Paralegal - 1099 Independent Contractor

California family law matters routed to a Folsom-based client firm, under that firm's supervising attorney.

Primarily remote, with periodic in-person meetings in Folsom as matters require. However, office space is available if you prefer.

READ FIRST — ENGAGEMENT TYPE

This is not an employment opportunity. NCBA Limited does not hire W-2 employees through this listing.

This is a vendor engagement for an independent paralegal services provider operating under California Business & Professions Code § 6450 et seq., structured to satisfy the business-to-business contracting exception under California Labor Code § 2778.

If you are looking for a W-2 paralegal position, an in-office 8-to-5 schedule, employer-provided benefits, paid time off, or an engagement that would constitute your only source of paralegal income — this is not a fit. Please do not apply.

1. About NCBA Limited and This Engagement

NCBA Limited is a California legal operations company that provides infrastructure, technology, staffing coordination, and operational management for a fleet of California law firms. NCBA does not practice law. NCBA contracts with independent paralegal services providers and routes their work product to its client firms for review, supervision, and execution by the supervising attorney.

This engagement supports a California family law, juvenile dependency, estate planning, civil litgation, and probate practice based in Folsom that handles dissolution, custody, child and spousal support, DVRO/TRO matters, judgment work, and juvenile dependency. All substantive work product is reviewed and approved by the supervising attorney before filing or transmission to any client, court, or opposing counsel.

2. Scope of Work

The contracted paralegal services provider will be assigned substantive California family law work, calibrated to NCBA's Contractor Classification & Compensation Guide for the Paralegal tier (Junior Paralegal-tier assignments are available for strong 2–5-year candidates).

• Drafting California Judicial Council family law forms, including the FL-100, FL-110, FL-115, FL-120, FL-141, FL-142, FL-150, FL-180 / FL-190, FL-300 / FL-301, and DV-100 series.
• Preparing Statements of Issues and Contentions, Trial Briefs, and Memorandum of Points & Authorities for attorney review.
• E-filing in Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, and surrounding counties via approved e-filing service providers; preparing courtesy copies and confirming compliance with local rules and court-specific formatting requirements.
• Drafting Requests for Order with supporting declarations; preparing stipulations and proposed orders for attorney review and signature.
• Drafting and responding to written discovery — form interrogatories (FL-145), special interrogatories, requests for production, requests for admission, and subpoenas duces tecum.
• Performing child and spousal support calculations using DissoMaster or XSpouse and preparing support declaration packages.
• Conducting community-vs.-separate-property characterization analysis (including Moore/Marsden calculations and reimbursement claims) where the work falls within the contractor's stated competency.
• Preparing trial binders, witness lists, exhibit lists, and proposed findings; coordinating logistics for contested hearings and trial.
• Maintaining matter calendars and tracking statutory deadlines under the California Rules of Court and local rules.
• Communicating with clients on case status, procedure, and scheduling — without rendering legal advice.

3. Required Qualifications

The successful contractor will satisfy each of the following:

1. Compliance with California Business & Professions Code § 6450: paralegal certificate from an ABA-approved program, OR a bachelor's degree plus one year of attorney-supervised paralegal experience, OR a high-school diploma plus three years of attorney-supervised paralegal experience completed before December 31, 2003.

2. Minimum two (2) years of substantive California family law paralegal experience for Junior Paralegal tier; five (5) years for Paralegal tier.

3. Demonstrated proficiency with Clio Manage (or directly comparable cloud case management software) — drafting tasks, time entries recorded in 0.1-hour (6-minute) increments, document management, and matter calendars.

4. Working knowledge XSpouse for support calculations.

5. Working knowledge of the California Family Code, Code of Civil Procedure, Evidence Code, and California Rules of Court as applied to family law practice.

6. Documented MCLE-equivalent continuing education in California family law within the past 24 months, or willingness to complete same on the contractor's own expense within 90 days of engagement.

7. Strong written communication, professional client demeanor, and the ability to manage a portfolio of matters with limited direction.

4. Compensation

Compensation is per billable hour, recorded to a specific client matter in Clio in 0.1-hour (6-minute) increments. Non-billable time — including internal meetings, training, file organization not attributable to a specific matter, hold times with courts, and general email review — is not compensated. The per-billable-hour rate is set materially above an equivalent W-2 wage to account for self-employment tax (approximately 15.3% on net earnings), the absence of employer-provided benefits, the absence of paid time off, contractor-supplied equipment, software licenses, and professional liability insurance, and the normal contractor utilization gap.

Tier

Experience

Per Billable Hour

Comp Model

Junior Paralegal

2–5 yrs California family law; paralegal certificate or attorney-letter equivalent

$45 – $65 / billable hr

Billable hours only

Paralegal (target)

5–10 yrs California family law; juvenile dependency a plus

$65 – $85 / billable hr

Billable hours only

Tier placement within each range is set at engagement, based on documented years of California family law experience, demonstrated proficiency on a paid trial assignment, and the depth of the contractor's existing practice.

This engagement is structured under the business-to-business contracting exception in California Labor Code § 2778. The contractor is obligated to comply with the requirements of this code section.

What This Engagement Is Not

• Not a W-2 position. NCBA will not provide health, dental, vision, retirement, paid time off, sick leave, or holiday pay. The contractor is responsible for all self-employment taxes.
• Not a full-time, hours-guaranteed engagement. Work volume is matter-driven and varies week to week.
• Not exclusive. NCBA does not restrict the contractor from serving other clients, including other law firms.
• Not an opportunity to give legal advice or appear in court. The contractor is a paralegal — all substantive legal advice and court appearances remain with the supervising attorney.
• Not a path to a W-2 role within NCBA or any of its client firms. NCBA's operating model uses 1099 vendor engagements for all paralegal work; there is no W-2 conversion track.

How to Apply

Send the following to [insert application email]:

• A current CV detailing California family law paralegal experience, employers/clients (with dates), and substantive matter exposure.
• A short cover note (½ to 1 page) describing your independent paralegal services business — entity type, fictitious business name, EIN status, current or recent clients (you may anonymize), and your typical engagement model with law firms.
• A redacted sample of your work product — preferably a Request for Order with supporting declaration, an Income & Expense Declaration package, or a Statement of Issues. Remove all client identifying information.
• Two professional references — preferably supervising attorneys at firms where you have provided paralegal services in the past three years.

NCBA Limited does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, medical condition, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.

This posting is an invitation to negotiate a business-to-business services agreement. It is not an offer of employment and creates no employment relationship. Independent contractor status is determined by the totality of the working relationship under California law, including Labor Code § 2778 and applicable EDD/IRS guidance.

Rates and tier placement are calibrated to NCBA's Contractor Classification & Compensation Guide (Sacramento / Central Valley Market, Effective 2026) and are subject to periodic review.

Job Types: Full-time, Contract

Pay: $60,000.00 - $156,000.00 per year

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Ability to Relocate:

• Folsom, CA 95630: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Folsom, CA 95630

Salary : $60,000 - $156,000