About Us
Established in 1981, Pace Law Firm has dedicated itself to achieving positive changes in clients’ lives by representing them effectively in navigating the legal process, while also redefining the client experience. Today, Pace Law remains dedicated to upholding its signature “client-first” brand. With 150 legal professionals in six offices, our firm serves its clients in over 38 languages.
The Opportunity
We are looking for an experienced Family Law Legal Assistant / Law Clerk to support our lawyer carrying a demanding litigation practice. The caseload consists primarily of complex, high-conflict family law litigation — high-net-worth property and equalization disputes, support claims involving self-employed payors and corporate structures, contested parenting matters, and multi-day motions and trials.
This is not a routine desk. The successful candidate will work files alongside counsel from intake through trial, managing heavy documentary records, hard court deadlines, urgent filings, and emotionally charged client situations with accuracy, composure, and discretion.
What You’ll Do
Litigation & Court Documents
- Draft, prepare, and finalize documents under the Family Law Rules, including Applications (Form 8), Answers and Replies, Financial Statements (Forms 13/13.1), Net Family Property Statements (Form 13B), affidavits (including Form 14A affidavits and Form 35.1 parenting affidavits), conference briefs (Form 17 series), motion materials (Forms 14/14A/14B), Requests to Admit, offers to settle, trial records, draft Orders (Form 25), and affidavits of service
- Assemble, index, and maintain continuing records and motion records; prepare materials for case conferences, settlement conferences, trial management conferences, regular and urgent motions, trials, and appeals
- Support trial and hearing preparation: document briefs, witness lists, examination and cross-examination briefs, exhibit books, and books of authorities
- File materials electronically through Justice Services Online (JSO) and upload, name, and organize hearing documents in Case Center in compliance with filing deadlines and Toronto region practice directions
- Coordinate service with process servers and prepare affidavits of service; commission documents (if appointed)
- Schedule conferences, motions, long motions, and trials with court staff and trial coordinators; maintain the litigation calendar, limitation dates, and bring-forward system
Financial Disclosure, Support, & Property
- Prepare and update child and spousal support calculations in DivorceMate (Child Support Guidelines and SSAG scenarios), including complex and imputed-income situations
- Prepare and update Net Family Property and equalization calculations and comparison schedules
- Organize, index, and manage voluminous financial disclosure — personal and corporate financial statements, banking and investment records, real property and business valuations — and maintain document/disclosure charts
- Track outstanding disclosure requests, undertakings, and refusals arising from questioning, and prepare related charts and follow-up correspondence
- Assemble briefs for and liaise with experts, including chartered business valuators, income and forensic accounting experts, and parenting assessors (s. 30 CLRA assessments), as well as the Office of the Children’s Lawyer
Client Service & Communication
- Act as a primary point of contact for clients, communicating with empathy, patience, and professionalism — including with clients in crisis or in high-conflict circumstances
- Correspond with opposing counsel, court offices, the Family Responsibility Office (FRO), and other third parties
- Prepare routine and complex correspondence from instructions, dictation, or precedents
File & Practice Management
- Conduct conflict checks, prepare retainer agreements, and open, maintain, and close files (electronic and paper)
- Docket time, prepare draft accounts, monitor trust and retainer balances, and prepare costs outlines and Bills of Costs
- Manage lawyers’ calendars and coordinate meetings, questioning, mediations, and arbitrations
What You Bring
- Minimum 5+ years of family law experience in a litigation practice, with meaningful exposure to complex financial disclosure and/or high-conflict parenting litigation
- Strong working knowledge of the Family Law Rules, the Divorce Act, the Family Law Act, and the Children’s Law Reform Act, and of practice and procedure in the Superior Court of Justice and Ontario Court of Justice
- Hands-on proficiency with DivorceMate, Case Center, Justice Services Online, and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
- Demonstrated ability to manage large document sets, competing deadlines, and last-minute urgent filings with accuracy and composure
- Excellent drafting, proofreading, and organizational skills, with meticulous attention to detail
- High degree of discretion, sound judgment, and professionalism in handling confidential and sensitive information
- Ability to work independently, take ownership of files, and anticipate the needs of counsel
Benefits
- Extended Healthcare coverage
- Health Spending Account
- On-site parking
- Bonus Pay
You can find more about our benefits on our website.
Pace Law firm is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified candidates. If you require any accommodation during the application process, please contact HR at Hr@pacelawfirm.com.
