The legal profession offers an incredibly diverse range of career paths, with attorneys specializing in everything from corporate mergers to dog bite cases. This comprehensive guide will help you understand the different types of lawyers and their unique roles in our legal system.
Major Categories of Legal Practice
1. Litigation Lawyers
- Trial attorneys who represent clients in court
- Include both plaintiff and defense lawyers
- Specialize in civil, criminal, or administrative cases
2. Transactional Lawyers
- Focus on contracts and business deals
- Rarely appear in court
- Work behind the scenes on agreements and documentation
Detailed List of Legal Specializations
Corporate and Business Law
- Corporate Lawyers
- Handle business formation and governance
- Manage mergers and acquisitions
- Advise on corporate compliance
- Contract Lawyers
- Draft and review business agreements
- Specialize in specific contract types (employment, vendor, etc.)
- Tax Attorneys
- Navigate complex tax codes
- Handle IRS disputes
- Advise on tax planning strategies
Civil Litigation
- Personal Injury Lawyers
- Represent accident victims
- Handle car accidents, slip-and-falls, medical malpractice
- Work on contingency fee basis
- Medical Malpractice Attorneys
- Specialize in healthcare-related injuries
- Require understanding of medical standards
- Work with medical experts
- Product Liability Lawyers
- Handle cases involving defective products
- Work with consumer protection laws
- Often take on large manufacturers
Criminal Law
- Criminal Defense Attorneys
- Represent accused individuals
- Handle misdemeanors to felonies
- Protect constitutional rights
- Prosecutors
- Represent the government
- Work for district attorney offices
- Decide whether to bring charges
- DUI/DWI Lawyers
- Specialize in drunk driving cases
- Know field sobriety and breathalyzer science
- Help minimize license consequences
Family Law
- Divorce Lawyers
- Handle marriage dissolutions
- Negotiate settlements
- Manage child custody disputes
- Child Custody Attorneys
- Focus specifically on parenting arrangements
- Understand child development factors
- Work with family courts
- Adoption Lawyers
- Facilitate legal adoptions
- Navigate complex paperwork
- Handle interstate/international cases
Real Estate Law
- Real Estate Attorneys
- Handle property transactions
- Review titles and deeds
- Resolve boundary disputes
- Landlord-Tenant Lawyers
- Handle evictions
- Draft lease agreements
- Resolve security deposit disputes
Intellectual Property
- Patent Lawyers
- Help inventors protect creations
- Must have technical background
- Pass special patent bar exam
- Trademark Attorneys
- Protect brand identities
- Handle infringement cases
- Manage trademark portfolios
- Copyright Lawyers
- Protect creative works
- Handle digital rights issues
- Negotiate licensing deals
Employment Law
- Employment Discrimination Lawyers
- Handle workplace bias cases
- Specialize in ADA, Title VII, ADEA
- Represent employees or employers
- Labor Union Attorneys
- Negotiate collective bargaining agreements
- Handle NLRB matters
- Represent unions or management
- Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
- Help injured workers get benefits
- Navigate state compensation systems
- Handle appeals of denied claims
Emerging Legal Fields
- Cybersecurity Lawyers
- Handle data breach responses
- Advise on privacy laws
- Work with tech companies
- Cannabis Attorneys
- Navigate conflicting state/federal laws
- Help cannabis businesses comply
- Handle licensing applications
- Space Law Attorneys
- Work with aerospace industry
- Handle satellite regulations
- Address emerging space commerce issues
