8.11.2025

LOCATION: St. Joseph (on-site)

GENERAL PURPOSE:

Under general direction, the Paralegal will provide support and assistance to the family law attorneys during all phases of domestic relations matters including the discovery process, document collection and preservation, document review, document preparation and production and maintaining electronic case file.  In addition, the Paralegal will assist with research, investigations, and fact checking.  The primary area of law is Family Law and requires knowledge of the preparation and processing of legal documents, legal terminology, discovery, family law procedure, the court systems, and relevant administrative agencies.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Collect background information on clients, including marriage certificates, sources of support, residence, employment, income, assets, liabilities, and number of children.
• Assist clients in preparing monthly income and expense sheets.
• Determine spousal support requirements and calculate child support.
• Analyze retirement benefits and determine division of benefits.
• Investigate and trace non-marital claims of the clients.
• Draft petitions for dissolution or complaints for divorce; draft responses to same.
• Draft discovery requests for information relating to assets, liabilities, and income.
• Draft mediation summaries and proposed stipulations.
• Draft applications for temporary relief, temporary restraining orders, and other temporary motions affidavits, and orders.
• Draft protective orders, including non-contact, anti-stalking, and restraining.
• Act as a witness to the removal of personal property from marital home; prepare inventory, if necessary.
• Arrange for private investigators; request and review written report.
• Prepare analyses of assets reports, summaries of major issues and drafts of settlement proposals.
• Draft property settlement agreement; decree of dissolution; petition for adoption and related documents; petition for name change; and emergency and ex parte motion practice.
• Prepare attorney's fee exhibit and supporting documentation with estimated total costs.
• Draft quit claim deeds or other documents for transfer of property ownership.
• Draft necessary garnishments, writs of execution, or wage assignments.
• Monitor and ensure all money judgments are timely paid and that partial or full satisfaction of judgments are drafted and filed.
• Draft modifications of previous court orders concerning child support and visitation as well as restraining orders.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Proficient in the use of online legal research services and legal resources including PACER and LexisNexis.
• Excellent communication skills (both oral and written).
• Must have sound judgment.
• Must be able to work independently with minimal supervision.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND/OR TRAINING:

• Bachelor’s degree and Paralegal certification from an ABA approved program is required.
• This is an experienced position that requires two (2) to eight (8) years of Paralegal experience with demonstrated abilities in most major areas of responsibility.

To submit your resume or for more information regarding this career opportunity, please contact recruiting@butzel.com.