Are you interested in family law but can’t pursue a law degree yet? If yes, you should consider becoming a family law paralegal.
As a paralegal in family law, you will earn a good living. Paralegals and legal assistants earn $60,970 in median annual wage (May 2023, BLS). But you can earn more than $98,830 per year, too, with career advancement. This figure may vary greatly based on many factors, such as the size of the law firm, its geographic location, the complexity of the cases being handled, and the paralegal’s qualifications and experience.
What is family law in the first place? Family law deals with family relationships and domestic matters. These include marriage, divorce, and children.
As a family law paralegal, you will deal with sensitive, if not traumatic, matters. Your job involves both legal and emotional support that your clients need and expect. By training for its challenges, you become a better paralegal for families and an asset to your law firm.
Related:
- What Does a Family Law Paralegal Do?
- Immigration Paralegals: Assisting Clients with Immigration Processes
- Bankruptcy Paralegals: Navigating Financial Insolvency Cases
- Environmental Law Paralegals: Protecting Natural Resources
Overview of Family Law
Family law isn’t a single law. Instead, it’s a body of laws at the federal and state levels. Family law covers a wide legal spectrum, including:
- Marriage, including its legal requirements for license, prenuptial agreements, and their dissolution
- Divorce, including the division of conjugal property and spousal support
- Child custody and support, such as visitation rights and financial responsibilities
- Adoption is where individuals receive legal parental rights for their non-biological children
Family law is crucial in protecting and promoting the rights and responsibilities of families. More importantly, it’s crucial in the protection and promotion of the well-being of vulnerable parties. In families, these are usually the children, the dependent spouse, or the abused spouse.
Related:
- Best Online Accelerated Paralegal Programs
- Paralegal Programs in Texas
- Paralegal Programs in California
- Top Paralegal Programs in Illinois
- Paralegal Programs in Florida
Role of a Family Law Paralegal
As a family law paralegal, your roles and responsibilities usually include the following.
- Prepare legal documents, such as affidavits, motions, and pleadings
- Organize case files for easy and effective access, when necessary, such as for court hearings
- Provide support services to lawyers.
- Ensure clients understand the process, requirements, and options related to their cases.
- Provide emotional support when needed
- Conduct legal research relevant to the cases
Your actual responsibilities will vary, too, depending on the size of the company. If you’re in a small company, you may perform most or all these roles. In a large company, you may only work on specific aspects or phases.
Skills and Qualities Needed
Being a successful family law paralegal means having these vital skills and qualities.
ATTENTION TO DETAIL
You must ensure that every legal document contains complete and accurate information. Even the smallest mistake can result in negative consequences. Proofread, comb through the details with a sharp eye, and ask for a second opinion.
EMPATHY AND COMMUNICATION
Divorce, paternity lawsuits, and child custody battles are challenging events. Every person involved experiences a rollercoaster of emotions, from desperation to happiness. You must then be compassionate, use your communication skills, and be patient with clients.
TIME MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION
Your work will involve handling several cases. Stay on top of things with effective time management skills. Being organized also means being more effective and efficient.
Common Family Law Cases Handled by Paralegals
These are the four most common cases you will handle as a family law paralegal.
DIVORCE
Your divorce paralegal duties include overseeing the administrative tasks.
- File paperwork
- Gather financial records for asset division purposes
CHILD CUSTODY AND SUPPORT
Your paralegal role in divorce proceedings is usually tied to your child custody paralegal duties. These include assisting lawyers to:
- Draft custody arrangements
- Calculate child support payments
ADOPTION
Paralegal support in family law extends to the adoption process, too.
- Prepare adoption documents
- Check that the legal criteria are met
- Coordinate with the courts, adoption agencies, and prospective parents
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Your duties can include:
- Help clients complete the paperwork
- Gather evidence, such as police reports
- Provide clients with emotional support
Challenges Faced by Family Law Paralegals
The paralegal profession isn’t for the fainthearted, especially with these challenges.
EMOTIONAL STRESS
While you must be compassionate toward clients, you must also maintain professionalism. Always maintain emotional stability in the face of clients’ distress.
COMPLEX LEGAL PROCEDURES
Family law, in particular, and the legal system in general are complicated. You must have proper education and training before entering the industry. Furthermore, you must be updated on changing laws and engage in continuing education.
CLIENT EXPECTATIONS
The disconnect between what clients want and what the courts decide is a challenge, too. You will face clients upset about their case outcomes one too many times. Being an effective communicator and maintaining your cool is key.
Career Path and Opportunities
Here’s a basic outline of a typical family law paralegal career.
Get the right education and training.
You can earn an associate’s degree in paralegal studies or complete a certificate program if you already have an associate’s degree. Gain practical experience, if possible.
Earn a paralegal certification.
Your job prospects increase with a professional certification. Choices include NALA’s Certified Paralegal (CP) in Family Law and Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP).
Grab career advancement opportunities.
Career growth beckons with extensive work experience and continuing education. You can become a case manager, a legal consultant, or a family law legal assistant.
Family law firms typically require paralegals to have earned a paralegal degree or undergone paralegal training with a professional certificate. They must also demonstrate attention to detail, strong communication abilities, excellent research skills, and impressive organizational skills.
Top 5 Online Paralegal Programs Specializing in Family Law
We consider these the best online paralegal programs family law specialization:
American Public University System
APUS’ online undergraduate Certificate in Paralegal Studies program emphasizes a strong knowledge base and practical skills in family law.
University of Arizona Global Campus
UAGC offers two certificate programs – the Paralegal Certificate and Advanced Paralegal Certificate – for aspiring family law paralegals. Both enable students to expand their knowledge of family law and regulations.
Liberty University
LU’s online AA in Paralegal degree program is excellent for family law paralegal training. Students develop workplace-ready skills in family law settings.
Rasmussen University
Students choose between a paralegal certificate program or an associate in paralegal studies program. Both feature courses in family law.
Southern New Hampshire University
SNHU’s Justice Studies Law and Legal Process Certificate program features Law, Justice and Family and Juvenile Justice System courses.
To become fully well-versed in the complex legal arena that is family law, it is not uncommon for students to pursue additional courses in legal subjects, including divorce law, child custody and child support law, and estate law.
Conclusion
As a family law paralegal, you’re instrumental in changing the lives of clients as they navigate a difficult phase. Your skills in conducting legal research, drafting and filing legal papers with local, state or federal courts, assisting with client interviews and interrogation, obtaining affidavits, and performing administrative tasks are crucial to the success of a case.
Cases associated with family law can be an emotional and difficult time for clients. Your competence and compassion make you valuable to them and the licensed attorneys you will be assisting. Yes, it’s a challenging profession but the personal and professional rewards more than make up for it.
