Family Paralegal

Family Paralegal – Central Manchester (Hybrid)

Location: Central Manchester

Working Pattern: Hybrid – 3 days in the office, 2 days from home

Experience Level: Minimum 1 year in Family Law

Salary: Competitive DOE

Firm: Well-established specialist family law practice (name confidential)

Overview:

A highly regarded boutique family law practice in central Manchester is seeking an experienced and ambitious Family Paralegal to join their growing team. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated paralegal looking to take the next step in their career, with a clear pathway to leading and supervising junior paralegals in the near future.

The ideal candidate will have at least 1 year of dedicated family law experience, strong drafting skills, and the ability to manage a busy and varied caseload under supervision. This firm offers a supportive culture, high-quality private family work, and long-term career progression.

Key Responsibilities:

Casework Support

• Assist fee earners with a broad range of private family law matters, including divorce, financial remedy, child arrangements, cohabitation disputes, separation agreements, and pre- and post-nuptial matters.
• Manage and progress your own files under supervision, taking responsibility for day-to-day case management.
• Prepare court bundles, chronologies, instructions to counsel, schedules of assets, and case summaries.

Drafting & Documentation

• Draft key legal documents including statements, court applications, Form E financial disclosure, client attendance notes, and detailed correspondence.
• Prepare client care packs, engagement letters, and cost estimates.

Client & Third-Party Liaison

• Act as a key point of contact for clients, providing regular updates and handling sensitive family matters with professionalism and empathy.
• Liaise with courts, counsel, experts, mediators, and other solicitors to progress cases efficiently.
• Support clients through the emotional and practical complexities of family disputes.

Team & Leadership Support

• Assist with training, delegating tasks, and supporting junior paralegals as the department grows.
• Demonstrate leadership potential, taking responsibility for workflow, quality of work, and team coordination when required.
• Contribute to the development of internal processes and best practices.

General Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate file management and ensure compliance with regulatory and firm standards.
• Conduct legal research to support ongoing matters and case strategy.
• Work collaboratively within a busy team environment, supporting colleagues during peak periods or absences.

Requirements:

• Minimum 1 year of experience working in family law (essential).
• Strong understanding of private family law procedures and court processes.
• Excellent drafting, communication, and organisational skills.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive matters with discretion and professionalism.
• Confident managing a varied workload and working to deadlines.
• Experience preparing bundles, disclosure, and court documentation desirable.
• Ambition to progress into a team-leading or supervisory position.
• Legal qualifications (LLB, LPC, SQE, or equivalent) are advantageous but not essential.

What the Firm Offers:

• Competitive salary dependent on experience.
• Hybrid working: 3 days in office, 2 days from home.
• Clear career progression with the opportunity to step into a leadership role.
• Supportive environment with close mentoring from senior solicitors.
• Exposure to high-quality private family law work.
• Friendly, close-knit team culture with regular professional development opportunities.