A family lawyer is someone who specializes primarily in handling legal matters surrounding the family unit. Divorce and child custody are the most obvious reasons people think of needing a family lawyer. However, family lawyers handle a variety of matters including, adoption, marriage annulments (as opposed to divorce), paternity and prenuptial agreements. Especially for gay and lesbian couples, family lawyers can also assist with cohabitation agreements and domestic partner registration. Family lawyers may also handle estate planning by creating wills and trusts.
To specialize in family law, new attorneys typically go to work for an established solo practitioner or law firm that offers family law services. It is rare that a recent bar exam passer starts his own practice. However, even if a lawyer only accepts family law cases, many states will not allow an attorney to advertise that she "specializes" in family law unless the attorney has practiced in family law for a specific number of years and has been certified as a specialist by the State Bar. Certification may require an additional exam or simply peer review by other attorneys who are certified in the specialty area. A family lawyer's earning potential can range from $30,000 a year to millions of dollars a year, depending on the location of the practice, the lawyer's experience and the case load he is willing to manage.