What can you expect from a career in family law?

As a lawyer or a lawyer-to-be you don’t have to look far to hear about how firms are focused on the environmental, social and governance (ESG) agenda but if you are truly committed to having a role that makes a difference then you should look no further than family law.

Unlike commercial law that can be very target finance and document focused family law is all about people and you have to really tune into human relationships. The focus is on finding solutions to issues that often involve complex legal relationships, covering the entire spectrum from spousal relationships to parents and children, and everything in between. This makes it a much broader spectrum than many other areas of law. 

Read this Practice Area Profile for more information on what it’s like to work in family law.

Every day is different, as are the people you will meet, and you must be prepared for all eventualities. You will often find that you are in a position of real privilege by being the first person that your client has been able to open up to about issues like abuse, or the first person to have really seen and actively listened to them about their situation. 

It is not the easy option

A family lawyer will work with clients during some of the most emotional moments of their lives. Expect a really varied diary, with potentially long hours in the courtroom and plenty of client contact. 

You will find that, in broad terms, your client is approaching you when they are at the point of crisis and you must be able to deal with that. You have to be approachable and capable of actively listening without judgement, or you will not get what you need from your clients to be able to do your job effectively. You will need to be able to filter out and assimilate the most important pieces of information very quickly, asking pertinent questions without retraumatising the person sitting before you. 

All family lawyers should adopt a trauma-informed approach with their client base for that very reason. Key skills include counselling, negotiation, and client care – and a poker face. You cannot be easily shocked. 

Tensions will run high so you will need a cool head and a sympathetic ear. You must be able to lean into those difficult conversations and, given the highly emotive subject matter, it is unlikely that you will find your client at their most rational. You will spend your days one step ahead, advising on tactical next steps in the best interests of the children (as their welfare is paramount), and of your client while advancing their case and protecting their position. You may find yourself mediating between various family members, or family members and external agencies, to prevent any bitterness or bad feeling from tainting any decision making. 

The balance between client and self-care is a hard one to strike, but it is crucial if you are to establish a long and successful career in family law. Dealing with child abuse or crumbling relationships day in and day out will significantly test your faith in human nature, likely more so than any other area of law. 

How do you measure success?

While a role with a magic circle firm undoubtedly leads to fantastic financial rewards, and this can equally apply to family law firms, perhaps the real reward is making a difference to our society.

Many of our lawyers are championing change from discovering the hidden rise of honour-based abuse in our country and the support victims need, or raising awareness of how autistic children are affected by divorce, to being part of working groups that help to identify and educate on the role prostitution plays in families and local communities.

Family law gives individuals the room to be a successful lawyer while maintaining the crucial elements of empathy and simply being human. The best family lawyers are brave, proactive, pragmatic, empathetic and realistic. 

If you are passionate about giving people a platform from which to have their voices heard, about protecting the vulnerable, if you are driven, compassionate, and want to make a real difference, then a career in family law is likely to suit. Of course, it isn’t for everyone, but it can be a chance to make a real difference.

Carrie Laws is the director at The Family Law Company.