Family Law Paralegal - O'Connor Family Law

Company Description

O'Connor Family Law is a fast-paced and growing firm that primarily focuses in family law but is looking to expand into other practice areas as well within the coming years. O'Connor Family Law has offices in both Westborough and Hanover, Massachusetts, the attorneys practice throughout most of the state. You can read more about us and our story at: https://www.familylawma.com/our-story/

Role Description

This is a full-time role for a detail-oriented and organized Family Law Paralegal at O'Connor Family Law. Work will primarily be conducted on-site in your choice of offices, with the option of moving to a hybrid schedule after demonstrated ability to work independently and effectively. The Family Law Paralegal will be responsible for the day-to-day support of multiple attorneys and cases. Duties will include maintaining legal files, communication with clients, counsel, and court personnel, preparing and editing legal documents, correspondence, pleadings, and motions, and preparing and submitting court filings.

Required Knowledge:

Document and Case Management

• Microsoft Office Suite

  Advanced proficiency in Word for document creation and formatting, Excel for data management and analysis, Outlook for email communication and calendar management, and Power Point for potentially assisting with creating presentations.

  
  

• Adobe Acrobat and Foxit: Expertise in using Adobe Acrobat and Foxit for Bates stamping, splitting and combining PDF documents, optimizing and reducing PDF file sizes, and ensuring documents are properly formatted and accessible.
• E-Filing Systems: Skilled in navigating and utilizing e-filing systems and procedures for Massachusetts (Rhode Island an added plus) family court system, ensuring timely and accurate submission of legal documents.
• File Sharing Tools: Experience with various file-sharing tools to securely share documents with clients, opposing counsel, and other parties.
• Electronic Document Management Systems: Familiarity with electronic document management systems for organizing, storing, and retrieving legal documents efficiently.
• Clio Case Management System

  Skilled to navigate the case management program, Clio, to track all billable and non-billable work, client communication, work assignments, document sharing, and all other aspects of Clio. Open to learn additional Clio related programs as Clio continues to add on additional offerings.

  
  

• Zoom

  Experience utilizing Zoom, inclusive of scheduling, hosting, and recording meetings, as well as ensuring that you are presenting yourself professionally with good lighting at all times and that you are aware of how to connect with someone remotely.

  
  

Litigation/Mediation Support

• Litigation Process: Comprehensive understanding of the litigation process for various types of family law matters within Massachusetts, inclusive but not limited to the stages of litigation, key deadlines, and the role of a paralegal in supporting attorneys and clients throughout the process.
• File Organization: Organizing and maintaining physical and electronic files throughout the litigation process, ensuring all documents are easily accessible and properly filed.
• Attorney Support

  We all know that paralegals actually run the show when it comes to keeping an attorney on track. Extensive experience with case management to ensure all deadlines are met and assisting attorneys with time entry, billing, and any other legal or administrative tasks requested.

  
  

• Court Liaison: Understanding of where to find any updated procedures for each family court, reaching out to clerks or other court personnel to obtain information relating to procedure or case management issues, and scheduling or rescheduling hearings.
• Trial and Court Preparation: Extensive knowledge relating to the preparation for trial related procedures, inclusive of depositions, evidentiary hearings, and trials.
• General Assignments: Assist attorneys and firm with additional duties as requested for the betterment of the firm overall and for the client experience.

Leadership Role (If Qualified)

• Paralegal Procedure and Best Practices: Assisting the firm with creating our paralegal procedures and best practices guide as we continue to grow to ensure consistency in client care and case management throughout the firm.
• Supervisory and Leadership: Oversee the application of the procedures and best practices policies put into place, oversee the growth of the paralegal department, inclusive of hiring, training, and quality oversight.

Administrative Duties

• Client File Management: Reviewing the opening of case client files to ensure all appropriate information has been recorded and maintaining both hard and electronic client files as case progresses, ensuring all necessary information is accurately recorded and up-to-date. This includes organizing documents, updating case information, and ensuring all deadlines are met.
• Scheduling and Calendaring: Assisting attorneys with scheduling appointments, court dates, and meetings, as well as planning business travel arrangements.
• Client Communication: Communicating with clients, opposing counsel, and third parties at the direction of the attorneys.
• Docketing: Calendaring and docketing litigation deadlines to ensure all critical dates are tracked and met.
• Time Management: Experience tracking both billable and non-billable time to help with efficiency of work hours.
• General Office and Administrative Duties: Assist with general office duties as needed, including filing, copying, and other administrative tasks as requested.

Qualifications

• Experience: A minimum of 5-7 years of Massachusetts' family law paralegal experience. If applying for a Leadership/Supervisory position, at least 2-3 years of experience in a primary supervisory role within a law office.
• Technology Adaptability: Ability to quickly adapt to and learn new technologies, ensuring efficient use of the latest tools and software.
• Organizational Skills: Highly organized with the ability to track and juggle multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment with a strong attention to detail, ensuring all tasks are completed accurately and efficiently. Must have excellent analytical skills that show creativity and initiative. Must maintain a high level of work quality while under the pressure of deadlines and competing priorities.
• Communication Skills: Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, ensuring clear and professional interactions with clients, attorneys, and other parties.
• Teamwork: Ability to work independently and as part of a team, demonstrating flexibility and a collaborative approach to work.
• Positive Attitude: Must display good judgment and handle any challenge with maturity and leadership while anticipating issues that may arise and proactively offering well thought-out suggestions and solutions. Commitment to being ethical and using common sense is a must.

Compensation: Base pay starts at $65k - $75k and increases from there based on your particular knowledge, skills, and relevant experience, as well as whether you would be taking a supervisory role.

Equal Opportunity: O'Connor Family Law provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

How to Apply: Please send your cover letter and resume directly to our Managing Attorney, Caitlyn Fletcher - caitlyn@familylawma.com with the subject line: "Senior Paralegal Application" and your resume clearly expressing your personality and why you choose to work in the area of family law, what office you would desire to work out of, and your desired salary range.

Closing Statement: Our job posting and email provided are for candidates ONLY. If you are a recruiter, search firm or employment agency and you do not have a signed contract with O'Connor Family Law ("OCFL") and have not specifically been asked to submit candidates to us for our review, you will not be compensated in any way for your referral of a candidate even if OCFL hires the candidate. Direct contact with our Managing Attorney, our Owner, or any other OCFL employee directly or indirectly in an attempt to present candidates is inappropriate and will be a factor in determining any future professional relationship with OCFL.