Family law concerns state and federal regulation of families, other intimate relationships between adults, and adult relationships with children, as well as the resolution of disputes within such relationships, whether by litigation or alternative methods such as negotiation, mediation or arbitration. Constitutional issues play a significant role in contemporary family law, and family law issues often arise in other doctrinal contexts, for example in bankruptcy, business law, criminal law, decedents' estates, real estate and tax. In addition, the study of family law provides an opportunity for studying the complex interplay of family and state, public and private, freedom and responsibility and tradition and innovation in constituting civic life.
Family law is one of the subjects on the bar exam.
Attorneys may practice family law as members of private firms or solo practitioners, as government lawyers, within the judicial system, or in various non-profit or public interest settings, such as legal services or child advocacy organizations. While attorneys may specialize in domestic relations law, for example, as a divorce or adoption specialist, most attorneys in private practice, either civil or criminal, particularly in mid-size or smaller firms, will need at least a basic understanding of family law doctrines and procedures. Conversely, students interested in family law practice as private practitioners will need exposure to a wide variety of other doctrinal areas to be successful. Both specialized family law offerings and other relevant courses and programs are discussed below. Family Law introduces students to selected issues and skills relevant to family law practice and decision making in various settings, with particular attention to private practice, government lawyering and legislative and judicial decision making about intimate relationships.