Ilana Tanner on Building a Successful Family Law Practice & Work-Life Balance | Episode 12

In Episode 12 of the Texas Lawyer Podcast, host Cheryl McGirr sits down with board-certified family law attorney Ilana Tanner for an in-depth, candid conversation exploring the realities, challenges, and deeply human aspects of practicing family law in Texas. The episode opens with Ilana reflecting on her life before practicing law. As a former University of Texas lacrosse player and UT Law graduate, Ilana spent formative years in Austin working in human resources at the Four Seasons and bartending downtown. However, a career in law was deeply rooted in her upbringing. Growing up in Houston with two attorney parents, Ilana spent countless spring breaks, holidays, and after-school hours immersed in law offices and courthouses. This early exposure fostered a deep comfort and familiarity with the legal environment. Ilana's specific calling to family law solidified during her undergraduate studies at UT when she clerked for Judge Meard in Harris County. Observing firsthand how judges and attorneys guide individuals through devastating personal crises—such as high-conflict divorces, complex custody disputes, and financial upheaval—showed her the unique impact a compassionate, grounded lawyer can make. She realized that family law required cutting through emotional turbulence to identify what truly mattered to clients and what the courts needed to hear. Before launching her family law career, Ilana began as a prosecutor in the Travis County Attorney’s Office. Trying numerous cases, including DWIs and thefts. Judge Perkins' courtroom provided invaluable trial experience, witness preparation practice, and comfort in front of a judge and jury. While she loved the courtroom atmosphere, she ultimately decided that criminal law was not her long-term home, leading her to transition smoothly into family law, where she could combine rigorous courtroom advocacy with meaningful, person-centric problem-solving. A major theme of the discussion centers on the stark contrast between what law school teaches and the realities of daily practice. Ilana and Cheryl discuss the prevalence of intense out-of-court negotiations that culminate right outside the courtroom doors, as well as the constant flow of temporary orders hearings, motion hearings, and trials that keep family lawyers in the courthouse nearly every day. When discussing what constitutes a "win" in family law, both attorneys agree that courtroom victories are only part of the picture. True success often means helping clients navigate successful mediations, de-escalating hostility, and helping them realize that there is a stable, hopeful "life after divorce." Ilana shares a memorable early win from her career: representing a low-income mother in a highly contested jury trial against wealthy grandparents seeking custody, ensuring a mother and child could remain together despite socioeconomic disparity. The conversation also tackles common pitfalls in modern practice, including inexperienced lawyers taking rigid, aggressive positions that escalate conflict and run up legal bills. Both Ilana and Cheryl emphasize that family law attorneys must keep families' long-term well-being, especially children who will experience years of co-parenting and future milestones like graduations, at the forefront of every case. And with that, the Texas Lawyer podcast has adjourned for today. What's your biggest takeaway? Let us know in the comments below. Be sure to leave a review, like, subscribe, and share us with your friends. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Time Stamps 00:00 - 01:43 - Introduction & Guest Welcome 01:44 - 02:14 - Life Before Law: HR, Bartending, & UT 02:15 - 04:31 - Growing Up Around Courthouses & Choosing Family Law 04:32 - 06:12 - Starting as a Prosecutor in Travis County 06:13 - 07:38 - The Reality of Daily Court Appearances 07:39 - 09:50 - What Law School Doesn't Teach You About Running a Business 09:51 - 13:01 - Defining True "Wins" & My First Family Law Jury Trial 13:02 - 15:17 - The 5-Year Outlook & The Standing Desk Dispute 15:18 - 17:05 - Boutique Practice & Guardian Ad Litem Work 17:06 - 20:09 - Single Motherhood, Trial Dockets, & Daycare Deadlines 20:10 - 24:12 - Why Intentional Firm Growth Matters 24:13 - 26:44 - Real-World Advice for Law Students & Aspiring Attorneys 26:45 - 29:07 - Networking & Career Growth Advice for Young Lawyers 29:08 - 32:05 - The High Cost of Petty Litigation & Future Co-Parenting 32:06 - 33:00 - Podcast Wrap-Up & Closing Remarks