We are seeking a Part-Time Family Law Associate Attorney to join our growing legal team. This is a flexible, primarily remote position for a California-licensed attorney who is comfortable working directly with clients, managing family law matters, conducting prospective-client consultations, and collaborating with attorneys, paralegals, and legal support staff.
The attorney's primary responsibility will be handling California family law matters, including client consultations, case strategy, drafting, discovery, negotiations, and court appearances.
An important component of this position is conducting prospective-client consultations, which are scheduled primarily during afternoon hours. The attorney should therefore have regular weekday afternoon availability to coordinate with the firm's intake team and prospective clients.
The attorney may also assist the firm's Civil Litigation practice as secondary counsel when additional attorney support is needed. Prior civil litigation experience is preferred but not required. Where the attorney does not have experience with a particular type of civil matter, the firm will provide appropriate training, supervision, and mentoring before assigning substantive responsibilities.
This position is well suited for an attorney seeking substantive family law experience, courtroom exposure, direct client interaction, and the opportunity to develop broader civil litigation skills while maintaining a flexible part-time schedule.
Primary Responsibilities
1. Family Law Case Management & Representation
- Manage an assigned caseload of California family law matters under the firm's case-management procedures.
- Handle matters involving divorce, legal separation, child custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, property division, domestic violence restraining orders, premarital and postmarital agreements, and related family law proceedings.
- Review case files, identify legal and factual issues, and develop appropriate case strategies.
- Draft and review pleadings, declarations, Requests for Order, responsive declarations, motions, settlement proposals, discovery, correspondence, and other legal documents.
- Conduct and respond to written discovery and assist with depositions when appropriate.
- Prepare for and appear at hearings, status conferences, settlement conferences, and other court proceedings.
- Negotiate with opposing counsel and self-represented parties when appropriate.
- Conduct legal research concerning California statutes, rules of court, local rules, and relevant case law.
- Monitor deadlines and ensure assigned cases progress efficiently.
- Maintain accurate case notes, tasks, deadlines, and electronic files using the firm's case-management systems.
- Communicate regularly with clients regarding case status, strategy, deadlines, expectations, and required documentation.
- Work collaboratively with paralegals, legal assistants, administrative staff, and supervising attorneys.
2. Prospective-Client Consultations
- Conduct focused consultations with prospective family law clients in coordination with the firm's intake team.
- Maintain regular weekday afternoon availability, as most prospective-client consultations are scheduled during afternoon hours.
- Review intake information before consultations and identify the prospective client's primary legal issues, potential options, risks, and next steps.
- Explain California family law procedures and potential representation in clear, understandable terms.
- Quickly assess whether the prospective client's matter is appropriate for the firm.
- Discuss the potential scope and value of legal representation when appropriate.
- Assist qualified prospective clients in moving from consultation to retention while maintaining all applicable ethical obligations.
- Communicate appropriate follow-up instructions and recommendations to the firm's intake team.
- Maintain a professional, responsive, and client-centered approach throughout the consultation and retention process.
3. Civil Litigation Support
As needed, the attorney may provide secondary attorney support for the firm's civil litigation matters.
Assignments may include:
- Legal research and analysis.
- Drafting pleadings, motions, oppositions, replies, and other court filings.
- Drafting and responding to written discovery.
- Reviewing documents and evidence.
- Assisting with deposition preparation.
- Preparing case chronologies, factual summaries, and litigation strategy materials.
- Assisting with settlement negotiations and mediation preparation.
- Preparing for hearings, conferences, depositions, and trial.
- Providing attorney coverage for appearances when appropriate based on the attorney's training and experience.
- Supporting the primary attorney responsible for the matter.
Prior civil litigation experience is preferred but not required. Attorneys without substantial civil litigation experience may receive assignments appropriate to their existing competency while developing additional skills through firm-provided training, mentoring, and supervision.
The firm does not expect an attorney to independently handle unfamiliar matters without appropriate preparation and support.
Qualifications
- Active membership and good standing with the State Bar of California.
- California family law experience strongly preferred.
- Ability to maintain regular weekday afternoon availability for prospective-client consultations.
- Strong legal research, analysis, and writing skills.
- Ability to communicate effectively with clients concerning sensitive and sometimes emotionally difficult matters.
- Ability to quickly evaluate prospective-client circumstances and communicate potential legal options clearly.
- Ability to independently manage assigned matters while recognizing when consultation or supervision is appropriate.
- Strong organizational and deadline-management skills.
- Professional judgment and commitment to ethical client representation.
- Ability to work collaboratively with attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, intake personnel, and administrative staff.
- Comfortable working in a technology-driven and primarily remote law firm.
- Willingness to learn and assist with civil litigation matters as needed.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience handling California divorce, custody, support, property, or domestic violence matters.
- Experience drafting Requests for Order and responsive family law pleadings.
- California family court appearance experience.
- Discovery and deposition experience.
- Civil litigation experience.
- Motion practice experience.
- Negotiation, mediation, or settlement experience.
- Trial or evidentiary hearing experience.
- Experience conducting prospective-client consultations.
- Experience with client intake and retention.
- Experience using legal case-management and client-intake systems.
- Spanish fluency or professional proficiency.
Position Structure
The position is intended to focus primarily on:
- Managing and supporting California family law matters;
- Conducting prospective-client consultations, primarily during weekday afternoons;
- Drafting, discovery, negotiation, and court appearances; and
- Providing secondary attorney support to the firm's Civil Litigation practice as needed.
Family law will remain the attorney's primary practice area. Civil litigation assignments are intended to provide additional support to the firm's litigation team and broaden the associate's practical experience.
The successful candidate should be comfortable combining substantive legal work with regular prospective-client interaction and retention responsibilities.
Schedule
This is a part-time position with a flexible schedule, subject to case obligations and the firm's consultation schedule.
Candidates should have consistent weekday afternoon availability, as the majority of prospective-client consultations are conducted during afternoon hours.
Additional availability may occasionally be required for:
- Court hearings and appearances;
- Client meetings;
- Internal case conferences;
- Depositions or mediations; and
- Time-sensitive litigation matters.
Because California court appearances may be required, the attorney must be able to appear remotely or in person when necessary and appropriate.
Compensation
$45.00–$55.00 per hour, depending on experience and qualifications.
Benefits
- Flexible schedule
- Professional development assistance
- Training and mentoring
- Opportunity to develop additional civil litigation experience
- Referral program
Language
License/Certification
- California Bar License – Required
Work Location
Remote, with California court appearances or other in-person appearances required as necessary for assigned matters.
Pay: $45.00 - $55.00 per hour
Expected hours: 15.0 per week
Benefits:
License/Certification:
- CA Bar license (Required)
Work Location: Remote
