Embarking on a Family Law Career: Effective Job Search Strategies

Mar 07, 2024

Written By Nandini Jadeja

Family law is a unique area of law which requires a specialist skill set. There is always a demand for individuals who possess this skill set, provided they know how to search for jobs effectively. This article will guide you through some effective job search strategies so that you can embark on a career in family law.

Understanding family law

Family law encompassess a range of issues, including divorce and separation, child law, adoption, wardship and parental responsibility.

Family law involves both public and private law. Practitioners working in this area can expect to be involved in matters concerning everything from state intervention to protect child welfare (public law) to matters arising from disputes between family members (private law).

Family lawyers play a crucial role in navigating complex issues for their clients, providing legal advice, representation and advocacy to individuals and families who are often dealing with incredibly difficult situations.

Assessing your skills and interests

When assessing whether you should embark on a career in family law, it is essential that you understand the skills required for this area of law.

Family lawyers need to have good communication, negotiation and problem-solving skills, in order to reach agreements that are most beneficial for their client.

Aspiring family lawyers should think about whether these skills match their own skill set. Identify your strengths and interests and think about how these might be useful in a family law context.

One of the challenges of family law is dealing with the emotional demands of the role, so aspiring family lawyers should also think carefully about whether they could handle these demands.

One way of ascertaining your compatibility with family law is by reaching out to family lawyers via networking sites and events to ask them what skills they believe have been most useful in their careers.

Academic and professional preparation

If you have decided to embark on a family law career, it can be hard to know where to start in order to achieve your ambition.

Often, family lawyers will study an undergraduate degree in law (or another subject followed by a postgraduate diploma in law). Some family lawyers may also have pursued an LLM in family law, or otherwise choose to specialise in family law in their postgraduate legal studies by taking family law-related modules.

One of the most important ways of preparing for a career in family law is by gaining practical experience. You can gain this experience through internships and volunteer work with family law firms. In addition, legal aid clinics and social service organisations all offer opportunities to gain experience.

Participating in extracurricular activities, such as debating clubs, moot clubs, law societies, moot court competitions, family law clinics and student organisations focused on family law issues are all equally beneficial ways of gaining practical experience.

Crafting your job search strategy

The next step to a career in family law is a clear plan that sets out your goals and objectives when it comes to jobs. Think about making a list of potential employers you might like to work for and jotting down how you will put yourself in the best possible position of securing a role in their organisation.

Some potential employers you might look at include family law firms, government agencies, legal aid organisations and non-profit advocacy groups. A good strategy is to research things like the firm’s reputation, practice area/specialisms, their ranking in legal directories/rankings, their culture and work/life balance and what their leadership is like.

To help you find roles suitable for you, you can utilise job boards, professional networking platforms and legal recruitment agencies.

Tailoring your application materials

Family law is a competitive area of law, so a good strategy is to ensure that your CV and cover letters reflect the unique experiences you have that are relevant to family law, and the unique skill set that you believe you can bring to family law.

When discussing your academic achievements, practical experience and skills applicable to family law practice, ensure you are consistently linking back to how this will make you a good family lawyer.

For example, how did your participation in a particular society make you more empathetic? Or a better communicator? What made you want to become a family lawyer in the first place? By linking your experiences to family law, you can demonstrate your passion and commitment to serving the needs of clients and communities.

Networking and building connections

One of the most effective ways of learning more about family law and searching for jobs is by speaking to family lawyers themselves. Networking in the legal profession is crucial to career success and longevity, and can provide you with mentoring opportunities or open the door to events, internships and insights you might not otherwise be able to participate in.

Strategies for networking effectively include attending legal events, joining professional associations and connecting with alumni, mentors and practising family lawyers via online networking sites like LinkedIn.

Navigating the interview process

The interview is often the final step in the process, and usually needs the most preparation. Ensure you have researched the employer thoroughly, and are up to date with the work they have completed recently.

Practice with friends and family by responding to common interview questions and talking through your skills and experiences, highlighting how they link to family law.

Skills you should aim to demonstrate in the interview process include empathy, professionalism and cultural competence, as these are all vital in a career in family law. You may also want to follow up after the interview, expressing gratitude for the opportunity and reiterating your interest in the position.

Continuing professional development

The UK’s departure from the EU and the introduction of ‘No Fault’ divorce legislation in 2020 are just two of the many changes that are impacting family law at the moment. Staying on top of these developments, and others, is key to being a successful family lawyer, and you can do this by prioritising continuous learning and professional development.

Some ways you can do this include further training or specialisation in areas such as mediation, collaborative law or child advocacy, or simply by reading up on cases and developments in family law.

Conclusion

Embarking on a career in family law can be challenging, but armed with the steps provided in this article you can create a successful job search strategy today.

Ensure you remain proactive, resilient and committed to professional development, both when beginning a career in family law and beyond - this will enable you to embark, and sustain, a family law career!

Becoming a Lawyer