Family Lawyer Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a family lawyer. Feel free to use our family lawyer job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a family lawyer.
Who is a Family Lawyer?
Family lawyers typically handle legal issues between individuals in a family relationship. A family lawyer may represent spouses, children, grandchildren, guardians, or domestic partners. A wide variety of legal topics may be handled by this professional, including premarital agreements and post-marital arrangements. This type of lawyer may also represent you in matters relating to adoption, juvenile delinquency, and paternity as well as visitation rights.
A family lawyer would have to deal with divorce and legal separations. He could try to divide marital property and settle child custody issues. The other side may have his lawyer who is working on the same issues. If they are not resolved, the matter may be brought before a judge. These and other factors would be decided by the judge.
While most people seek out a lawyer when a relationship is not working, a lawyer can also help people going through good times. If a couple wants to adopt a child, then there are many steps to follow. Some laws vary from one jurisdiction to another, and they also differ depending on the child’s age. Some jurisdictions may require that the birth parents give up all parental rights. However, in others, they retain only a limited number of rights.
Sometimes, a family lawyer will draft documents to avoid future problems. He or she may, for example, create a prenuptial arrangement that outlines how assets will be divided in the event of a divorce. This will not only specify how assets should go but also how custody and visitation should be set up. A trust fund can be set up in the name of spouses or children depending on the expertise of the lawyer.
Family Lawyer Job Description
Below are the family lawyer job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a family lawyer job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a family lawyer include the following:
- Using alternative dispute resolution to try and resolve complex claims outside of court.
- Representing your clients in court and taking on all the duties of Dispute Resolution Lawyers if a settlement is not reached.
- Reviewing court documents, such as witness statements or pleadings, by drafting, negotiating and reviewing them.
- Liaising and coordinating with other professionals such as psychologists, doctors, social workers, police officers, and others.
- Looking at historical cases to see if they bear any resemblances to your current files.
- Assessing and evaluating evidence that could be of benefit to your clients.
- Managing emotionally unpredicted situations effectively and compassionately
- Counseling and advising clients in legal matters.
- Assisting your clients in the legal process.
- Researching can help you to position your client in a favorable light.
- Talking to key witnesses and other people involved in a case.
- Participating in court hearings to defend your client’s claim and reach a settlement.
- Assisting in the management of legal disputes between members of the same families.
- Assisting in the supervision and facilitation of mediation sessions and providing effective legal advice.
Qualifications
To become a family lawyer, you must have a Juris Doctor degree (JD), and pass the state bar examination. Lawyers can sit for the bar exam in Virginia, Washington, Vermont, and California without necessary having a JD. To maintain a license, you must continue your education. Your state license will need to be renewed periodically.
To practice law, there are many educational and developmental requirements.
Education
You can take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) if you have a bachelor’s or a higher degree. The LSAT score can help you get into a school that offers a JD program. Because many companies only hire applicants from ABA-approved schools, you must complete your JD degree at a school accredited to the American Bar Association (ABA).
You will most likely be a specialist in one area of law school. The majority of programs require three years to complete.
After you have earned your JD, the State Bar Association exam can be taken. This exam allows you to practice law only in the state that you have passed. Every state has its laws, so you need to be able to comprehend them all. To keep up to date with state regulations, you must continue to study and learn new laws.
Training
A lot of aspiring lawyers complete an externship or internship after obtaining their JD. An intern is usually in a law firm, while an externship is part of a non-profit or government agency. You will likely perform similar duties in both of these roles.
- Preparing and filing paperwork
- Case histories research
- Interacting with clients
- Taking notes in meetings
You can gain valuable experience by shadowing lawyers during an externship or internship. You can gain valuable insight by taking notes in courtrooms.
Certification
Only two qualifications are required to practice law: the JD and passing of the bar examination. To make yourself a better professional, however, you can also become certified in other areas. These certifications are very popular:
- Cybersecurity Law
Cybersecurity law is growing as more financial transactions are done online. It is beneficial to obtain certification in information technology (IT), to become a cybersecurity lawyer. CompTIA’s Security+ certification will help you understand the basics of cybersecurity and how to manage threats. You will need to pass a multiple-choice 90-question exam to earn this certification.
- Credit and Collection Compliance Lawyer (CCCA)
You could be certified as a Credit and Collection Compliance lawyer (CCCA) if your area of expertise is consumer law. This certification is offered by the Association of Credit and Collection Professionals to show your knowledge in Unfair Deceptive or Abusive Acts and Practices (UDAAP). You will need to pass a written exam to earn this credential. You will need to renew the certification every three years.
- National Board Of Trial Advocacy
The National Board of Trial Advocacy offers many certifications including Civil Trial Law (Criminal Trial Law), Criminal Trial Law (Family Trial Law), and Social Security Disability Law. Each certification shows that you have mastered the litigation of your chosen specialty. Each certification has its requirements, but all require that you have completed at least a certain number of cases or courtroom hours. You will need to pay for the application, get your application approved, and then complete an exam that costs $400.
