Family Law Attorney

Name: Thomas Tuft

Major: Political Science

Law School: University of Minnesota

Description of your job: I practice family law. This includes divorce, paternity, custody, etc. In addition, I have developed a niche in interstate and international child custody cases.

Do you have any advice for students who are considering going to the same law school you did? I have no regrets about attending the University of Minnesota Law School. It was a great experience and the connections continue to help in my practice.

Is there anything in particular that you did during your undergrad that benefited you more than anything else in getting through law school and/or transitioning into the legal profession? It is extremely important to get good grades and be involved in some volunteer or other program for the civic good.

Is being a lawyer what you expected it would be? Why or why not? The hours are longer, but I find I enjoy the work more than I thought I would.

What is it like transitioning from being a law student to being a lawyer? I opened my own firm after law school. It was very difficult, but I could imagine doing it any differently.

Is there anything students should know about the legal profession before they decide to commit their life to it? A law degree can lead down many different paths. My classmates went into business, public service, government, or military work. Litigation (criminal, family, civil) is only a small part of the whole the work lawyers do.

What does a typical day look like for you as a lawyer? There is no typical day. One day I can be dividing millions of dollars and then come back to the office to coordinate the division of the plastic plants. I could have nothing on my calendar and end up in a domestic abuse trial.

Do you have any final advice? I find law a very satisfying career, but it is not for everyone. It can be extremely stressful and competive. At the same time the financial and emotional rewards can be tremendous. I have been there when a client saw his son for the first time in over a year. I have seen a depressed client get better and finally off the medication by the time we finish the case.