Types of Lawyers | Choosing the Type of Law To Practice

The legal system is vast and complicated, which is why we have lawyers. Lawyers help people, governments, and corporations navigate the legal system.

There are dozens of different types of lawyers, each representing a different facet of the law. Keep reading to learn more about some common types of lawyers and discover tips for choosing what type of law to practice for your legal career.

10 Different Types of Lawyers

Within the legal system, there are many facets of law, and as a result, many different types of lawyers. Each type of lawyer focuses on a specific branch of law. Below, we've listed 10 common types of lawyers.

1. Family Lawyer

Family lawyers work specifically in the arena of family law. This is a wide-ranging field, meaning family lawyers may tackle:

• divorces
• child custody agreements and child support
• adoption and guardianship
• juvenile delinquency
• child welfare

In addition to representing clients in court, a family lawyer may be responsible for settling family disputes or drafting contracts or prenuptial agreements. They often work for small family law firms or nonprofit organizations.

2. Tax Lawyer

Taxes can be incredibly complicated, which is where tax lawyers come in. Tax lawyers know the ins and outs of taxes and must keep up with changing tax regulations.

Tax lawyers may work with businesses or individuals. They may work for a corporation, the IRS, law or accounting firms, or nonprofits. Some choose to earn a Master of Taxation to increase their knowledge of tax law.

3. Personal Injury Lawyer

Personal injury lawyers represent those who have been injured in some way and are looking for compensation from the person who injured them. For example, a personal injury lawyer may have a client who was injured in a car accident and is looking for compensation from the driver or insurance company.

They may also work with client who were injured on the job or injured by using a defective product. They'll work with insurance companies, hospitals, doctors, and the responsible party to help their clients get their compensation.

4. Immigration Lawyer

Immigration law is another facet of law that is particularly complicated. Immigration lawyers help with all the legal matters that accompany immigration.

They help clients navigate the process of obtaining a green card or visa. Some may also help refugees and asylum seekers.

5. Bankruptcy Lawyer

Bankruptcy lawyers offer their legal services to those looking to file for bankruptcy. They usually specialize in either consumer bankruptcy or commercial bankruptcy.

There are many steps required to file for bankruptcy, and bankruptcy lawyers are experts in all of them. They'll help clients determine what type of bankruptcy is best for them, what sort of payment plan is best, and help represent their clients in legal settings.

6. Corporate Lawyer

Also called business lawyers, corporate lawyers are experts in corporate law and represent a business and its interests. They may work for law firms or in-house for the business itself, and are often the highest-paid types of lawyers.

Business lawyers tackle a range of legal issues, including mergers and acquisitions, forming or dissolving a business, and intellectual property. They may also represent companies in things like criminal cases or workers' compensation cases.

7. Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Medical malpractice lawyers help clients who have been injured or incurred damages from a medical professional, like a doctor or nurse. This is often in the public interest, as it can prevent these issues from happening again.

This is a different legal profession than a personal injury lawyer. Personal injury lawyers cover issues caused in non-medial settings, like workman's compensation, rather than those that occur in a medical setting like medical malpractice lawyers.

8. Labor and Employment Lawyer

Labor and employment lawyers handle disputes between employees and employers. Labor lawyers tend to represent unions, while employment lawyers represent individual employees.

A labor lawyer may tackle things like collective bargaining agreements. An employment lawyer, meanwhile, may handle things like harassment, workplace discrimination, and unjust termination.

9. Real Estate Lawyer

Real estate lawyers help clients navigate real estate transactions. They may work for the buyer, seller, or lender.

Their job is to go over all legal documents and contracts and they may also oversee the closing on a property. Additionally, their jobs may include resolving property disputes, negotiating sales, and checking for zoning issues.

10. Intellectual Property Lawyer

Intellectual property (IP) is a creation that belongs to a person or corporation. Intellectual property lawyers offer legal representation for those needing assistance with intellectual property rights.

The role of an IP lawyer includes offering legal advice on intellectual property and helping clients register copyrights, trademarks, or patents. They also pursue legal action against those who infringe on their clients' intellectual property rights.

How To Choose the Type of Law To Practice

With so many types of law and types of career paths in law, it can be hard to choose which one you want to focus on. We've listed a few things to consider to help you choose what type of law to pursue.

Examine Your Skillset and Passions

Being a lawyer can be difficult, and it requires a passion for the job. Consider what area of law you're most passionate about. Is it social justice? Families? Finance?

Your skillset matters as well. Some types of law are more technical, while others require more people skills. Consider what area of law your skills would shine the best in.

Keep Your Career Goals in Mind

Of course, if you already have a career in mind, it's easier to choose the type of law to practice. But there are other career goals to consider as well.

Think about what your ultimate goal is. Is it to help people, make partner, or is there a specific salary range you have in mind? Pay can range greatly between law careers.

Speak with Lawyers in Different Fields

If you're still struggling to identify what type of law suits your career goals and passions best, try talking with lawyers from different fields. They can give you an idea of what a day in their job is like.

Speaking with different lawyers can help you learn things like typical hours, typical cases, and the pros and cons of the field. They'll give you an inside look at what their career really entails.

Determine Which Types of Law Are Most in Demand

While lawyers are always going to be needed, some types of lawyers are more in demand than others, while some, like family lawyers, will always be in demand. Currently, some of the most in-demand types of lawyers are:

• intellectual property lawyers
• labor and employment lawyers
• healthcare lawyers
• environmental lawyers

The types of lawyers that are in demand can vary based on where you're located, so check to see what's in demand in your area.

How Do Lawyers Specialize?

Lawyers typically choose a legal field while in law school, although some may have a specialization in mind before they begin. The specific time frame can vary between programs.

Most schools prefer law students to choose their specialization no later than sometime in their second year. This gives students enough time to complete the courses required for this concentration or specialization.

FAQs About the Different Types of Lawyers

Below, we've answered some frequently asked questions about the different types of lawyers.

What Are the Most Common Types of Lawyers?

There are several common types of lawyers. These include:

• family lawyers
• bankruptcy lawyers
• personal injury lawyers
• corporate lawyers
• criminal lawyers

How Long Does It Take To Become a Lawyer?

Becoming a lawyer requires seven years of education: four years in a bachelor's program and three years of law school. Outside of that, the length of time it takes to become a lawyer depends on how long it takes you to take and bass the bar exam and be admitted to the bar.

What Type of Lawyer Goes to Court the Most?

While the type of lawyer that goes to court most can depend on specific cases and clients, on average, a criminal defense lawyer will appear in court the most. This is especially true if the case they're working on ends up going to trial.

Is Law School Difficult?

Law school is very rigorous, and for many students, it's quite difficult. Law school often features a heavy courseload and challenging exams, and is also highly competitive.