Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Family Law Clerk

🎯 Role Definition

Are you a compassionate, detail-oriented, and highly organized legal professional? This role requires a dedicated Family Law Clerk to join our dynamic team. In this pivotal role, you will be the backbone of our family law practice, providing comprehensive support to our lawyers and acting as a key point of contact for our clients. You will manage complex files from inception to conclusion, handling sensitive information with the utmost discretion and ensuring the seamless progression of each case. This position is ideal for a proactive individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about helping families navigate challenging transitions with professionalism and empathy.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Legal Administrative Assistant
Recent Law Clerk or Paralegal Program Graduate
Junior Clerk in another practice area

Advancement To:

Senior Family Law Clerk / Senior Paralegal
Law Firm Manager / Office Manager
Law School (pursuing a path to become a Lawyer)

Lateral Moves:

Litigation Clerk / Paralegal
Wills and Estates Clerk
Corporate Law Clerk

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Drafting, preparing, and editing a wide range of legal documents and correspondence, including applications, answers, affidavits, financial statements, net family property statements, and motion materials.
Managing and organizing complex client files from inception to completion, ensuring all documentation is accurately filed and critical deadlines are meticulously tracked and met.
Serving as a primary liaison for clients, providing regular case updates, gathering necessary information, and managing client expectations with empathy and unwavering professionalism.
Preparing and commissioning Affidavits of Documents, and methodically organizing all client disclosure materials for both internal review and external production.
Independently managing lawyers' calendars, including scheduling client appointments, mediations, arbitrations, court appearances, and consultations.
Preparing comprehensive financial disclosure briefs, ensuring full compliance with the Family Law Rules and all procedural requirements.
Calculating child and spousal support scenarios and projecting property equalization payments using specialized software like DivorceMate.
Communicating professionally and effectively with opposing counsel, court administration staff, expert witnesses, and other third parties via telephone and email.
Assisting lawyers in thorough preparation for all stages of the legal process, including initial client meetings, case conferences, mediations, and court hearings.
Maintaining and utilizing a detailed bring-forward system to monitor and action limitation periods, deadlines, and follow-up tasks.
Conducting targeted legal research using online databases such as CanLII and Westlaw to find relevant case law and support case strategy.
Handling the complete administrative lifecycle of a file, including opening new client matters, performing conflict checks, and executing file-closing procedures.
Drafting routine and substantive correspondence, reporting letters, and other communications for lawyer review and finalization.
Preparing comprehensive trial materials, including document books, witness lists, and trial management conference briefs, to support litigation efforts.
Filing legal documents with the court through the Family Law Submission Online portal and adhering to all current e-filing protocols and court directives.
Coordinating the formal service of legal documents on opposing parties and third parties, and preparing and swearing Affidavits of Service.
Summarizing extensive financial documents, discovery transcripts, and other evidentiary materials to provide concise overviews for lawyer review.
Assisting with the client billing process by meticulously docketing time, preparing draft invoices for review, and addressing client billing inquiries.
Ensuring all client information and sensitive case details are handled with the highest level of confidentiality and discretion.
Coordinating with process servers, couriers, and other external vendors to ensure timely and efficient handling of case-related logistics.

Secondary Functions

Assisting with the client intake process, including initial screening of potential new clients and gathering preliminary case information.
Participating in ongoing professional development and firm-wide training to stay current with changes in family law and legal technology.
Providing mentorship and guidance to junior administrative staff or co-op students within the firm.
Assisting with the maintenance of precedent documents and firm-wide knowledge management resources.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficiency in DivorceMate: Essential for calculating support and property division scenarios.
Legal Software Expertise: Strong working knowledge of PCLaw, Clio, or similar legal practice management software for billing and file management.
Microsoft Office Suite: Advanced skills in Word, Outlook, and Excel for drafting, communication, and data organization.
Knowledge of Family Law Rules: Deep understanding of the Ontario Family Law Rules and court procedures.
Legal Research Skills: Competency in using online legal research platforms like CanLII and Westlaw.
E-filing Proficiency: Experience with the Ministry's Justice Services Online portal for court filings.
Document Management: Skill in using document management systems to organize and maintain large volumes of electronic files.
Accurate & Fast Typing: High words-per-minute count with exceptional accuracy.
Drafting & Proofreading: Meticulous ability to draft legal documents and correspondence free of grammatical and formatting errors.
Calendar Management: Expertise in managing multiple complex calendars and scheduling various legal proceedings.

Soft Skills

Exceptional Attention to Detail: A crucial skill for ensuring accuracy in all documents, calculations, and deadlines.
Superior Organizational & Time Management: Ability to prioritize a heavy workload and manage competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Empathy & Compassion: The ability to interact with clients going through difficult situations with sensitivity and understanding.
Excellent Communication: Clear, professional, and articulate written and verbal communication skills.
Discretion and Confidentiality: Unwavering commitment to maintaining client confidentiality.
Proactive & Self-Motivated: A strong ability to take initiative, anticipate needs, and work independently with minimal supervision.
Problem-Solving Ability: Resourcefulness in identifying issues and finding effective solutions.
Resilience Under Pressure: The capacity to remain calm, focused, and effective when facing tight deadlines and high-pressure situations.
Client-Service Orientation: A genuine desire to provide outstanding support and service to clients.
Team-Oriented Mindset: A collaborative spirit and willingness to support colleagues to achieve team goals.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

A Law Clerk or Paralegal diploma/certificate from an accredited post-secondary institution.

Preferred Education:

An advanced diploma or certification in a legal field.
Member in good standing with the Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario (ILCO).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Law Clerk / Paralegal Studies
Legal Administration

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-7 years of dedicated experience working as a Law Clerk or Paralegal.

Preferred: A minimum of 3 years of direct, hands-on experience within a busy family law practice is strongly preferred.