(from left to right) Laura Ashmore, Alexis Mansfield, Andrea Belard and Dave Zwaska discuss their family law careers with law students.
DePaul University College of Law’s
Schiller DuCanto & Fleck Family Law Center held its annual panel
on the practice of family law featuring attorneys from the public and
private sector. Its participants were Laura Ashmore, partner at Davis
Friedman; Dave Zwaska, associate at Dussias Skallas Wittenberg;
Alexis Mansfield, supervising attorney of CLAIM at Cabrini Green
Legal Aid and Andrea Belard, staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society
of Metropolitan Family Services. The first two speakers compared
practicing family law in a small and large firm, while the second two
discussed aiding low-income and incarcerated clients.
Although the speakers highlighted different areas of their careers,
they all gave attendees relevant information about pursuing their
own paths in family law. They encouraged students to take advantage of
the many opportunities DePaul Law has for students interested in the
field, including a Family Law Clinic and a Family Law Certificate. Additionally, the four attorneys shared the belief that while family
law can be emotionally powerful, it also be very rewarding because you are helping real people and families.
The panel was co-sponsored
by Law Career Services and the Center for Public Interest Law.