Family Law Paralegal

Our mission at Utah Legal Services (ULS) is to provide high-quality civil legal aid without cost to people who are unable to afford legal representation or are facing disadvantages, ensuring meaningful access to justice, and promoting education, stability, safety, and protection.

As a Paralegal in ULS's Family Law practice area, the position provides ethical and competent legal support to clients throughout Utah who have low-income or special vulnerabilities. The role supports meaningful access to equal justice through intentional excellence, high-quality legal work, and compassionate client service.

Primary duties and responsibilities include providing legal support on active cases, working directly with clients, collaborating with assigned attorneys, maintaining accurate timekeeping, and complying with applicable rules, laws, regulations, ULS guidelines, and LSC requirements. The position also includes regular communication with the manager, as well as helping guide and mentor team members.

Responsibilities:

• Attend and assist with team meetings that promote discussion about administrative issues, legal skills, and professional development.
• Assist with providing substantive training and coaching in basic litigation skills to develop paralegal and prepare them for casework, hearings, and trial.
• Engage in active team building and create a positive work environment.
• Participate as a member of the hiring committee as requested by the HR Director.
• Provide coaching and mentoring to staff, as invited by management.

Case Management and Legal Work:

• Use the ULS case management system, LegalServer, to bill time, manage clients and track case-related tasks and deadlines for timely communications, services, and representation.
• Follow case handling protocols and best practices.
• Support a ULS attorney by maintaining an average caseload of 60-120 cases based on the level of service and your other workload and duties.
• Regularly and strategically review case status and tasks, updating as needed.
• Review cases for Case Service Report (CSR) compliance and then properly close cases.
• Actively meet with your assigned attorney to do case reviews and to make sure cases are proceeding timely.

Additional Tasks:

• Maintain relationships with current community partners and develop new relationships that will further ULS's mission and aid in improving the legal services we provide.
• Attend ULS staff meetings.
• Complete appropriate continuing education and certification requirements such as continuing legal education (CLEs).
• Participate in and develop community engagement efforts including at clinics, community education classes, and outreach to further ULS's mission and maintain relationships with community partners and stakeholders.
• Train and oversee volunteers, as assigned.

Skills and Abilities:

• A strong commitment to assisting people with low incomes and special vulnerabilities and promoting meaningful access to civil legal justice.
• Excellent interpersonal abilities.
• High verbal and written communication skills.
• High level of adaptability and ability to manage stress.
• Self-motivated, dependable, detailed, and accountable.
• Commitment and adherence to strict confidentiality rules.
• Work experience in one of the following legal areas is preferred: domestic law, housing, consumer protection, debt defense, public benefits, Native American law, or migrant worker law.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of diverse people, ability, culture, and ethnic background to maintain good relationships.

Qualifications:

• Must be able to pass a Utah Criminal Record background check.
• Admission to the Utah State Bar Paralegal Division (or the ability and plan to apply as soon as possible).
• Possess previous legal experience (often 3+ years), strong preference for family law.
• Demonstrate the ability to lead, supervise, and motivate others.
• Ability to analyze complex situations and make sound decisions to benefit ULS and our clients.
• Knowledge of or experience with Utah's criminal record expungement process is preferred.

Benefits:

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Employer-paid vision insurance
• Generous paid-time off (21 days per year) and increases on your first anniversary
• 13 paid holidays
• 403(b) retirement plan with a monthly employer match, plus automatic monthly contributions
• Employer-paid short and long-term disability coverage
• 4 weeks paid parental leave
• Employer monthly stipend to assist staff with benefit cost.