Should I Specialize in Low- Or High-Conflict Family Cases?

Specializing in low- or high-conflict family cases makes it easier to figure out when to turn down a case. Consider the pros and cons of each to help you decide.

Pros of specializing in low-conflict family cases

Less stressful

• Clients are more focused on resolving their case than arguing.
• Clients can usually communicate with the other party, taking the burden of being an intermediary off you.

More positive outcomes

• Clients often settle.
• Low-conflict clients have less chance of returning to court over disagreements.
• When parents get along, their children often have easier upbringings with less anxiety.

Personal satisfaction

• It can feel good to know you had a hand in helping a client resolve things amicably.
• With a low-conflict family practice, you'll have more time to help more people.

Cons of specializing in low-conflict family cases

Potentially lower earnings

• Low-conflict clients may only hire you in a limited capacity, then self-represent in court or use mediation to resolve their case.
• If you avoid high-conflict cases altogether, you're narrowing the scope of cases you can take on.

Mundanity

• Some clients may come to you to just draft an agreement. After a while, this work may become uninteresting if you'd prefer to do more.

Using technology to manage low-conflict custody cases

Even though low-conflict cases are generally simpler, you'll still need a convenient way to manage your clients.

With Custody X Change professional software, you can:

• Prepare custody schedules to propose to your clients.
• Create a court-ready parenting plan that can serve as your client's custody proposal or agreement.
• Link accounts with your client to collaborate remotely, see parenting expenses they log and more.

Pros of specializing in high-conflict family cases

Wider client base

• You can handle different types of high-conflict cases (e.g., high-asset divorce and complex custody).

Exciting challenges

• Solving a difficult "puzzle" of a case and arguing it in court excites some lawyers.
• Continuing legal education programs help you expand your knowledge in high-conflict areas.

Higher earning potential

• Since you're taking on more complicated cases, you can ask for more when setting fees.
• Clients rack up more legal fees as their cases take longer to resolve.

Cons of specializing in high-conflict family cases

High stress

• Emotionally volatile clients often let their feelings about the other party cloud their judgment.
• Serious accusations like abuse require intense fact-finding to prove or disprove them.
• Building rapport with other professionals, such as custody evaluators, requires extra work.

Lack of resolution

• Clients are more likely to return to court over disagreements and disobedience of court orders.

Using technology to manage high-conflict custody cases

Custody X Change helps you manage the difficulties of high-conflict custody cases.

• Draft parenting plans with custom provisions to account for the complex relationship between clients and their co-parents.
• Track custody schedule violations and calculate how much time your client actually gets
• Link accounts with your clients to view their custody journal, monitor co-parent communication and more.