“What is family?” This was the first question posed to our
class when we walked into Family Law. The answer seems obvious, but our
class couldn’t decide on a uniform definition. Even I think of “family”
in the traditional nuclear way, even though I don’t come from a
nuclear family at all. Families can be comprised in many different ways
and it is difficult to put a clear cut definition on it.
This is the beauty of family law. Family law practice is not just about
one thing, such as divorce. It can also involve adoptions, child custody,
taxes, estate matters, etc. Family law requires attorneys to have a working
knowledge of a lot of different areas of practice, which keeps things
interesting and gives attorneys the ability to continue learning throughout
their practice. Just about every course offered at the law school could
at some point prove useful in a family law career, because every case
involves different circumstances, assets, and tangential legal issues.
While clerking for Larry Rice this summer, I had the opportunity to watch
cases in Chancery Court, Circuit Court, and in front of the Divorce Referee.
None of these proceedings were exactly the same, but the brilliant attorneys
that I observed were able to navigate each courtroom and conform to each
judge with ease. And it is not just legal matters that family lawyers
must be adept in – these attorneys must also play the role of a
listener and counselor, all while attempting to maintain client control.
Family attorneys are well-versed in a number of facets of the law and
as our society’s definition of “family” continues to
expand, so does the role of a family lawyer.
Categories:
