Family Law Attorney

Profile

Job description:

Location: Murrieta, CA

Schedule: Full-Time

Compensation: $57-$86/hr

Forma

Overview:

The Attorney’s primary function is to represent clients of the firm in their legal matter including appearing at short cause hearings, evidentiary hearings, long cause hearings and domestic violence restraining orders in a client’s case, preparing court documents for filing, work directly with clients on their legal matter and assign tasks to paralegal and staff to properly represent the client. In addition, the Attorney sets legal strategy relating to all assigned cases and team oversight. From time to time, the Attorney will assist in developing and conducting training materials and training to other Attorneys, Paralegals and Family Law Assistants of the Firm.

The Attorney is an Exempt position.

Reporting Relationship:

The Attorney reports to the Managing Partner of the Firm.

Authority:

The Attorney works under the general direction of the Owners and has a broad degree of discretion with respect to control of cases assigned to him/her. As it relates to supervision of Paralegals and Family Law Assistants, the Attorney has only that authority that is specifically delegated by the Owners. The Attorney manages the work on the cases and the Director of Operations oversees employment relationships with the Firm.

The Attorney is required to practice law following the standards set forth in the California Rules of Professional Conduct and/or California Corporations Code. All work done by the Attorney must be in support of accomplishing the advancement or completion of a client’s case.

Responsibilities:

Manage client cases

Determine what pleadings are required to be filed with the court

Ensure all cases meet statutory deadlines for filed pleadings and discovery deadlines

Determine case strategy, including but not limited to issue spotting and appropriateness of discovery, in proceeding with various aspects of a case

Correspond with client and opposing counsel as necessary

Review and respond to correspondence from client and opposing counsel.

Advise clients on their legal options in determining course of litigation and/or settlement.

As needed complete initial strategy meeting with client at inception of representation by firm.

Prepare clients for hearings and depositions.

Prepare case strategy and case strategy team oversight while giving direction on all complex cases, including cases set for long cause hearings.

Represent clients in litigation at various hearings including:

Short Cause

Long Cause/Evidentiary hearings

Domestic Violence Restraining Orders

Mandatory Settlement Conference

Sit first chair in Trials as needed

Oversee all case tasks

Strategize on cases assigned to other Attorneys and Partners and assist when requested on cases assigned primarily to another Attorney of the firm.

Managing, generating and monitoring the pipeline report for case progress including various team meeting and review reports from Partners.

Monitoring and reporting on the case management process, production costs and staffing requirements, Reporting Meeting to Owners and assistance on Legal Team meeting billing and collection KPIs.

As needed, plan and conduct the training and ongoing education of Associate Attorneys and reporting to Owners.

As needed, conduct quarterly reviews of assigned legal team assessing substantive legal work, compliance with policies and procedures, KPIs and professional development goals with the assistance of the Director of Operations.

Matrix of Tasks

Daily

Review and prioritize of case files according to the Firm’s case management system

Coordinate with legal team daily on client work to be completed.

Ensure case deadlines are calendared and being met.

Strategize with legal team on necessary tasks to be completed on client matters.

Meet with clients both in the office and on the phone to discuss:

Case status

Review of pleadings and discovery responses

Preparation for court hearing

Review/Prepare settlement offers and advise client on legal rights regarding settlement as well as ramifications of proceeding to court

Draft and review correspondence with opposing counsel

Review, advise and authorize pleadings drafted by legal team

Respond to client inquiries on an as needed basis

Appear at court hearings on assigned cases or as coverage to other Attorneys

Respond to legal inquiries from Attorneys, Partners and Owners

Create and Develop Case Strategy for all assigned cases and assist with case strategy for all Firm Clients

Training and ongoing education of Associate Attorneys, Paralegals and Family Law Assistants, as needed.

Weekly

File review meeting to determine necessary tasks for upcoming weeks on client files

Case strategy meetings with client when retained

Various meetings TBD with Attorneys, Partners and Owners

Review of Pipeline Report, Case Management Reports, and Billing Reports

Reporting to Owners on Pipeline, Case Management and Training

Monthly

Various meetings TBD with Owners and Other Managers

Education & Experience

Must have graduated from an ABA or California accredited law school and be admitted to the State Bar of California

Must have no less than 5 years of California litigation experience, preferably in family law

Must have prior experience as first-chair in no less 10 long cause hearings or equivalent experience

Must have prior experience as first-chair in no less than 10 domestic violence restraining order hearings or equivalent experience

Must have experience in complex cases including both business evaluations and child custody evaluations or comparable financial issues

Key Performance Indicators

Average of 1600 billable hours per year, 400 a quarter, 133.3 a month

Completion of Case Management and Status Tracking (Pipeline Report) - Reporting with 100% accuracy on deadlines, identifying Issues and Forecasting potential issues with meeting deadlines and creating a strategy to address any clogs/issues with the flow of a case (in accordance with the estimated movement of a case from open to close)

Attend Bi-Weekly Next Step Meeting

0 missed Statutory Deadlines

0 substantiated complaints from internal or external customers regarding service, behavior or work product.

Experience:

 

• California litigation: 5 years (Preferred)

 

Work Location: In person

Company info

Confidential