Job Description for a Family Lawyer
Family law is the legal specialty that deals with adoption, divorce, child support, custody and paternity, reports Lawyers.com. Family lawyers are the licensed professionals who handle such matters.
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Function
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Family lawyers argue on behalf of their clients with opposing attorneys or in formal settings like hearings or trials. When agreements are reached between the two parties in the family law dispute or situation, the lawyer draws up the necessary documents to make the resolution legal, or looks over the documents completed by the opposing attorney.
Features
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Family lawyers often deal with people handling difficult emotional situations and must be able to handle tense situations or upset and angry individuals. When preparing for litigation like a divorce hearing, family lawyers may need to work long hours, explains the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Education
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Family lawyers complete four years of undergraduate education followed by three years of law school. The first half of law school typically involves general coursework in areas like contracts and legal interpretations, while the second half includes work in legal clinics assisting attorneys and courses specifically in family law.
Licensure
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After graduation, family lawyers must pass the state bar examination to receive a license to practice law. In every state but Louisiana and Washington, this involves taking a six-hour test called the Multistate Bar Examination, explains the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Compensation
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As of March 2010, family lawyers averaged salaries of $124,000, according to Indeed.com.
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