To practice as a divorce lawyer, you must first complete the educational and testing requirements to become a licensed attorney in the jurisdiction in which you wish to work. You should also get hands-on experience working in a family law or divorce practice, depending on the laws and practices in your area. Additional course work, including continuing education courses, in divorce and family law is frequently recommended. You’ll be able to take on more responsibility and develop a specialized practice in divorce law as your experience and knowledge grow.
The educational requirements for becoming a divorce lawyer, or any lawyer, differ by jurisdiction. In most states in the United States, an aspiring lawyer must first earn a bachelor’s degree before pursuing a law degree at the graduate level. When a student attends law school full-time in the United States, it typically takes three years to complete. A student may have the opportunity to work as an intern in a law firm while in law school. If a student thinks he wants to be a divorce lawyer, he should consider doing an internship at a firm that specializes in family or divorce law. He can take the bar exam and apply for attorney licensure after completing his degree.
A licensed attorney in the United States can practice in any area of law that she is interested in. Many new attorneys look for opportunities to work in law firms that specialize in their areas of interest so that they can learn on the job. The new attorney who wants to become a divorce lawyer should focus her job search on family law practices, just like a law student who chooses an internship in a family law or divorce practice.
There are educational options available to help those interested in becoming divorce lawyers learn more about divorce and family law, social policy, and the family dynamics that affect the divorce process. A divorce lawyer may wish to further her education by taking specialized law courses or by receiving training in another field such as psychology or finance and focusing her studies on divorce-related issues. Professional associations frequently hold meetings where additional training in the areas of divorce law and divorce litigation can be obtained. Even seasoned divorce lawyers will occasionally enroll in continuing education courses to improve their skills and knowledge, as well as gain a better understanding of the practice of divorce law.