How hard is it to leave family law later on?

[blueleaves20]

I'm curious if anyone has any experience starting in family law and pivoting careers later on? Is it difficult to switch practice areas?

[Hegdis]

I don’t have any personal experience, but a few successful criminal defence lawyers I know came from the family bar. 

They say they they find criminal defence more collegial. 

[Aureliuse]

This is actually more common than people realize.

A lot of people leave family law (for good reason given the nature of the practice and the clientele we deal with) after 5-6 years. They didn't quit law, but probably found other opportunities related to law or transitioned to other areas of practice.

Yes, it is common to hear that other bars are more "civil" and "collegial" than the family law bar. Many lawyers who transitioned to family law were shocked by how "aggressive" and "mean" some lawyers are.

[Lawstudents20202020]

I've found the "meanest" lawyers in family law are the ones trying to jump from PI to family law.  My wild speculation is that it's just them using tactics that made sense against ICBC without realizing the power dynamics in family law are fundamentally different.