SKILL ROADMAP 54 · SPECIALISED LEGAL FIELDS
Family Law
Personal laws → Marriage and divorce → Maintenance → Custody → Domestic violence → Mediation → Family court practice
Track your progress
- This roadmap has 7 steps, 3 checkpoints and 3 projects.
- Open the interactive version to tick checkpoints and projects. Your progress is saved in your browser.
1 What this path is
Family lawyers handle marriage, divorce, maintenance, custody, succession and related disputes.
2 Who this path may suit
The work involves sensitive client relationships, negotiation and litigation in family courts.
3 The roadmap, step by step
- Learn personal laws.
Learn: Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Parsi personal laws and the Special Marriage Act 1954. Note that some states, such as Uttarakhand, have enacted their own uniform civil code.
Practise: by comparing divorce grounds across laws. - Learn marriage and divorce.
Learn: the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 and divorce by mutual consent.
Practise: by drafting a mutual consent divorce petition. - Learn maintenance.
Learn: maintenance under personal laws and Section 144 of the BNSS.
Practise: by drafting a maintenance application. - Learn custody.
Learn: the Guardians and Wards Act 1890 and the welfare of the child principle.
Practise: by analysing a custody judgment. - Learn domestic violence law.
Learn: the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005.
Practise: by drafting an application under the Act. - Learn mediation in family disputes.
Learn: how family courts refer matters to mediation.
Practise: with a mediation role play. - Practise in family courts.
Learn: the Family Courts Act 1984 and family court procedure.
Practise: by observing family court proceedings.
4 Your levels and checkpoints
Beginner level
- Explain major personal laws
Intermediate level
- Draft family petitions and applications
Advanced level
- Handle family disputes with sensitivity
Advanced professional level
You manage complex family matters and settlements.
These checklists are for honest self assessment. They are not an official certification.
5 Build these projects
- A divorce petition
- A maintenance application
- A custody judgment analysis
6 Internship direction
Family law chambers, family courts and legal aid bodies.
7 Portfolio evidence
Drafts and analyses without personal details.
8 Common mistakes
- Forgetting the emotional side of family disputes
9 Go deeper
Client Interviewing Roadmap · Litigation Lawyer roadmap