If you excel at counseling and negotiation and are interested in working closely with clients, often in emotionally charged situations, you may consider a career in family law or child advocacy.
Lawyers who practice in this area mediate, counsel and litigate a wide variety of matters in many subject areas, including estate planning, divorce, spousal support, parental rights, custody, child support, paternity, dependency, and neglect and adoption.
Such diverse and varied opportunities make family law and child advocacy attractive practice areas for prospective law school students. Regardless of economic trends, the political landscape or policy and regulatory changes, family law remains a practice area that is in constant need of committed legal advocates.
If you plan to pursue a career in this field, consider schools that offer specialized training and clinic options when choosing a law school, and take advantage of opportunities to gain relevant experience.
[Learn how to choose the right college major for law school.]
Schools That Offer Specialized Training and Programming
Most law schools offer some coursework in family law and related areas, enabling students to learn the basics. In addition, some law schools have specialized course options or training programs that allow students to focus on family law and learn this area of law in a more in-depth way.
For example, students in Columbia Law School‘s J.D. program can choose from a wide variety of courses in family law and related practice areas. Topics covered include basic and advanced family law and domestic violence, for instance. Columbia also hosts a yearly conference relating to child and family advocacy.
Several other schools offer a concentration area in family law. At the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University–Bloomington, for example, if students focus on family law, they will study key issues including divorce, same-sex marriage, abortion, gender roles and property division.
At the DePaul University College of Law, students can earn a certificate in family law as part of the J.D. program. The Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University offers an LL.M. program in family law, and Loyola University Chicago offers an LL.M. program in child and family law that students can pursue on either a full- or part-time basis.
These schools also offer students the opportunity to participate in organizations and activities related to family law, such as the Child & Family Law Association at DePaul and the Family Law Society at Indiana. These organizations allow for engagement in the subject matter beyond the confines of the classroom.
[Consider specialized programs when choosing a law school.]
Schools With Related Clinic Options
In addition to concentrations, coursework and specialized programming, clinics provide an excellent opportunity for law students to gain hands-on experience in casework and client advocacy in particular areas of law.
Many of the above-mentioned schools also offer clinic options in family law and related areas of study. Columbia, for example, offers a few clinics in areas such as adolescent representation, sexuality and gender law, and incarceration, all of which touch on issues related to family law.
Many other schools that do not offer a family law focus or concentration provide students with experiential learning opportunities and clinic options.
Harvard Law School, for example, offers a Family Law and Domestic Violence Law Clinic. The University of Virginia School of Law has a Family Law Clinic that focuses on mediation, negotiation and creative problem-solving as alternative dispute resolution methods to resolve conflicts in families.
The New York University School of Law offers the Family Defense Clinic and the Juvenile Defender Clinic. The former centers its work on preventing the unnecessary breakup of indigent families and assisting in the reuniting of families touched by the foster care system. In the latter clinic, students represent juveniles charged with committing crimes.
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Prelaw Considerations
Aside from selecting a school with ample coursework, programming and clinic opportunities in family law from which to choose, you should also think about other ways to create a path to a successful career in this area.
— Undergraduate coursework: Consider a major or a minor in subjects like psychology or human development. Any classes that focus on development of interpersonal skills or an understanding of how people think and operate in life will help you thrive as a family law attorney.
— Internship and volunteer work: Seek out opportunities to intern or volunteer for organizations that advocate for families or children, or look to strengthen key skills, such as counseling and oral communication. You could look for internships in family court, for example, or for social service providers. Another option could be to shadow attorneys who practice family law.
Whatever you choose to do, take time to explore whether you enjoy working closely with people in stressful and emotionally trying situations.
— Seek mentors: Network with practitioners in the field and ask for advice and guidance. Develop trusting relationships in which you can take an honest look at your suitability for this kind of work.
— Self-educate: Keep up with current trends in family law by reading related legal publications such as Family Law Quarterly and Family Advocate. As cultural norms shift and the definition of family evolves, the field also changes. It is in your interest to stay abreast of developments.
If you are thinking about a career in family law and related fields, consider specialized programming and clinic opportunities when choosing a law school. In addition, you should get involved in related organizations and look to acquire meaningful and relevant experience so that you are an attractive clinic candidate and are well-positioned for employment prospects in law school and beyond.
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How to Pick the Right Law School for Family Law, Child Advocacy Career originally appeared on usnews.com