Essential Skills
While the legal profession requires extraordinary communication skills, working with families requires the ability to relate with others and connect with them on a human level. These are the skills required by family lawyers to succeed:
- Analytical thinking
Your job involves analyzing evidence and information to reach a conclusion that is beneficial to your client. Family lawyers use their analytical thinking skills and creativity to find solutions. Family cases can be very complex and emotionally charged. It is important to use your analytical thinking skills to find the best solution for everyone.
- Communication skills
Your communication skills, both written and oral, are essential for effectively communicating your ideas and arguments. Strong communication skills will help you build rapport with clients and present a strong case for them.
- Empathy
Family court can be very emotional, regardless of whether a couple is going through a difficult divorce or joyful situation. Family lawyers must be logical and adhere to legal procedures. However, they should also treat their clients with empathy. Empathy skills are the ability to understand what someone feels in a particular situation. Although you don’t have to be a therapist or counselor, this job may require you to be a comforting presence.
- Negotiation
There is much negotiation involved in any court case. This is especially true for cases involving divorce and custody. It is important to have strong negotiation skills to ensure that your clients receive fair treatment in the courtroom. Family court cases involve many vulnerable people, including children. It is important to make sure your client gets fair treatment.
- Organization
Family lawyers deal with a lot of paperwork and important documents. Organization skill is an important key to keeping everything in order. You can access your files easily, but you also need to be able to protect the privacy of your clients. You can be sure that confidential information will only be accessible to authorized personnel.
- Research
Although your client might provide useful information, it is up to you to do your research to understand the whole situation. You can gather evidence and testimonies through research. Your research skills can be used to interview people in your case. It is important to ask the right questions to find the best information for your client.
- Stress management
While empathy is an essential part of your work, it’s not enough. You also need to be able to manage stress and avoid being overly involved in situations. Family lawyers must be able to manage their personal and professional lives to avoid burnout. You must be able to maintain your cool and serve your client even when things get difficult.
- Time management
Court proceedings are often time-sensitive. This means you will need to have skills that allow you to prioritize your work. You can manage your time and meet deadlines. Remember that family lawyers are subject to unexpected circumstances. You will need to adapt your schedule to accommodate this.
How to Become a Family Lawyer
You must meet specific academic and licensure requirements to practice law in any capacity. These steps are necessary if you wish to become a family lawyer.
- Earn a bachelor’s degree
You must earn your bachelor’s degree before you can apply to law school. Some colleges offer pre-law programs, but there are many other courses you can study during your undergraduate degree. Law school students tend to major or minor in government, criminal justice, psychology, sociology, or sociology. You might consider enrolling in courses to improve your communication skills and public speaking abilities.
There are many things you can do during your undergraduate days in college to prepare yourself for law school. You can also use this time to establish meaningful relationships with professors and academic advisors. These connections will allow you to have a wider range of people available for you when you are looking for a job
- Pass the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT)
Passing the Law School Admissions Test is a key part of getting into law school. The LSAT is taken by most family lawyers who are aspiring to be lawyers. It is usually taken at the end of their undergraduate degree. The LSAT questions are meant to test your analytical and logical thinking abilities. Study courses and practice exams can help you prepare for the exam.
Many law schools will require that you submit letters of recommendation, personal statements, and payment for your application. A high grade-point average (GPA), in your undergraduate program, and a high LSAT score can increase your chances of being accepted to law school.
- Complete law school
Make sure that the American Bar Association (ABA) has accredited your law school. You will earn your Juris Doctor (JD) while in law school. Most law school programs last for three years. You’ll be exposed to different legal topics during your first year. You’ll be able to take advanced-level courses as you progress to your second and third years. This is your opportunity to learn about family law topics such as adoption, divorce, custody, child welfare, and marriage.
You will be studying for the bar exam in your last year of law school. This exam is administered by states to assess your knowledge of the law and eligibility to become a licensed lawyer. To make you more employable after graduation, you should also prepare for the bar exam. Family law students often participate in clinics for family law and are also an intern at family law firms.
- Get a law license
After you have graduated from law school, it is time to take the bar exam. You may have to take several exams depending on the state rules. Some exams may have multiple-choice questions while others may require you to answer essay questions. After passing your exams, submit all required documents to the state and you will be officially a member.
- Continue your education credits
You may still need continuing education credits even after you have passed all your schooling and taken the licensure exams. This is necessary to maintain your law license. These requirements can vary from one state to the next. By attending seminars, conferences, or lectures, you can earn continuing education credit. Credit can also be earned by taking an online or in-person course. You will need to check that your state approves your plans to continue your education.
- You might consider additional education
Although a master’s degree is not required for family lawyers, it can help you pursue more career opportunities. Your master’s degree may make you more attractive to high-ranking family law positions. These programs may allow you to become a specialist in family law.
Where to Work
Family lawyers spend considerable time with clients, whether in their offices or in court. Private sector workers often work longer hours than 40 hours per week. Clients may call them after normal business hours to discuss cases and meet with them.
Family Lawyer Salary Scale
In the United States, the average annual salary for a family lawyer is $118,937.
