Job Description
Job Overview
Seeking a fully remote Family Law Contractor for a unique, highly part-time, flexible, "work when you want, where you want" Contractor/Outside Counsel role. For cases where we work with the client directly, you'd be paid 20% of our total earned fees for assistance with the case (behind the scenes, no client contact). For cases in the collar counties where in-person appearances are required (Will, DuPage, etc.), we pay Of Counsels $300 per hour to fully handle the case.
For example, if the firm earns $3,200 in a post-decree custody matter that you have assisted us with substantively, you will be paid $640 total over the life of the case (paid monthly based on what we billed the client that month). For a divorce we end up collecting $7,248 on, you'd earn $1,450 over the life of the case.
This is an excellent, highly part-time and low-commitment way to use your family law expertise for extra income. The role is ideal for an experienced family law practitioner looking for additional income, a part-time family law practitioner looking for extra work, or someone looking to wind down their practice/retire but still work part-time. Some months, we may be working on multiple family law cases with your help (higher end-of-month pay due to higher billings) while other months may be slower with less family law billings.
Duties
Timely respond to the firm when we reach out for assistance (typically within 1 business day).
Provide guidance on the intricacies and formalities of filing with the courts in Chicago and the collar counties (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Will, McHenry, etc.) whether in person or on the Odyssey platform.
Provide sample court documents and templates necessary in a case.
Review work product with the necessary attention to detail to determine if any documents/requirements are missing, incomplete, contain omissions, or should be formatted differently or contain different language, etc. (upon request)./
Assist us in preparing for hearings or court appearances (upon request).
If needed, guidance on how to handle a matter from beginning to end – both from an administrative standpoint (filing, service, procedure, etc.) and with regard to substantive legal argumentation and strategy – whether the matter is a divorce, custody issue, child support issue, pre-nuptial agreement, or any other family matter.
No duty to interact with our clients or speak to them directly (unless it is a collar county case which you are handling) but strict client confidentiality is nevertheless required.
Skills
Have strong knowledge of Cook County and collar county courts, how they work, what they expect, and how to succeed when dealing with them.
Strong legal drafting and document review skills.
Strong understanding of IL family law/divorce statutes, case law, and procedure.
Strong attention to detail to detect any issues with our filings/submissions prior to filing with the court or responding to opposing counsel.
Ability to analyze complex information and provide clear recommendations.
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, to effectively convey to us what we need to know.
Excellent attention to detail and ability to assist with multiple cases simultaneously.
Consistently responsive, thorough, and conscientiousness.
Requirements
Must be an IL-licensed attorney.
Should live in the Chicagoland area.
At least 4 or more years of diverse family law/divorce experience - everything from custody and child support cases, to various post-decree matters, to uncontested and contested divorce.
Extensive trial and motion practice experience.
Highly knowledgeable about filing, service, and procedural requirements.
Strong background in settling/resolving cases quickly and efficiently.
Strong financial acumen/background to assist with asset division, child support and maintenance calculations, and business valuations, etc.
Experience in mediation a plus.
Experience in guardianships, probate, estate planning, or other civil litigation is a plus.
The ability to be patient, clear, highly responsive, and highly helpful is a must.
Must be comfortable working fully remotely and communicating by email, phone and Zoom.
Must be comfortable with in-person appearances for cases in the collar counties that you will handle as Of Counsel.
Please apply with a Resume and Letter (not a cover letter, max. 1 page). The Letter should give us a more well-rounded view of your family law experience and highlight the diversity and breadth of your experience in a way that your Resume may not.
Thank you.
Pay: $70.00 - $300.00 per hour
Expected hours: 1.0 – 10.0 per week
Work Location: Remote
