Family Law Paralegal

Description:

Paralegal – Family Law Pender & Coward, P.C. | Onsite | Virginia Beach, VA

Pender & Coward, P.C. seeks a detail-oriented Family Law Paralegal to support our attorneys in

Virginia Beach on divorce, custody/parenting time, child and spousal support, equitable

distribution, and protective order matters. This role is ideal for a proactive professional who

delivers compassionate client service, sound judgment, and excellent case management.

Key responsibilities

• Manage client intake, conflicts, and onboarding; serve as day-to-day client contact for

routine updates

• Draft, format, and proof pleadings and correspondence, including complaints/petitions,

motions, discovery requests/responses, financial affidavits, initial disclosures, settlement

proposals, and proposed orders

• Prepare and update financial disclosures; organize and analyze bank statements, tax

returns, retirement accounts, and other records; assist with asset/debt tracing and

equitable distribution schedules

• Calculate child and spousal support guideline worksheets using Virginia guidelines and

approved software

• Coordinate discovery: compile productions, maintain privilege logs, track deadlines, and

arrange subpoenas and depositions

• File pleadings (e-file where available; paper-file as required) and ensure compliance with

Virginia statutes, Rules of Court, and judge-specific/local practices

• Calendar hearings, mediations, and trials; coordinate attorney, client, and expert

schedules

• Prepare hearing/trial exhibits, binders, witness lists, exhibit indexes, and logistics, assist

with pre-marking and deliveries to chambers/clerk

• Communicate with courts, opposing counsel, experts, GALs, and process servers; arrange

and track service of process

• Maintain organized digital case files and workflows in the firm’s case/document

management systems; track time and assist with billing

• Support mediation and settlement conferences; draft term sheets, settlement agreements,

and orders

Requirements:

• At least 3 years of paralegal experience in Family Law is preferred
• Strong drafting, formatting, cite-checking, and proofreading skills; familiarity with

Virginia family court practice (J&DR District Court and Circuit Court)

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and PDF tools; experience with case/document

management systems and Virginia e-filing where available

• Excellent organization and deadline management; able to prioritize in a high-volume

practice with minimal supervision

• Professionalism, discretion, and trauma-informed, empathetic client communication
• Education: bachelor’s degree or paralegal certificate preferred (or equivalent experience)
• Notary public (or willingness to obtain) a plus; bilingual skills a plus

Work Environment

• Full-time position; occasional overtime around hearings/trial
• On-site attendance in Virginia Beach, VA required

Compensation and benefits

• Salary commensurate with experience
• Benefits: medical/dental/vision, 401(k), HSA/FSA, Paid Time Off and Holiday Pay