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Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University
Reviewed: 7/3/24
If you’re interested in a legal specialty that deals directly with family law matters, here's what you need to know about pursuing this career.
We’ve all heard the statistic that 50% of all marriages end in divorce. While the matter is a little more complicated than this, what isn’t complicated is the involvement of family lawyers in these cases!
Like divorce, family lawyers are interested and involved in any issues relating to families. This guide will go into further detail about the other types of cases family lawyers deal with, their typical salaries, and more!
If you’re considering pursuing family law, there are several steps you must take to do so successfully:
The first step to take before you even attend your first law school lecture is to complete an undergraduate degree from an accredited university. This prerequisite is required for admission to any law school.
During your undergrad, ensure you maintain a high GPA in order to get into your dream law school. There is no perfect pre-law major, so just choose one that interests you the most so you’re more likely to do well in it.
Consider taking courses from various disciplines to expand your knowledge base and prove to admissions committees that you’re talented in various fields! Having a wide skill set will impress the committee far more than any particular major.
While you’re still in your undergrad, make sure to join useful extracurriculars to fill up your law school resume. While these extracurriculars likely won’t be law-related, ensure you demonstrate good leadership, collaboration, organization, and responsibility in these extracurriculars.
As law is part of the service sector, it’s a good idea to gain volunteer experience as well. Doing so will demonstrate that you already have a commitment to and passion for serving the public!
As you get to the last couple years of your undergrad, you should start deciding which law schools you’d like to apply to! By picking out your top law schools early, you give yourself enough time to meet their admission requirements to maximize your chances of acceptance.
For instance, you should note their median GPA, median LSAT, and other important factors they consider.
When choosing your law school, look for colleges that let you concentrate on family law. For instance, DePaul University is well known for its family law program that gives students the opportunity to join externships, practicums, and clinics that handle a diverse set of topics in family law.
Once you’ve figured out your target LSAT score, you should create a comprehensive study plan to meet your desired score! Begin with a diagnostic LSAT test to gauge your base abilities and plan your studies accordingly.
Ensure you give yourself enough time to retake the test in case you score lower than expected!
Once you’ve gotten into your desired law school, it’s time to begin your actual legal education! Maintain high grades, join any extracurriculars that can offer you legal experience, and ensure you find useful summer employment that will help you land a job post-graduation!
After successfully completing your JD, you’re almost at your final destination of becoming a family lawyer! The last step before you can officially practice is to write your bar exam. This exam will license you to practice family law as an independent attorney. Ensure you create a good study schedule in order to ace it!
As an optional last step, if you wish to further specialize in family law, you can complete an LLM. This LLM will allow you to have more expertise in this area of law, differentiate you from other candidates, and ultimately lead to more job prospects!
Working in family law involves several key steps, and our consulting services guide you through each one.
From LSAT prep and LSAC application assistance to crafting your personal statement and securing recommendations, we ensure your application is polished and competitive. Our end-to-end support boosts your chances of acceptance into top law schools.
“I worked with Juris Education for 10 schools and I was accepted into 7 of them! My team was professional, easy to work with, and turned around the essay I sent to them quickly. I appreciated the mix of in-line feedback and thought-provoking comments. Because of their help, I was able to confidently submit my essay. Thank you so much for being so wonderful to work with!”
Family law serves various purposes, including:
While most people associate family law with just divorces, these lawyers actually cover a range of topics! Some lawyers may choose to focus only on one of these types of cases or tackle them all!
While becoming a lawyer itself is challenging, getting an actual job as a family lawyer is too! Like most areas of law, there is a lot of competition in this specialty!
Family Law attorneys in the United States earn an average annual salary of $103,761. This means they make about $49.89 per hour, $1,995 per week, or $8,646 per month.
Salaries can vary a lot. Some attorneys earn as much as $165,500 a year, while others make as little as $40,000. Most Family Law Attorneys earn between $78,000 and $122,500 per year.
The top 10% earn around $150,000 annually. This wide range suggests there are many opportunities for higher pay based on skills, location, and experience.
Regardless of which state you choose to practice in, rest assured family law will always be in demand – so long as families exist!
Unsure if family law is right for you? Discover your perfect legal specialization with our quiz designed for aspiring lawyers, including those interested in family law.
Our quiz analyzes your strengths and preferences to guide you toward a fulfilling legal career that aligns with your aspirations. Start your journey today with Juris Education!
If you have any remaining questions about how to become a family lawyer, here are the answers to frequently asked questions!
It’s highly possible you’ll get into law school with any degree, but it’s not so easy to get into law school with a low GPA. As such, there is no perfect major for family law, only a perfect GPA!
Your desired law school will have a median GPA that you should aim to maintain or surpass during your undergrad. In order to do this, you should choose a major you enjoy!
It takes at least seven years to work in family law. You'll spend four years on your undergraduate degree and three years in law school (JD). If you go for an LLM, that adds another year or two.
To practice family law in Florida, you can follow all of the same steps except step five. While you still have to write a bar exam, it isn’t the UBE. It's a Florida state bar exam that includes the MBE. Students must also take the MPRE.
To practice family law in Georgia, first complete a bachelor's degree and take the LSAT. Then, earn a Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school. After that, pass the Georgia state bar exam, which includes the MBE and MPT. You'll also need to pass a character and fitness evaluation.
Once you’re approved, participate in a swearing-in ceremony to get your license. Remember, you’ll need to complete continuing legal education (CLE) to keep your license active.
Training to become a family lawyer will be challenging. Not only will it be a long journey, but it’ll be academically rigorous! Aspiring family lawyers will have to maintain high grades throughout their undergrad and legal education and work hard to land a good job post-graduation!
Los Angeles currently pays 30% more than the national average for family lawyers.
Now that you know more about family law and its responsibilities, you can decide if it's the right path for you. The journey might be long and challenging, but in the end, you'll help many families with difficult and sensitive matters.
