Family Law Paralegal

Job Description

Job Description

Our San Diego Divorce and Family Law firm has a full-time opportunity for a Family Law Paralegal (minimum 2 years' recent experience in California family law ) who has integrity, is a team player, and has strong administrative skills. If you are looking for a fast-paced, positive team environment that provides professional growth opportunities, then look no further. If you are bilingual and can speak English and Spanish, then you already have an advantage.  Please do not call our office.

Do not apply if you do not have a Paralegal Certificate. This position is NOT a work-from-home position. We are located in Mission Valley, and our hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

While we are focused on rapid growth, we are still small enough to care about every team member and client. We need someone who has a proven track record of being able to manage a caseload and corresponding deadlines and be able to prioritize tasks.

We expect to train you on how we operate within the firm, but you should have the substantive knowledge and experience needed to hit the ground running as a superstar Family Law Paralegal. Since we are a small firm, the most important quality you can possess is a great attitude, eagerness to learn, and a willingness to roll up your sleeves and help wherever it’s needed.

If the following describes you, then YOU may be the distinguished professional we are looking for:

• Detail-Oriented and Organized
• Sound Judgment
• Adaptable and Collaborative
• Tech Savvy
• Stellar Interpersonal Skills

Benefits:

The firm pays for Health Insurance (up to $500/month), Dental, Vision, Acupuncture/Chiropractic, Life Insurance, and Long-term Disability Insurance. 10 days of accrued vacation for the first five years and 15 days after completion of five years of employment. There are 10 paid holidays for which the firm is closed; we also offer retirement and vested firm matching. Profit sharing is available if the firm and the employee meet all goals.

$27 - $35 hourly

• Organize, manage, and evaluate discovery and records
• Keep case files and other important information neatly organized and easily accessible
• Prepare legal documents, correspondence, affidavits, and pleadings such as complaints, interrogatories, subpoenas, deposition notices, pretrial orders, and legal briefs under the supervision of a lawyer
• Speak with clients to provide quality service, answer basic procedural inquiries about their case, and obtain information about their legal difficulties
• Review and prepare all financial disclosures and statements

• Perform administrative duties such as answering phone calls from clients and keeping our case filing system organized, so all documents are readily accessible
• Draft legal documents, pleadings, and correspondence under the guidance of a lawyer
• Experience in completing initial drafts of financial disclosures for attorney review
• Help lawyers prepare for trial by preparing and organizing exhibits, assisting with client meetings, filing motions, and organizing and coordinating witnesses
• Hold client interviews to gather information about their legal problems
• The Paralegal’s primary goal is to support our Attorneys. All applicants must be flexible, working with multiple attorneys, and not be rigid and set in their own ways. Applicants must be amenable to different working and communication styles and be willing to adapt
• A Paralegal provides quality legal services to clients at a lower billable rate than an Attorney, and by doing so, benefits both the Firm and the clients. Paralegals are required to meet the minimum billable requirements set by the Firm and report on progress toward achieving assigned goals
• Our firm relies heavily on standardization of the work product and internal processes in our fast-paced environment - if you are not open to adapting to our processes and standardization, please do not apply for this position, meaning if your initial response is "That's not how I do it" or "That's not how I was taught", then our firm is not for you

• Experience as a paralegal working closely with attorneys and clients on [[type of cases]]
• Must have excellent time-management skills, and organizational skills
• To be considered for this position, you must agree to participate in a 20-question written interview that examines your knowledge, abilities, qualifications, habits, and behaviors (including attention to detail, communication skills, and technical legal knowledge)
• Experience with standard office equipment: scanner, copier, printer
• Experience with standard office management software: internet, email, word processing, case management, time & billing, legal research, document management

While performing the duties of this job, an employee is required to stand, walk, bend, talk, hear, stoop, kneel, use hands and fingers to operate computers and phones, sit for long periods of time, and on occasion lift up to 20 pounds.

These items are non-negotiable:

• You must be available to work Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Communicate with potential and existing clients in person, by phone, and by email
• You must have strong administrative skills and be detail-oriented
• You must be comfortable working with various computer programs, databases, and systems, and be tech-savvy
• Manage paper and electronic files
• You must be reliable, trustworthy, and able to maintain strict confidentiality 
• Serve as a backup for other administrative team members when they need a hand or a day off
• You must be a positive, high-energy team player who is results-oriented – No Drama!
• You must be a student for life and love to learn

Education & Experience:

• Candidates must have completed an ABA-approved paralegal certificate program, such as an Associate’s degree or proprietary school program in paralegal studies, or a Bachelor’s degree preferred
• 2+ years of experience as a family law paralegal
• Bill 1400 hours per year, tracked on a quarterly basis of 350 per calendar quarter

San Diego Divorce Lawyers, APC focuses exclusively on family law cases such as divorce, legal separation, child custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, property division, domestic violence restraining orders, paternity, marital settlement agreements, and post-judgment modifications. The firm is headed by acclaimed San Diego attorney Puja Sachdev, who is widely regarded as one of the top family law attorneys in the community.