How to Become a Family Lawyer

Choosing a career as a family lawyer can be extremely rewarding, but it’s also one of the most emotional fields of legal practice. As a family attorney, you deal with highly sensitive cases surrounding family relationships, from child custody to divorce. Additionally, you can handle cases involving children, like proving paternity, visitation rights for divorced parents, or adoption proceedings. Your clients will include a family, a spouse, or a kid’s guardian in a family legal matter.

To perform these responsibilities, you need extensive familiarity with related laws, regulations, and legal precedents. That means gaining specialized skills and knowledge in family law and passing the bar exam to become a fully licensed and practicing family attorney. Since family attorneys often deal with personal and sensitive matters, you need to be able to show compassion and empathy to your clients during challenging situations. Additionally, you need to communicate effectively with people of all ages to thrive as a family attorney. You must also fulfill specific licensure and academic qualifications to become a practicing family lawyer. Here are key steps to follow to become a family lawyer:

1.      Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

The first step to becoming a family lawyer is earning an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university. Earning a bachelor’s degree is crucial to enroll in law school. Some undergraduate programs that can prepare you for law school include sociology, government, political science, psychology, history, and criminal justice. You can also enroll in courses that improve your public speaking and communication skills. No matter the course you choose, make sure it’s an area you’ll enjoy studying or are passionate about.

Your undergraduate GPA should be above 3.5 to get into law school. Besides taking relevant courses, going through an undergraduate degree program allows you to build relationships with your academic professors and advisors. This will let you build a network of professionals that can write you a recommendation letter when applying for law school.

2.      Pass the LSAT

Once you complete your undergraduate degree program, you must pass the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) to qualify for law school. This exam is usually taken at the end of your undergraduate program or six months before law school applications kickstart. The LSAT tests your analytical and logical thinking, reading comprehension, and writing skills. The best way to prepare for this exam is by taking practice exams and study courses.

Besides your LSAT score, you need to submit letters of recommendation and a personal statement. Getting a high GPA in your bachelor’s program and a high LSAT score can increase your chances of qualifying for law school.

3.      Complete Law School

When applying for law school, choose a school approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). Law school will take about three years to complete and earn your Juris Doctor (JD). During your first year in law school, you learn introductory law courses and get to choose courses in your area of interest during your second and third years. This allows you to focus on specific areas of family law, such as divorce, child welfare, adoption, marriage, and custody.

You also prepare for your bar exam during your third year in law school. Bar exams are usually done to evaluate your knowledge of family law and are carried out by a state board of bar examiners. While preparing for bar admission, you can also use this time to gain relevant experience by taking part in family law clinics or working as an intern at a law firm. Once you pass your bar exams, you’ll get a license that allows you to practice law.

Endnote

While family law can be incredibly complex, it can also be extremely rewarding. Not only do you make a difference in people’s lives, but becoming a family lawyer also allows you to enjoy a higher income and greater job satisfaction. While not mandatory, getting a master’s of law may create new career opportunities for you.