Why choose a career in family law?
Family law offers an engaging, challenging, fast-paced and highly rewarding career. No two days are ever the same, and advice is always tailored to the individual facts and needs of each case.
While the nature of family law can be unpredictable, at its heart the work is about stepping into people’s lives during difficult moments — helping them navigate complex situations, protect their rights and make informed decisions. Ultimately, our role is to support families so they can move forward and focus on building a more positive future.
So, what does a typical day as a family law paralegal look like?
How I start my day as a family law paralegal
I usually begin my day by checking my calendar for appointments or reminders, such as court hearings, filing deadlines or team meetings. I then review my emails and check our case management system to assess any current or upcoming tasks.
Family law moves quickly, and urgent updates can come in at any time. Staying organised and on top of emails and tasks throughout the day is essential. Adapting to shifting priorities requires strong organisational skills, so planning my workload carefully is key.
The variety of paralegal work in family law
Every day is different, which makes it hard to outline a strict hour-by-hour schedule — but that’s one of the things I enjoy most about being a family law paralegal.
Paralegals play a crucial role in ensuring cases progress smoothly. The workload is varied and constantly evolving, and my day typically includes:
- Client communication
- Coordinating with third parties
- Drafting legal documents
- Preparing court bundles
- Tracking deadlines
- Conducting legal research
- Filing court documents
- Taking notes at conferences
- Attending court hearings
Challenges and key skills for a family law paralegal
One of the most significant aspects of the role is the emotional side of the work. As a paralegal in private family law, much of my work involves divorce and child arrangements cases.
Clients are often facing some of the most stressful and emotional experiences of their lives — from relationship breakdowns and financial uncertainty to concerns about their children’s safety and future. Showing empathy while maintaining professional boundaries and managing expectations is essential to ensuring clients feel supported and heard.
Family law paralegals also play an important role in guiding clients through the legal process, helping them understand what’s happening and what outcomes are realistically achievable, despite the complexity of the issues involved.
Because family law is constantly evolving, staying up to date with legal developments is vital and keeps the role interesting. The position has helped me develop valuable skills including communication, organisation, resilience and empathy — all of which have had a positive impact on both my professional and personal life.
Logging off: work-life balance as a family law paralegal
Being a family law paralegal can mean busy, demanding days. That said, I enjoy balancing my fast-paced working life with a more relaxed and adventurous personal life.
Outside of work, I love taking my dog for long walks in the Welsh countryside, attending aerial classes at the local circus school (a slightly rogue hobby!), catching up with friends and family, exploring furniture and fashion flea markets, and trying out new places to eat.
Is a family law paralegal career right for you?
For anyone considering a career in family law, be prepared for a role that is challenging, ever-changing and incredibly rewarding. If you’re interested in learning more about family law paralegal roles or exploring our current opportunities, we’d love to hear from you.
