A Family Affair: The Complex Field of Domestic Violence and Intimate Partner Law

The challenging field of family law is a vital part of the litigation profession, demanding an understanding of both the law and the psychological trauma that can dramatically affect the well-being of children and others caught in the middle. Guest Ashish Joshi is a Michigan attorney and author who has devoted his career to helping those struggling through the most difficult situations imaginable.

Family violence, coercion, and control are, unfortunately, a huge and often under recognized part of our legal reality.

The field of family law can include issues including parental alienation, child abduction, the weaponization of children and their relationships with sparring parents, gaslighting and manipulation, and even complicated adjacent areas of law such as hidden assets, stalking, and pet abuse. Family law litigation requires a complex skill set and mental toughness, but it’s a vital part of our lives.

Joshi shares how practicing in the field involves working with people going through the worst period of their lives, the protection of innocent and powerless victims, and the field of psychology and human behavior. Looking for a challenge and the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life? Family law litigation is a demanding and rewarding field.

Also in this episode, quick tips from Erin Clifford, managing director at Clifford Law Offices, about avoiding legal burnout.

Have a question, comment, or suggestion for an upcoming episode? Get in touch at [email protected] or [email protected].

Resources Mentioned: 

“Litigating Family Violence: A Practitioner’s Handbook” by Ashish Joshi

“Cross Examining Experts in the Behavioral Sciences,” by Demosthenes Lorandos

“Justin Fairfax Killed His Estranged Wife and Himself 2 Weeks Before a Court Deadline to Move Out,” Associated Press 

American Bar Association

American Bar Association Litigation Section