Family Lawyer
Help people resolve the legal aspects of family relationships – including divorce, property settlements and parenting arrangements.
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Jobs in SEEK right nowJob growth
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5-year projectionSalary
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Typical salaryJob satisfaction
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Job opportunities
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Jobs in SEEK right nowSalary
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Typical salaryJob growth
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5-year projectionJob satisfaction
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On this page
- What's it like to be a Family Lawyer?
- How to become a Family Lawyer
- Latest Family Lawyer jobs
- Top skills and experience for Family Lawyers
- Family Lawyer role reviews
What's it like to be a Family Lawyer?
Family Lawyers provide professional advice, assistance and support with a wide range of issues including: separation, divorce, child support, adoption and property, and financial settlements. Family Lawyers also advise on alternative dispute resolution options, considerations prior to entering a relationship or prior to separating, and financial agreements such as prenuptials, superannuation splitting and spousal maintenance.
Tasks and duties
- Resolving legal issues for clients.
- Corresponding regularly with clients and other solicitors about legal matters.
- Preparing documents including court applications, contracts and settlement documents.
- Attending court.
- Referring clients to counsellors, psychologists, financial planners and other professionals.
How to become a Family Lawyer
To become a Family Lawyer in Australia you will need to apply to the local Law Society for a Practising Certificate. You’ll then need to complete 18 to 24 months of supervised practice at a law firm. Pathways to becoming a practicing Family Lawyer typically require a combined 5-6 years of education and training.
- Complete a Bachelor of Law (LLB) undergraduate degree or a Juris Doctor (JD) postgraduate degree. Both courses are 3 or 4 years long.
- Complete Practical Legal Training (PLT). This can be completed in less than a year.
- Gain admission from the relevant state or territories Admissions Authority within 5 years of graduation.
- Apply for a Practising Certificate from the local Law Society.
- Complete 18 to 24 months of supervised practice at a law firm. Although it is not compulsory to complete this at a family law firm, it is certainly preferable if family law is your chosen field.
- Once you have become a practising lawyer, you may choose to study a Master of Law (LLM) specialising in family law. Again, this is not compulsory in order to practice as a Family Lawyer.
Compare your salary
Find out how your salary compares with the average salary for Family Lawyers.Latest Family Lawyer jobs on SEEK
Be one of the first to discover these recently listed jobs, or browse all Family Lawyer jobs on SEEK right now.Did you find this helpful?
Skills and experience employers are looking for
Having the right skills and experience can make you an in-demand applicant. Family Lawyer employers on SEEK are looking for job seekers with expertise in the following areas. Family Law
Child Support
Mediation
Settlements
Admissions
Legal Advice
Legal Research
Empathy
Negotiation
Domestic Violence Support
Source: SEEK job ads and SEEK Profile data
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Latest Family Lawyer reviews
Dec 2024
It's good
Reviewer's QualificationBachelor of Law
ExperienceLess than a year
Organisation sizeMedium (20-199 employees)
SpecialisationLegal
The good thingsIt's good I enjoy myself most of the time
The challengesIt's good I enjoy myself most of the time
Read more
Feb 2024
It’s been amazing and is the best job I could ever do
Experience5 – 9 years
Organisation sizeSmall (1-19 employees)
SpecialisationLegal
The good thingsIf you are passionate about assisting people in crisis and at the worst time of their lives, but showing compassion and strength then this is the job you want. I love being a problem solver and an adv...
The challengesI love everything about my job, the responsibility, the care, the authority, the knowledge
Read more
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SEEK has not verified the truth or accuracy of these comments and does not adopt or endorse any of the comments posted on this page.SEEK collects and posts the comments for what they are worth and for information purposes only to assist candidates to find employment through www.seek.com.au
