Paralegal

Modern Family Law•Petaluma, CA

31d•$28 - $36•Hybrid

About The Position

Modern Family Law is a national family law firm operating in 16 cities across six states, and we are growing. We are hiring a Family Law Paralegal for our Petaluma, CA office to work directly with our attorneys on divorce, child custody, property division and support matters. This is not a document-production role. Our paralegals carry their own caseload, draft the filings that move a matter forward, and are often the person a client speaks to most. If you want to be close to the work and close to the people it affects, this is that job.

Requirements

Per the California Business and Professions Code § 6450, A paralegal shall possess at least one of the following: (1) A certificate of completion of a paralegal program approved by the American Bar Association. (2) A certificate of completion of a paralegal program at, or a degree from, a postsecondary institution that requires the successful completion of a minimum of 24 semester, or equivalent, units in law-related courses and that has been accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization or approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education. (3) A baccalaureate degree or an advanced degree in any subject, a minimum of one year of law-related experience under the supervision of an attorney who has been an active member of the State Bar of California for at least the preceding three years or who has practiced in the federal courts of this state for at least the preceding three years, and a written declaration from this attorney stating that the person is qualified to perform paralegal tasks. (4) A high school diploma or general equivalency diploma, a minimum of three years of law-related experience under the supervision of an attorney who has been an active member of the State Bar of California for at least the preceding three years or who has practiced in the federal courts of this state for at least the preceding three years, and a written declaration from this attorney stating that the person is qualified to perform paralegal tasks. This experience and training shall be completed no later than December 31, 2003.
Family law experience required. What matters more is whether you can draft cleanly, hold a deadline and talk to a client who is upset.
Exceptional written and verbal communication.
Proficient in e-filing with all major county court systems.
Experience supporting multiple attorneys in a law firm setting.
Demonstrated ability to capture all billable work accurately, contemporaneously, efficiently and ethically using clear, client-appropriate narratives.
High attention to detail, and the composure to stay organized when multiple matters need something on the same afternoon.
A collaborative instinct. We are a team, and we measure ourselves partly on whether the people around us succeed.

Nice To Haves

You do not need to know all of them on day one, but you should be someone who learns tools quickly rather than working around them.

Responsibilities

Carry a caseload of family law matters from hire through resolution, working alongside multiple attorneys.
Draft and prepare the filings that keep matters moving: Petitions, Summons, Case Information Sheets, Notices and Entries of Appearance, and Notices of Withdrawal and Motions to Withdraw. E-file with county court systems and track the status of the case through the system portals.
Own the deadlines. Calendars, filing dates and court requirements sit with you, and nothing goes late.
Talk to clients. Answer their questions and follow up before they have to ask. Family law clients are often having the worst time of their lives, and how they are treated matters as much as the filing being correct.
Keep your matters clean. A leader should be able to open any file of yours and find it current and accurate without warning or question.
Work with attorneys as a colleague, not an inbox. The best paralegals here tell the attorney what is coming, not the other way round.