How many hours do divorce lawyers work?
Asked by: Destin Baumbach | Last update: January 22, 2026Score: 4.8/5 (53 votes)
Family lawyers spend a considerable amount of time with their clients in their offices, in court, and in arbitration and administrative proceedings. Those in the private sector often work more than 40 hours a week.
How many hours a week do divorce lawyers work?
It's common for lawyers to work between 55 and 80 hours a week, depending on what size firm they work in.
Is being a divorce lawyer stressful?
Another reality of a family law practice that should be recognized, Professor Teixeira de Sousa points out, is that dealing with people in these situations (divorce, custody battles, etc.) can be personally challenging. “You're dealing with all the most intimate personal details of other people's lives” she says.
What is a typical work schedule for a lawyer?
Most lawyers work full-time, and some regularly exceed the standard 40-hour workweek. The size of their practice significantly impacts how many hours lawyers typically work each week. For example: Lawyers at small- and medium-sized firms work an average of 42-54 hours per week.
How many hours a day do big law lawyers work?
Tend to work 12+ hours daily (and on the weekends). You're in a highly competitive and stressful lawyer job environment. And you also handle multiple matters simultaneously and multitask like a pro.
Divorce Lawyers Give Relationship Advice | Glamour
Do lawyers work 9 5?
How Many Hours Does a Lawyer Typically Work in a Day? A full-time job for a lawyer rarely entails working from 9 to 5 like other professions. According to a study, 86% of lawyers claimed to work hours other than the standard 9 to 6 schedule.
Do lawyers work 80 hours a week?
According to surveys, most lawyers work between 50 and 80 hours per week, far exceeding the standard 40-hour workweek. For those in Big Law or high-pressure specialties such as corporate litigation or mergers and acquisitions, the hours can be even longer, especially during critical periods of a case or deal.
Do lawyers have work-life balance?
The legal industry is so focused on billable hours and the partner track that it can be difficult to feel like work-life balance is possible. Particularly for lawyers at the beginning of their careers, there is an expectation of working overtime and vying to work on big cases.
Do lawyers have time for family?
According to the National Association for Law Placement, more than 70 percent of those surveyed reported having a significant problem finding time for family and leisure, as well as personal and health needs.
What field of law is most in demand?
- Intellectual property law. ...
- Family law. ...
- Immigration & naturalization law. ...
- Real estate law. ...
- Contract management. ...
- Compliance. ...
- Labor and employment. ...
- Corporate transactions. Also known as mergers and acquisitions, or M&A, this work navigates the buying and selling of companies and their assets.
Should I tell my divorce lawyer everything?
Being honest and transparent with your attorney will give them the tools they need to represent you as best they can. Without important details of your marriage, your lawyer will have insufficient or misleading evidence to work with. Ultimately, doing so will give you the best chance at a successful divorce.
What type of lawyer makes the most money?
Patent Attorney Salary
Patent attorneys are the highest-paid type of lawyers, with an average salary of $185,351, ranging from $119,88 to $285,530. Various factors contribute to a patent attorney's average salary, including experience, firm, location, and subject matter expertise.
Do divorce lawyers get divorced more?
However, the reality is quite the opposite. Divorce lawyers don't tend to get divorced very often. In fact, they appear to steer away from the undertaking altogether at a greater rate than the average person does – but why is this so?
What is a day in the life of a divorce lawyer?
They represent spouses during divorces, assist with resolving issues of custody, facilitate adoptions and end-of-life planning. A typical day for a family lawyer may involve drafting a will, attending a hearing on a divorce case, and meeting with potential clients.
How do divorce lawyers get paid?
Hourly Fee
This is a common way divorce lawyers bill. The lawyer's hourly rate is multiplied by the amount of hours that he or she worked. For example, if the lawyer's hourly rate is $300 and he or she worked four hours on the case during the billing cycle, the client may be billed $1,200.
Do lawyers get weekends off?
In general, most lawyers work on weekends. You serve the needs of your clients as a lawyer in the professional services sector. Attorneys are required to meet deadlines that do not always match their schedules. They are being compensated for being available for their clients' issues full-time.
Is it possible to be a lawyer and a mom?
Lawyers with children experience unique challenges
To say that parenting is hard is an understatement. It's possibly the most challenging job you will ever take on. But add to that a full-time legal career, and the difficulty level elevates substantially. Lawyering, by nature, is seldom a nine-to-five job.
What time do lawyers start working?
The time lawyers start work varies depending on their firm, practice area, and workload, but many typically begin their day between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM.
Do lawyers have flexible work hours?
Times are changing, and so are the ways lawyers can manage their work. Many firms now offer flexible schedules, remote work options, and technology solutions to ease the load.
What type of lawyer has the best lifestyle?
Real estate, estate planning, and intellectual property rights law are often referred to as the least stressful areas of law to practice.
Is being a lawyer financially stable?
California has the highest average salary for lawyers, only being surpassed by the District of Columbia, where lawyers command an average annual salary of $226,510.
What job has the best work-life balance?
- Teacher. ...
- Marketing Manager. ...
- Physical Therapist. ...
- IT Manager. ...
- Real Estate Agent. ...
- Pharmacist. ...
- Web Developer. If you like designing and coding, working as a web developer is one of the best jobs with a work-life balance to dream about. ...
- Freelance Creative.
What lawyers work 40 hours a week?
- Large firms: 66 hours per week.
- Small- and medium-sized firms: 42-54 hours per week.
- Government agencies: 40 hours per week.
Is being a lawyer worth it?
Lucrative career
They make a national average salary of $50,979 per year . Though you may not earn this income as a new lawyer, you can work your way toward this salary with enough hard work and experience. However, finding satisfaction in your specific field may be worth more than your annual salary.
Can lawyers work from home?
Can a lawyer work remotely? While the answer depends on your practice area and what a typical day looks like for you, the short answer is “yes.” It should be possible to complete some or all of your legal work remotely, and even provide an excellent client experience while not in the office.