Family Law Paralegal

About the Firm

MacElree Harvey is a mid-sized, regional law firm established in 1880 with its primary office in West Chester, Pennsylvania. The firm provides exceptional legal services to both local and national clients in the areas of litigation, family law, land use, trusts and estates, and business law.

This position is with the Family Law Department, which assists Delaware and Pennsylvania clients in navigating the financial and emotional issues often arising in family law cases. The department strives to foster a productive and collaborative work environment that also encourages professional growth and a healthy work-life balance. Our team is committed to the firm’s brand—Initiative in Practice—which includes the pursuit of excellence, innovation, and the best possible results for our clients.

Position Overview

Support attorneys to effectively handle family law cases, including but not limited to divorce, child custody, support, adoption and name change cases.

• Handles day-to-day management of family law cases.
• Reviews, organizes and analyzes cases. Determines next step, resolution strategy and drafts documents. 
• Meetings with case assigned attorneys and their clients. 
• Drafts the pleadings and documents necessary, including but not limited to letters, complaints, stipulations and proposed orders, summary of support calculations, research memos, emergency petitions, adoption and name change petitions, special relief petitions, motions, hearing notices, subpoenas, premarital and post-nuptial settlement agreements.
• Drafts requests for production of documents and interrogatories. Provides responses to those offered by other parties.
• Reviews client documentation, such as marital estates, and prepares business income and marital estate summaries, inventories, settlement statements and pretrial statements.
• Responsible for obtaining proper service.
• Handles case and attorney preparation for court appearances and exhibit creation. 
• Handles calculation, docketing and meeting court deadlines.
• Reviews attorney mail and manages calendar. Client support for vacationing attorneys. 
• Scheduling, including but not limited to, hearings, conferences, depositions and settlement conferences.
• Handles significant interaction with clients, opposing counsels and experts via correspondence, telephone, e-mail and in-person meetings.
• Acts as mediator between attorney and client in dealing with legal and emotional aspects of a case.  
• Conducts investigations and gathers information and documents relevant to making decisions upon the criteria and evidence that is obtained. 
• Files, organizes and maintains client files.
• Conducts legal research in Lexis Nexis and Westlaw Next, Accurint, and other search engines and databases. Uses all available resources including libraries and computer data systems.
• Stays current with legal library materials available for efficient and effective delivery of legal services.
• Delivery of first rate legal services. 
• Provides instruction of family law to benefit attorneys and staff. 
• Communicates with family law department to share information and build a quality family law department at MacElree Harvey. 
• Maintains and builds relationships with legal professionals at the Chester County Justice Center and legal professionals in neighboring counties. 
• Maintains expert family law status regarding state and local rules, statutes and unwritten county procedures. 
• Attends continuing legal education and firm seminars. Reads professional magazines and newspapers. 
• Maintains and builds upon MacElree Harvey client services goals.

Position Specifications:

• Paralegal certificate or Associates Degree required. Bachelor’s Degree preferred. 
• 8 - 10 years paralegal experience supporting mid-size family law practice required with significant legal writing skills and case analysis. 
• Must have experience in drafting pleadings and documents, and, preparing cases for complex family law litigation. Must possess working knowledge of family law, state and county rules and procedures for five counties in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
• Computer proficient with working knowledge of MS Outlook, MS Word, iManage, PA guideline support calculations, Lexis, Westlaw, and legal search engines.
• Must exhibit a high degree of initiative in managing multiple priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, detail-oriented work environment utilizing excellent judgment and decision-making skills.
• Exhibits a high degree of initiative and critical thinking skills.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with firm contributions
• Opportunities for professional development and continuing legal education
• Supportive and inclusive work environment that collaboration