Overview
Pacific Northwest Family Law is seeking an experienced Senior Family Law Paralegal to join our team in Richland, Washington.
This position supports attorneys handling family law matters throughout multiple counties in Washington State, including divorce, custody, child support, relocation, modifications, protection orders, and related proceedings. You will also handle adoptions, guardianships, and some probate matters. The successful candidate will play a critical role in helping attorneys deliver exceptional client service while keeping cases organized, moving forward, and aligned with client goals.
This is not an entry-level position. We are looking for an experienced professional who understands Washington family law practice, enjoys managing complex case workflows, and is capable of handling a substantial billable workload while maintaining excellent client service.
What You’ll Do
- Support attorneys in family law matters from opening through resolution.
- Prepare petitions, summonses, financial declarations, child support worksheets, discovery materials, mediation materials, trial preparation materials, and other routine family law documents under attorney supervision.
- Assist attorneys with preparing for hearings, mediation, settlement conferences, and trial.
- Coordinate discovery requests and responses.
- Communicate with clients regarding information requests, document collection, scheduling, and case progress.
- Track deadlines and help ensure matters remain on schedule.
- Assist attorneys in implementing strategic case plans.
- Organize case files and maintain accurate records in Clio.
- Work collaboratively with attorneys, document clerks, and other legal support staff across multiple offices.
- Help improve workflows, checklists, and procedures as the legal support team grows.
Qualifications
Required:
- Prior Washington family law paralegal experience.
- Demonstrated history of successfully managing a substantial billable workload, typically approximately 1,500 billable hours per year.
- Strong understanding of Washington family law procedures.
- Experience preparing routine family law pleadings, forms, and supporting documents.
- Familiarity with Washington court forms, local court rules, Odyssey, and Washington e-filing systems.
- Ability to locate court rules, forms, and procedural information through Washington court websites and other reliable legal sources.
- Experience supporting discovery, mediation, hearing preparation, and trial preparation.
- Ability to manage multiple active matters simultaneously.
Preferred:
- Familiarity with Clio, Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, MyPleadings, Zoom, vLex, and Google Scholar.
- Spanish language proficiency.
- Experience training or mentoring legal support staff.
- Experience developing workflows, checklists, templates, or office procedures.
Who Will Succeed Here
The ideal candidate is not simply a document preparer. The most successful candidates are professionals who can take a strategic objective from an attorney and turn it into a completed result.
We are looking for someone who:
- Takes ownership of their work.
- Keeps cases moving forward.
- Anticipates problems before they become emergencies.
- Communicates effectively with attorneys, clients, and team members.
- Enjoys creating order from complexity.
- Thinks in terms of systems, processes, and solutions.
- Understands that excellent legal support requires both accuracy and judgment.
- Has leadership potential and a desire for professional growth.
This position performs substantive billable work that is billed to clients at professional rates typically ranging from $180 to $225 per hour. Successful candidates understand that clients expect value, efficiency, professionalism, and excellent communication in exchange for that investment.
Future Leadership Opportunities
Pacific Northwest Family Law is actively investing in the growth of its legal support team. Candidates who demonstrate exceptional organizational ability, client service, initiative, and operational excellence will have opportunities for increased responsibility and future leadership roles as the firm continues to grow.
Application Requirements
To be considered, applicants must submit:
- A resume.
- A cover letter or letter of interest explaining why they are interested in this position and why they believe they would be successful at Pacific Northwest Family Law.
- A written response to the essay “A Message to Garcia.”
Applications that do not include all required materials will not be considered.
Compensation
- $30.00 to $40.00 per hour, depending on experience.
- Paid time off.
- Health benefits.
- Retirement benefits.
- Professional development opportunities.
- Opportunities for advancement and leadership development.
About Pacific Northwest Family Law
Pacific Northwest Family Law serves clients throughout Washington State and is committed to helping families navigate difficult transitions with clarity, strategy, and professionalism. We believe attorneys should focus on legal advice and strategy while a strong support team helps ensure matters remain organized, efficient, and client-focused.
We are looking for professionals who share those values and want to build a long-term career in family law.
Pay: $30.00 - $45.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- During your most productive year as a paralegal or legal assistant, approximately how many billable hours did you personally bill?
- Describe a system, workflow, checklist, or process you created or improved in a prior position.
Work Location: In person
