What Family Lawyers Really Deal With Every Day

What is it really like to be a family law attorney?In this episode of Time We Discuss, host Dan sits down with family law attorney and law firm owner Jolee Vacchi to explore the realities of practicing family law. From divorce cases and child custody disputes to emotional resilience, work life balance, and starting a law firm, this conversation offers an honest look behind the scenes of a legal career many people are curious about but rarely understand.Jolee practices family law in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and focuses on compassionate divorce and mediation. She shares what family law attorneys actually do day to day, how often they are in court, and how emotionally demanding this area of law can be. The conversation also covers mental health support for attorneys, burnout in the legal profession, and why compassion is essential when working with families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.This episode is especially valuable for anyone considering law school, exploring legal career paths, thinking about becoming a family law attorney, or curious about how divorce and custody cases really work.In this episode, we discussWhat a family law attorney doesDivorce law vs family lawChild custody and court appearancesThe emotional challenges of family lawMental health and burnout in legal careersWork life balance for attorneysStarting a family law firmCareer paths and pivots within lawWho family law is and is not right forAbout our guestJolee Vacchi is the founder of Foundations Family Law and Mediation Center, serving clients across Massachusetts and Rhode Island. She is also the co host of the Divorce Detox podcast, where she shares legal insights alongside emotional regulation strategies for people navigating divorce.About Time We DiscussTime We Discuss is a career discovery podcast where we interview professionals across industries to learn what it is really like to do their jobs. Each episode explores career paths, daily responsibilities, challenges, and unexpected insights to help listeners make more informed career decisions.Subscribe for more conversations about real careers and real work.=============================================Timestamp:0:00 - Intro0:44 - What do family lawyers really do?1:39 - Difference divorce attorney and family attorney2:07 - How often are you in court?3:25 - Working in tandem with social workers4:30 - Separating person and professional life6:34 - Mental well-being and lawyers7:26 - Why family law?9:25 - Importance of wanting to help people10:34 - Pivoting out of family law11:49 - Work-life balance for a family lawyer13:18 - Starting her own firm16:07 - Preparing to leave and being an entrepreneur16:36 - Getting that first client18:29 - Expectations for PTO for attorneys19:52 - Hidden perks of being a family attorney21:26 - This isn't for you if ...22:22 - Thank you Ashley22:46 - Talent has the floor.23:33 - Outro=============================================Guest Information:Jolee VacchiFoundations Family Law and Mediation WebsiteDivorce Detox Podcast WebsiteAlso Mentioned Directly or Indirectly in This Episode:Day in the Life of an Estate Attorney, Children's Book AuthorStart a Social Media Marketing Agency and Make BANK!Life as a Trial /Divorce Attorney with Russell LittleWhat It Is Really Like Hosting The Dave Benson ShowLicensed Professional Counselor of Mental HealthDecluttering for a Living=================================================================Time We Discuss Links:Official Website: Time We Discuss WebsiteOriginal Music: Original Music furnished by Dan SwiftYouTube: Time We Discuss on YouTubeSpotify: Time We Discuss on SpotifyApple Podcasts: Time We Discuss on Apple PodcastsMore Podcast Platforms: Time We Discuss Podcast on Other PlatformsTwitter/X: Time We Discuss on Twitter/XBluesky: Time We Discuss on BlueskyInstagram: Time We Discuss on InstagramThreads: Time We Discuss on Threads