Can lawyers have families?

Question

If I go to law school and I pass the bar and I get my career going can I still have a successful family? I really want to do this but I refuse to sacrafise a family for it because I want to have a family just as bad.

Answer 1

Goodness gracious--I wonder if any of the people answering your questions are actually attorneys. The answer is: it depends (p.s. this is the answer to *every* question in law school). Really, it depends on several factors: the type of law you practice, the type of employer you have, the geographical area in which you work, your spouses' profession and schedule.

Some types of law are more time consuming than others. Estate planning is mostly paperwork and can be done at your leisure. Trial work is busy in spurts (right around where you have a trial).

Your type of employer also plays a large role: large firms and small, rapidly growing firms tend to demand long hours from their associates. In addition, there is usually some unwritten "face time" requirement where you have to be at the office regardless if there's any work to be done right then or not. Medium sized firms or small firms where the partners have made quality of life a priority tend to work you less, allow flexible scheduling, or allow telecommuting, etc.

Geographical location is a huge indicator (combined with type of employer) that will determine how much you work. Rule of thumb: bigger the city, the more hours you'll work. I have a friend at a top 5 law firm in NYC. She's working 90 hours a week. I'm at a small but very rapidly growing firm here in DC and I'm working 80 hours. Add Chicago and LA to the list.

The best attorneys that I have found to raise a family are federal government lawyers. The key is to not work for the US Attorneys Office or the DOJ--they're work horse agencies. Virtually any government entity employs attorneys and many of those jobs are 9 to 5. In addition, no one has better "on-site" daycare available to their employees than federal agencies.

Law is a time consuming and all-encompassing profession. That being said, I know several people that have raised families while being employed as an attorney. When the judge I worked for was a partner in a firm, she raised two girls by herself. Of course, another judge worked 630 to 730 at the US Attorneys Office and estranged himself from his family. It all depends on the balance you keep.

Answer 2

I am a paralegal, and the associates I work with, don't really stay very late. Some of the do, but for the most part they keep reasonable hours. If you are going into litigation, think again. Litigation has SO many last minute issues, that you could plan something for a Friday night, and end up working until 2am. I would go into law that is more structured, where you can expect to know when you might have to work late. For instance, Real Estate or Corporate transactional work. You are going to know in advance when you have a closing and can prepare clear your calendar to stay late.

Answer 3

I am sure that you can do both, but I would probably wait for the family until you are through with schooling as that is going to be the hardest years for you.

You also have to realize that you are going to have to sacrifice quite a bit to have a great career, so you have to find a woman that is willing to be a home maker type that is willing and able to take on the majority of the domestic chores due to your working and hours.

Being a lawyer is tough, but most lawyers I know do have families.

Answer 4

Of course you can have a family! Where'd you get a foolish idea like that?

Every profession you go into will require you to sacrifice some of your time. That's life. The question you have to answer for yourself is whether the man in your life is "jealous" of the time you spend researching law for the cases you're working on.

Many lawyers have successful practices and good family lives. Remember it's quality, not quantity.

Answer 5

I would suggest you ask around, you're in the military and I'm guessing you work with a few people who have been down this road. It's not a good idea to fight for custody while deployed because it is very obvious that you won't be the "primary" if you are deployed or even deployable. Unless you can prove her to be unfit you honestly don't have a good case. 5 years ago when I got divorced I was told a person who is active duty only gets custody if A. they prove the other parent unfit B. the other parent doesn't fight it. Simply because the other parent is considered "primary care provider" since you are deployed.

Answer 6

Yes but in your best case scenario you shouldn't have children until you have money put away and have bought a house so if in any case you should lose your job you have a home and backup money.All in all you would really have to decide for yourself if you want the extra mouths to feed,and if you have enough time and money.I'm a lawyer I have two little girls,a lovely husband,and a stressful job,and it's all worth while,just don't have to much time for my children :[

Answer 7

yea you just have to become a partener in a law firm first. Before you make partener your working 80+ hours a week. Wait to start a family until your career has taken off.

Answer 8

i am not a lawyer but im pretty sure i can help you . . of corse you can if you work really hard and become a lawyer becasue yuo really want it but you also want a family then you are just gonna have to work harder but it depends how much yuo want it. If you REALLY want both then you will get both but you are just gonna have to work hard but you want it so it should be easy . . . if that made any sense then i hope it helped . just believe in your self . . im sure other lawyers have had successful familyies

Answer 9

Yes, it's possible

Answer 10

Yes you can. If you know what you want and are confident enough to go after it, you'll be able to live the life you want. Know where your priorities are, and learn to balance your professional life with your personal life and you'll be okay.