PURPOSE
The Family Law credential documents the essential competencies for paralegals, legal assistants, and other professionals in the performance of family legal related matters.
AUDIENCE
This credential is designed for paralegals, legal assistants, and other professionals involved in family legal matters such as probation and parole officers, therapists and marriage and family counselors, police and detectives, and social workers and human services professionals who are involved in legal matters related to family, child abuse, child custody, child neglect, parenthood, and marriage and divorce situations.
JOB/CAREER REQUIREMENTS
Professionals involved in family law matters must understand the law related to marital and non-marital relationships, separation and divorce agreements, annulment agreements, child support and child custody, adoption, child abuse and neglect, family violence, and issues related to reproductive technology and related issues.
FAMILY LAW WORKPLACE TASKS:
- Paralegals and legal assistants - investigate facts of a case and conduct research on relevant laws, regulations, and legal articles related to family legal matters.
- Paralegals and legal assistants organize and maintain documents, gather and arrange evidence and other legal documents, and write reports to help lawyers in family legal matters.
- Paralegals and legal assistants draft correspondence and legal documents to help lawyers in family legal matters.
- Paralegals and legal assistants handle exhibits, take notes, and review trial transcripts to assist lawyers during trials in family legal matters.
- Paralegals and legal assistants file exhibits, briefs, appeals, and other legal documents with the court and opposing counsel in family legal matters.
- Paralegals and legal assistants call clients, witnesses, lawyers, and outside vendors to schedule interviews, meetings, and depositions in family legal matters.
- Mental health, marriage, and family counselors often conduct evaluations, assist attorneys in understanding psychological issues, and help clients present the best version of their true selves to the court as well as provide insightful information to judges to help them understand needs of children and family members in family legal matters.
- Probation and parole officers evaluate offenders to determine the best course of rehabilitation, restrictions, and involvement with family and children.
- Police and detectives must understand family law in domestic violence, child abuse, child neglect, divorce and separation, and parenthood-related situations when enforcing the laws and investigating law violations.
- Social and human services professionals are often involved in domestic violence, child abuse, child neglect, divorce and separation, and parenthood-related situations, and other legal issues related to minors and families.
EXAM STRUCTURE OVERVIEW
Number of Questions in Exam: 90
Total Time: 90 minutes
Overall Passing Score: 70%
(All sections require an individual passing score of 70%)
