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Family Lawyers


Overview

Introduction

Family lawyers provide legal representation to individuals or families regarding issues such as adoption, children’s rights, divorce, and estates and trusts. Family law is a multifaceted field in which lawyers work on both civil and criminal cases. Family lawyers work as solo practitioners and for law firms, nonprofit organizations, public defender’s offices, legal services offices, state’s attorney’s offices, public guardian’s offices, and departments of children and family services. 

Quick Facts


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Median Salary

$120,910

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Employment Prospects

Good

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Minimum Education Level

Law Degree


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Experience

Family law internship or clerkship highly recommended


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Skills

Information Management
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Personality Traits

Helpful
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Earnings

Experienced lawyers earn salaries that vary depending on the type, size, and location of the organization employing them. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, lawyers earned median annual salaries of $120,910 in 2018, although some high-profile divorce attorneys can make more than $1 million a year. State and local government attorneys generally made less, earning $92,270 and $106,120, re...

Work Environment

Family lawyers spend a considerable amount of time with their clients in their offices, in court, and in arbitration and administrative proceedings. Those in the private sector often work more than 40 hours a week. They meet with clients and work on cases at night and weekends, and they may receive calls from clients after typical business hours. 

This specialty can be extremely rewardin...

Outlook

Employment for lawyers is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2024, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, which predicts that “demand for legal work will continue as individuals, businesses, and all levels of government require legal services in many areas.” Demand for family lawyers should continue to increase as the number of people see...