Bridging the Gap: Judge Juhas on Family Law and Collaboration

Judge Mark Juhas didn’t begin his career in Family Law, but when he was appointed to the bench in 2002, he embraced the assignment.

“I’m not sure I viewed it as an opportunity at the time,” Judge Juhas recalled. “But I was given the opportunity to do Family Law … and I’ve stayed in it virtually my entire career. It can be very rewarding.”

Colleagues describe Judge Juhas as one of the most experienced and knowledgeable family law judges in Los Angeles County. Throughout the 23 years he has spent on the Los Angeles County Superior Court, he has worked tirelessly to make the family court system more equitable for vulnerable populations and to expand access to services for self-represented litigants.

“Family law practice today is much different than it was 20 or 25 years ago,” he said. “Sometimes you need somebody to guide people along the way. You’re transitioning folks from one family structure to another. At the end of the day, you’re still a family, it just looks different. There are many ways to get from point A to point B that were less popular and less prevalent when I started.  I think that the increased popularity and availability today really assists families.”

For these transitions to succeed, Judge Juhas emphasized, judges and lawyers must work together to improve outcomes for all parties. This collaborative approach is what inspired his long-standing participation in the Family Law: No Holds Barred seminar series, alongside four other justices.

Reflecting on the seminar’s format, Judge Juhas highlighted its practical, conversational approach.

“It’s not six hours of someone talking at you,” he explained. “It’s more of a conversation among bench officers and practicing lawyers. It’s practical; ‘How do you do it?’,  ‘What are the pitfalls?’,  ‘What does a judge want to see, and what does a judge not want to see?’  It’s great fun to go out and talk to family law lawyers and other judges from around the state and find out that we all have kind of the same issues and the same concerns and the same challenges.”

This year’s discussions will tackle pressing topics, from managing ethical obligations with self-represented litigants to leveraging new technology in family law practice.

Join the Conversation at Family Law: No Holds Barred

Judge Juhas hopes attendees to approach the seminar with curiosity and questions. “This is about how to practice law, approach your cases, get more out of your practice, and better serve your clients,” he said.

The California Lawyers Association proudly hosts this in-person event, giving attorneys direct access to judges who regularly rule on cases in their practice areas. It’s a unique opportunity to move beyond theory and engage in candid, forward-thinking conversations shaping the future of family law.

Event Details & Registration

Learn more about the distinguished panel and how to register today.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from and engage with leading voices in California family law.