Career as Family Lawyer

Last Updated By Sukriti Vajpayee on 30 Mar, 2022

How to Become a Family Lawyer

About Family Lawyer

Family Law is one of the most emotional areas of law that addresses issues relating to complex family or domestic relationships. Family lawyers are involved in the personal aspects of their clients’ lives which may include divorce, child custody, alimony, abuse and neglect proceedings, successions, family partitions and so on. A family lawyer is expected to help a client resolve any issue relating to his/her family. They are asked to draft pre-nuptial agreements before marriage to protect someone’s financial interests, advise on the grounds of divorce or civil partnership dissolution and draft separation agreements. All in all, family lawyers act as mediators between members of a family when disagreements develop. They can also represent clients in family disputes that end up in court. 

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Eligibility to become Family Lawyer

  • The applicant must have completed 10+2 and graduation from a recognised board of education or university with not less than 50% marks in aggregate.

  • The applicant must have a valid law entrance exam score accepted by the college the candidate is seeking admission to.

  • There could be an age restriction that may vary according to the degree and the institute. 

Note: This shall vary from college to college and course to course. 

Types of Job Roles Family Lawyer

There are around 5-6 job positions or roles that a Family Lawyer can explore. Find the job roles along with their respective job responsibilities below:

Family Law- Professor

A professor or lecturer of family law must have a profound knowledge of the domain. He/she must have an understanding of instructional methodologies related to Family Law and the topics under it.

Family Advocate

A family advocate helps families by safeguarding the best interests of minor/dependent children in a parental rights and responsibilities dispute. He/she is also responsible for the evaluation of the family’s conditions and circumstances to be able to make a recommendation to the court regarding the relationship, guardianship and so on.

Family Law Advisor

A family law advisor is responsible for helping families make arrangements for their children and advising the court on what they consider to be the best outcome for the children.

Divorce Lawyer

A divorce lawyer advises and advocates for his/her clients who need or want to end their marriages. Divorce lawyers may also have to work on cases involving wills, trusts, child custody, leases, etc.

Divorce Expert Lawyer

A divorce expert lawyer needs to spend a lot of time on gathering information for the client’s case including medical bills, real estate bills, tax returns and more. Divorce expert lawyers may also be asked to counsel the client and guide them on the settlement.

Employment Sector/Industry for Family Lawyer

In the case of Family Law, there are fewer employment sectors/industries that require family lawyers. Given below is the list of the same:

  • Law Firms

  • Law Enforcement Agencies

  • Government Firms or Public Departments

Top Recruiting Companies for a Family Lawyer

There are a lot of companies that hire lawyers who have studied family law. Some of the top recruiting companies for a family lawyer are given below:

  • PathLegal

  • Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice

  • Family Courts

  • S S Global Law Firm

  • Taneja Law Office

  • Divorce Lawyers

Planning to choose Family Lawyer as your career?

Pay Scale/Salary of Family Lawyer

The pay scale or salary of a family lawyer in India will depend on various factors such as the location of the job, job profile, years of experience in the field, academic background, etc. However, check out the pay scale of different job profiles under Family law that one can opt for. The same has been divided into starting salary, mid-level salary and senior-level salary per annum.

Job Profile

Starting Salary per annum (in INR)

Mid Level Salary per annum (in INR)

Senior Level Salary per annum (INR)

Family Law- Professor

2,36,609

4,73,218

9,96,436

Family Advocate

3,00,000

6,00,000

10,00,000

Family Law Advisor

2,80,944

5,61,888

12,23,776

Divorce Lawyer

3,50,000

5,50,000

10,50,000

Divorce Expert Lawyers

3,00,000

6,00,000

10,00,000

Books & Study Material to Become Family Lawyer

Given below are some of the most recommended and best books to become a family lawyer in India: 

  • Redefining Family Law in India by B.Sivaramayya; Archana Parashar & Prof. Amita Dhanda (Eds.)

  • Family Law in India by Prof. G.V.C Subba Rao

  • Family Law in India by H.K.Saharay

  • Intimacy Undone: Marriage, Divorce and Family Law in India by Malvika Rajkptia

  • Halsbury’s Laws of India VOL 19 Family Law by LexisNexis Latest Edition

  • Family Laws in India (Hindu, Muslim, Christian & Parsi Law) by Dr. S.R.Myneni

Pros of becoming a Family Lawyer

  • It is not difficult to find clients and almost 90% of the Indian population needs a family lawyer for one domestic issue or another. 

  • Family lawyers tend to enjoy the variation that the area of law inherently offers.

  • There are many ways of career satisfaction in the field including peer approval, money, reputation, emotional rewards, etc. 

  • Family lawyers enjoy the satisfaction of being able to offer practical and sound advice to their clients during emotional times.

Cons of becoming a Family Lawyer

  • The job profile involves a lot of stress which may further lead to occupational hazards.

  • It may more often than not become emotionally taxing.

  • There is fierce competition in the professional world of family law.

  • Clients may not be willing to spend enough money on a family lawyer most of the time. 

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FAQs about Family Lawyer

How can I become a Family Lawyer?

In order to become a Family Lawyer, you will have to complete your higher education with at least a bachelor’s degree in law. You can opt for an integrated 5 year LLB course or a 3 year LLB done after any undergraduate degree. After that, it is important that you do several internships in the field of family law during your degree.

Who is a Family Lawyer?

Family lawyers are legal professionals who specialise in matters related to family law. They handle legal issues that are concerned with the members of the family. Such legal issues include divorce, child custody, and guardianship among others.

How long does it take to become an experienced Family Lawyer?

In order to become an experienced Family Lawyer, a good practise of at least 5 to six years is required. The better your experience, the more your demand. Other factors like the firm you work for, the type of cases you deal with, etc. also determine the pace of your growth.

Is there any degree course for becoming a Family Lawyer?

If you wish to become a family lawyer, you will have to complete your higher education in the field of law. It is compulsory for you to have a bachelor degree in law and you can also go for a master (LLM) in family law.

What are the job roles after studying Family Law?

The job roles for Family Lawyers are diverse and of various levels. Some of the top profiles are those of family law professors, family law advocates, family law advisors, divorce lawyers, etc.

What are the best institutes for Family Law courses in India?

Some of the best institutes that offer Family Law courses in India are the National Law Universities (NLUs), Jindal Global Law School, Symbiosis Law School, Faculty of Law - BHU, Lovely Professional University, Amity University, etc.

What is the average salary of a Family Lawyer in India?

The average salary of a Family Lawyer in India is around Rs. 6 lakhs per annum. Those who work at the leading law firms can get as much as Rs. 12 - 14 lakhs per annum.

What are the employment sectors of Family Lawyers in India?

The employment sectors for family lawyers in India include law firms, law enforcement agencies, government firms, public department, etc.

Which are the leading companies for Family Lawyers?

In India, the leading companies that are recognised for family lawyers are S S Global Law Firm, PathLegal, DivorceLawyers, Taneja Law Office, Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, and Family Courts.

Is there any entrance exam for Family Law courses in India?

To enrol in a family law course, you will have to takr admission in a law school. Entrance exams like CLAT, AILET, LSAT India, SLAT, BHU LLB Entrance Exam, BVP CET Law, etc. are accepted by various colleges to shortlist candidates. Some colleges also conduct admissions on merit basis.

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