information comes in or important events occur. Family law paralegals also need to keep a lot of delays and hearings in mind and make sure the lawyer works on the most important tasks first. Different inboxes and locations to store files can be useful. This way, the lawyer knows which stacks of files need to be dealt with first and which can wait. Finally, some family law paralegals may open their own law firms. It`s a big business, but it can be very rewarding.
Family law is very emotional. You may find yourself in very unique and interesting situations as a family paralegal. In this role, it is important to have good communication skills, as you will be responsible for communicating with clients, law enforcement officers, court officials, lawyers, business owners, and other entities. Family law paralegals also require top-notch organizational skills. Much of their time is spent scheduling client appointments and submitting documents. Mistakes in schedules and on paper can hurt your career. Another task that will take your time as a paralegal is to help clients with investigation requests. Often, it is a client who has to request certain official documents.
If the client does not know how to request documents, the family paralegal can help. This role also includes assembling the discovery and making it available to the opposing counsel. Family law paralegals are responsible for assisting lawyers in a variety of legal matters related to family relations. They often work on divorce, custody, adoption and other family matters.