Family lawyers specialize in handling some of the most sensitive legal matters for their clients, including matters such as divorce, child custody and restraining orders against domestic abusers.
Are You Thinking About Entering Family Law? Step One Is Earning a Bachelor’s Degree. Step Two Will be to Take and Pass the LSAT Test
Education
Aspiring family lawyers should start their journey by enrolling in a bachelor’s program that matches their career goals. Common undergraduate majors include political science, sociology, criminal justice and English – these degrees are accepted by law schools. Once admitted into law school the next step should be to successfully complete their Juris Doctorate Degree program which offers intensive 3-year legal knowledge enhancement while honing necessary skills such as litigation and mediation practice areas.
At law school, it’s vital that law students gain exposure to family law early through clinic or externship experiences. Students can also gain experience working part-time jobs or volunteering with non-profits that specialize in domestic violence, child advocacy or estate planning issues.
Once a lawyer completes their JD, they should seek employment that specializes in family law to be fully prepared for their first year of practice. Joining a professional organization would help build connections among family lawyers while staying abreast of legal trends and developments in their field.
Experience
As with other attorneys, family attorneys need a bachelor’s degree and law school education before being eligible to take the bar exam. Once licensed to practice law in any jurisdiction, family lawyers can work in nonprofit organizations, private practice settings or government agencies; some also opt to complete post-JD studies to further specialize in an emotionally difficult area of law practice to better serve clients.
When selecting an undergraduate major, no single decision can be viewed as correct. Instead, focus on picking an undergraduate program that will enable you to get into your desired law school with an excellent GPA. Classes such as psychology, sociology, business administration, government studies, history and English could all prove invaluable when applying. In order to gain experience before graduating, consider joining a family law or mediation clinic before graduation – this hands-on experience will equip you with all of the knowledge and abilities necessary to excel in this rewarding field of practice – family lawyers help clients navigate divorces, custody disputes, adoptions as well as any life changes that affect family relations.
Licensing
As is true for lawyers across legal fields, family lawyers need the same attributes that their peers in other practice areas possess – written and verbal communication skills, time management abilities and critical thinking abilities are essential in this particular practice area. Furthermore, given that family law deals with highly personal situations it is especially essential that prospective lawyers possess strong interpersonal abilities.
Due to the emotional weight of some cases–divorces, custody disputes, emancipation–family lawyers must be adept at working proactively and empathically with clients and parties involved. Thus, family law can be both emotionally taxing yet profoundly satisfying as a field to explore.
Since there is no single undergraduate major that will lead students directly into family law careers, students should take courses such as government, history, political science, sociology and psychology while striving for an impressive GPA. An LLM or post-JD program may also provide invaluable preparation. Once ready to dedicate themselves fully to becoming family lawyers they may find rewarding employment in nonprofit organizations, mid-size firms or government agencies.
Skills
An initial step to becoming a family lawyer is obtaining a bachelor’s degree, an invaluable qualification that teaches analytical thinking and research skills essential for legal study and practice.
As part of your preparation for law school, the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) must be successfully passed to assess your readiness. The LSAT evaluates your skills essential for legal study such as reading comprehension, analytical reasoning and logical reasoning.
First, choose a law school with a family law track or clinic; that way, you’ll gain exposure to this practice area while attending school and learning from experienced attorneys. Also look into opportunities as an intern or volunteer at family law firms – this can provide invaluable hands-on experience while giving insight into whether this field suits you – supporting clients during difficult situations such as divorce can be deeply fulfilling!