Starting as a new lawyer with no family law experience, Max T. Stephenson shares insights from his 12-year career path building a successful family law practice.
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July 2, 2025 – Are you a family law attorney or want to learn more about family law as a practice area? In this episode of the
Bottom Up Podcast, produced by the State Bar of Wisconsin, attorney Max T. Stephenson describes his experiences as a family law attorney with Gimbel Reilly Guerin & Brown LLP for more than a decade.
Starting as a new lawyer with no family law experience, Stephenson discusses his 12-year career path and provides insights on building and growing a successful family law practice.
Host Kristen Hardy and guest host Joe Forward engage with Stephenson on the emotional complexities of family law, the importance of maintaining professionalism, and the skills necessary for young lawyers to succeed in this challenging field.
Stephenson shares insights from his career, including the impact of the pandemic on legal practice, the significance of mentorship, and the evolving landscape of prenuptial agreements. The conversation also touches on the threats he has faced, but also the heartwarming aspects of family law, such as adoption proceedings.
Overall, the episode provides valuable advice for young lawyers and law students navigating their careers in family law.
Listen to more episodes of the
Bottom Up Podcast at wisbar.org/podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Family Law and the Podcast
01:12 Max T. Stevenson: Background and Career Path
04:11 Navigating the Emotional Landscape of Family Law
07:12 Learning to Manage Stress in Family Law Practice
10:19 Handling Non-Legal Issues in Family Law
11:35 Dealing with Threats and Safety in Family Law
14:08 Essential Skills for Young Family Lawyers
16:41 Civility and Networking in Family Law
17:20 Advice for Law Students and Young Lawyers
19:54 The Anatomy of a Divorce Case
22:37 Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
26:27 Pro Se Litigants in Family Law
29:18 Heartwarming Adoption Cases
32:18 The Stress of Adoption Proceedings
35:24 Finding Light After Divorce
37:06 Balancing Personal Life and Legal Practice
38:21 Staying at the Same Firm: Loyalty and Growth
40:56 Mentorship and Supporting New Lawyers
43:20 The Impact of the Pandemic on New Lawyers
46:00 The Future of Legal Practice and AI
