The Job Description of a Domestic Relations Paralegal

Paralegals perform many of the same tasks as attorneys.

A paralegal assists lawyers in the practice of law. Paralegals often perform many of the same tasks as attorneys. The distinguishing factor between a paralegal and an attorney is a license to practice law. A domestic relations paralegal has considerable experience assisting an attorney in family law matters. A person can become a domestic relations paralegal by choice or by happenstance. For instance, you could choose to work for a firm that practices family law exclusively, or you may start working at a large firm and get a large quantity of family-law-related assignments based on the firm's needs.

Requirements and Training

Traditionally, no mandatory requirements have existed for becoming a domestic relations paralegal. Previously, attorneys would train paralegals on the job in an apprentice-like fashion. Today, many colleges offer a degree in paralegal studies, which has prompted more competition for paralegal positions. While special training is still not mandatory as of 2010, increased competition for paralegal positions has precipitated some hesitation among law firms to hire paralegals without a paralegal certificate or degree unless they can demonstrate extensive experience.

Duties

Domestic relations paralegals assist attorneys by interviewing clients, preparing and filing court documents, locating expert witnesses and performing legal research on family-law-related matters such as divorces, child support, custody and protection from abuse orders. A paralegal may also need to perform mundane administrative tasks such as filing, copying, answering phones, scheduling meetings, reading and sorting mail, and ordering office supplies.

Work Environment

Most paralegals work at a desk in a law office or suite. A paralegal's job generally does not require enhanced physical capabilities other than bending and carrying up to 10 or 15 pounds. Occasionally, paralegals are required to travel outside of the office to interview clients or witnesses, file documents with the court or visit a law library.

Working hours vary from firm to firm. Some firms stick to a 40-hour work week, while others may require 45 to 70 hours per week. Work hours generally depend on the case load carried by the attorneys a paralegal assists, along with the law firm's policies.

Average Payrate

According to the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary range for paralegals in 2006 ranged from $33,920 to $54,690. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $24,750. The 10 percent highest-paid paralegals earned $67,540.

Job Outlook

The Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, predicts that employment of paralegals in general will grow 18 percent between 2010 and 2018. That means that the outlook for paralegal positions is optimistic, especially considering that the Bureau predicts and average job growth outlook for all jobs of seven percent by 2018. The outlook for domestic relations paralegals may skew slightly higher than that of other legal fields such as corporate and banking. This prospect exists because family law litigation holds fairly steady and tends to suffer less of an impact from adverse economic conditions as opposed to corporate sectors.

References

• Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics