A family lawyer helps clients with legal issues that involve their personal relationships. This includes issues like marriage, divorce, adoption, child custody, spousal support, and property settlements. This is a demanding field that requires patience, compassion, and excellent interpersonal communication skills. In addition to these, a strong background in law is essential for this type of work.
If you’re interested in a career as a family lawyer, it’s important to meet the educational requirements. This typically involves completing a four-year undergraduate degree and three years of law school to obtain a Juris Doctor, or JD. During your education, you’ll gain an understanding of the various aspects of this type of law and how to apply it to different situations.
Once you have your degrees, you can begin working on cases related to family law. Your responsibilities may include filing applications, performing research, and participating in court proceedings. You’ll also have the opportunity to work with children, which can be incredibly rewarding. If you’re a good problem-solver and enjoy making arguments, you might find this to be a satisfying area of practice.
The demand for family lawyers is constant, considering that thousands of people wade through divorces, alimony, child custody disputes, and other issues every year. Your clients could be spouses or partners seeking divorce or separation, relatives looking for custody of a child, single parents fighting for financial support (alimony), or even couples creating prenuptial or postnuptial agreements.
Paternity cases are another common issue for family lawyers. These are often brought by mothers who need assistance in getting financial support from the father of their child. On the other hand, fathers might file paternity cases to gain a more active role in their children’s lives.
A divorce can be emotionally draining for all parties involved. Family lawyers can help with the process by preparing documents, filing them with the court, and acting as mediators in hearings. They can also provide counsel and advice on issues like domestic violence, which is a common cause of a divorce.
If you’re considering a career as a family lawyer, be sure to network with practitioners in this area. Contacting your law school’s career services office or reaching out to attorneys through professional organizations can be an effective way of finding a mentor. You can also seek out informational interviews and volunteer or intern at family law practices to get a feel for what this type of work is all about.
Eiges & Orgel PLLC provides a wide range of legal services to clients in New York City and surrounding areas. Its family law experts handle cases related to domestic violence, Article 10 neglect and abuse, emancipation, and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. Its team of attorneys has more than 60 years of combined experience assisting families with their legal matters. The firm serves a diverse range of clients, including immigrants and those with disabilities. Its website features a wealth of resources for its clients.