About Family Law
Family law covers a wide range of legal issues and often involves representing clients during emotional times in their lives. Most family lawyers specialize in divorce, which generally encompasses marital dissolution, spousal and child support, legal and physical custody, and sometimes paternity issues. Family lawyers may also represent clients in drafting co-habitation, pre-nuptial, and marital property agreements. As the definition of "family" continues to evolve in America, family lawyers will be on the cutting edge, facing increasingly complex new issues and challenges.
Family lawyers need a broad set of legal skills. They must be negotiators, client counselors, and litigators. They must have good people skills, and strong oral and written communication skills, including good listening skills. Family lawyers must have a grasp of the many issues involved in family law and must also have a working knowledge of tax, estate planning, business law, and real estate law.
Family law affects many people's lives and the role of the family lawyer is an important one in our society. It can be a stressful area of practice, but it can also be a very rewarding one.
Courses
Note: Whether a particular course is scheduled depends on faculty availability and student demand. View the Course Descriptions for more information about each course and when it's offered.
Core/Foundation Courses
These are the entry level courses that — at a minimum — employers expect a student interested in this specialty to have:
- Family Law:
- Marriage & Divorce
- Parent & Child
Recommended Courses
Students interested in this practice area should consider including one or more of the following courses as electives.
- Marital Property Law
- Selected Problems in Family Law: Adoption, Law & Policy
- Accounting for Lawyers
- Law Practice Technologies: Lawyering Skills
- Trial Advocacy
Family lawyers must have a grasp of the many issues involved in family law and must also have a working knowledge of tax, estate planning and business law:
Enrichment Courses
These courses deepen or broaden the skills and substantive information that a lawyer in this field needs and also provide advanced courses for students interested in a specialty within this area of practice.
- Directed Reading or Directed Research with a Family Law topic
- Domestic Violence
- Evidence
- Use of Trusts in Estate Planning
Additional information regarding the Family Law Concentration.
Clinics, Internships, & Externships
Family Court Clinic
The Family Court Clinic is a clinical program designed to help make the legal system more accessible to low-income, unrepresented people with divorce, post-divorce, paternity, and restraining order matters. Students serve as facilitators/mediators, working with the parties to help them advance their cases for decision. In addition, students represent individuals engaged in the family court process. Students undergo in-depth skills training in interviewing, counseling, and negotiations, and learn the nuts and bolts of family law. Students may enroll in the Family Court Clinic in conjunction with the Domestic Violence class to assist persons seeking restraining orders at the Dane County Courthouse.
Family Law Project
Students in the Family Law Project represent incarcerated clients in family law issues, including divorce, paternity, child support, physical placement, and guardianship. Students gain hands-on experience in all aspects of the practice of family and civil law, including interviewing and counseling clients; examining and analyzing ethical issues; negotiating with an opposing party, opposing counsel, and/or a guardian ad litem; drafting court documents; interviewing witnesses; and preparing for and conducting court hearings. The Family Law Project is a three-semester commitment that may begin in the summer after the student's first or second year.
Externships
Second and third year students can earn academic credit for externship work at nonprofit organizations and government agencies, such as End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin, that handle domestic relations issues.
Learn more about Externships or contact Externship Director Erin McBride at erin.mcbride@wisc.edu.
Student Organizations & Related Activities
Students involved in student activities and organizations are often strong job candidates. Employers look for students who show leadership, public service, and community involvement.
For a full list of student organizations at UW Law, view the Student Organizations, Journals, & Activities.
Faculty
In addition to our full-time faculty, the Law School's adjunct faculty members — prominent practicing lawyers and judges — bring their specialized knowledge and experience to the classroom. Filter by "Adjunct" in the Law School Directory for a full list.
