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If you are considering a career in law, you may have already researched the various areas in which you could practice. There are so many niches like business law, real estate, probate, criminal law, personal injury, and civil litigation. This list could go on for a bit. The important thing is that whatever specific area you choose, make sure you are passionate about it.
You can obviously change your mind along the way, however, getting off to a good start is important for your mindset and future. One area you might consider if you are drawn to matters affecting families, and if you feel that you want to make a difference there, family law could be your home. Among other research, I recommend contacting firms like Farmer and Morris Law for further insight and direction. In the meantime, here are a few things you can expect from a career in family law.
What does family law cover?
Family law is far from static and boring. The myriad concerns facing modern families is a rabbit hole of considerations and legal rights that will challenge and stretch the abilities of any young attorney. Some examples of common legal matters a family lawyer might deal with include, divorce, financial separation, child custody, adoption, surrogacy, child abuse, children’s rights, domestic abuse, and legal challenges facing same-sex couples.
Day-to-day, family attorneys make a difference in the lives of many types of people with varying needs. Depending on their exact focus, they might carry an extensive caseload continually.
What does being a family law practitioner look like?
As mentioned previously, there is a huge variance in the types of legal work required to offer a well-rounded family law service. The family attorney’s week might look something like this: she attends meetings with clients, does research about similar cases, looks up all relevant laws relating to her cases, composes legal documents for the courts, investigates the evidence, meets with other legal professionals to discuss cases, and attends court. Yeah, that’s a lot!
Do also keep in mind that laws change all the time and can have an impact on how a law practice would operate. For example, Richard Maurice explains in a video hosted by Sydney-based lawyer, Jennifer Croker, that “on September 1, 2021, the Federal Circuit Court and the Family Court merged, to become the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA). With the merge came a new set of Court Rules.”
Is family law stressful?
This type of complex work can be quite stressful and overwhelming, especially for a young attorney. It’s important for professionals in this business to take care of themselves and pay attention to signs of stress. As an attorney, you have many people depending on you to perform your best and win cases. This is, of course, crucial to the futures of families and the individuals in them.
Having a career in family law is for individuals with a strong mental capacity to handle stress and not get burned out easily. A family attorney will need to have a strong sense of compassion and be a good listener as well. She will need to be a robust individual who does not shy away from tough challenges and emotional scenarios.
