Family Law Paralegal Career Information
Family law, also known as domestic relations, includes prenuptial agreements, annulment, separation, divorce, paternity, adoption, child custody and child support. More recent topics in the family law practice area include alternative reproductive technology, civil unions, covenant marriage, domestic partner adoption, same-sex marriage and surrogacy. Family law paralegals may be found in law firms of all sizes.
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Job Postings
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One source of family law paralegal job postings is Indeed.com, which lets job-hunters locate positions on multiple job boards at the same time. Indeed.com allows job-hunters to register to receive selected search results by email. A sampling of family law paralegal jobs from Indeed.com from April 2010 will be used to provide the education requirements, salary ranges and requested software proficiencies shown below.
Education Requirements
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The most commonly requested education for a family law paralegal is a four-year degree plus a paralegal certificate from an American Bar Association (ABA) approved program. Most of these programs offer an elective or required course in family law. For example, Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey considers family law a core required course. Fairleigh Dickinson also offers technical seminars that include Family Soft, a software package used for divorce, child support and alimony.
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Salary Ranges and Experience
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Salary ranges for family law paralegals vary widely, from $35,000 to $40,000 per year in Texas for a candidate with three to four years of experience, to $40,000 to $45,000 per year in Georgia for a candidate with five years of experience, to $30,000 to $60,000 per year in New Jersey for a candidate with seven to 10 years of experience.
Software Proficiencies
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A family law paralegal should have strong technology skills. The most commonly required general productivity software package proficiency is in Microsoft Office, followed by WordPerfect. Other requested or required software proficiencies include Amicus Attorney practice management software; ProDoc automated document assembly software for attorneys; Timeslips by Sage; Westlaw; and Quickbooks.
Family Law Paralegal Duties
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A family law paralegal drafts a wide variety of legal documents, including complaints, petitions, motions, responses, affidavits, applications, consents, discovery requests, garnishments, notices, stipulations, writs, property settlements, prenuptial agreements and cohabitation agreements. A family law paralegal may also analyze retirement benefits and determine the division of those benefits; calculate child support and determine spousal support requirements; and analyze marital assets and prepare reports based on the analyses.
Continuing Legal Education
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Continuing legal education in family law is available from a number of sources. The National Federation of Paralegal Associations, for example, has offered an online course in family law. The topic of one such course is same-sex marriages. The Institute for Paralegal Education also offers continuing legal education in family law, including topics such as "The Paralegal's Guide to Handling the Family Law Client" and "Financial Disclosure and Analysis in Divorce for Paralegals."
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References
- Indeed: "Family Law Paralegal"
- National Federation of Paralegal Associations Paralegal Responsibilities: Domestic Relations/Family Law
- "Facts & Findings Career Chronicle"; Typical Paralegal Duties; January 2009
- National Federation of Paralegal Associations: Continuing Education
- Institute for Paralegal Education: Family Law
Resources
- Photo Credit man and woman divorced image by Ivonne Wierink from Fotolia.com
