How many types of lawyers are there? What are the different types of lawyers?
When it comes to the legal profession, the fields of law are vast and varied. In the medical field you have various specialized doctors; the legal field is no different. Types of attorneys range anywhere from corporate to personal to public areas of practice.
As someone seeking legal counsel, it’s imperative to find the appropriate lawyer for the job. With our list of the types of lawyers and what they do, you’ll gain a better understanding of the various areas of practice in the legal profession.
Environmental
Sustainability and the environment have increasingly been an area of interest for both the public and the private sectors. Environmental lawyers deal with laws and regulations relating to the environment. They represent clients on issues such as climate change, clean air/water, and environmental technology. Matters of First Nations land use and project approvals can also fall under this type of law practice.
Business
Numerous rules and regulations govern the world of commerce and trade. These rules and regulations aim to serve and protect both the public and the corporations throughout various business transactions.
Of the many different types of attorneys, business attorneys help clients set up their business, file required paperwork, and prepare contracts. Providing consult for mergers and acquisitions is another key activity these types of attorneys will offer.
Estate Planning
Planning for a debilitating disease or death is never easy. Estate planning lawyers are types of lawyers who help you handle your estate and assets after you die. They’ll walk you through the valuation of your estate, how to disperse your estate, and make you aware of any tax implications. They may also set up trusts to help protect your assets from lawsuits or creditors.
Real Estate
Purchasing a home may very well be one of the largest purchases the average American will make in their lifetime. Aside from a realtor, having an experienced real estate lawyer is vital in protecting your interest when making such a large purchase.
A qualified real estate lawyer will aid in ensuring all necessary documents—such as purchase agreements, mortgage documents, titles, and more—are in order. Certain states require a real estate lawyer to be present at closing.
Family
Perhaps there is nothing that hits closer to home than this legal area of practice. Within the family law umbrella, there are different types of lawyers dealing with a wide host of domestic-related issues. These issues can include marriage, divorce, adoption, surrogacy, paternity, and child custody disputes.
Criminal
Under the criminal law area of practice, there are two different kinds of lawyers: prosecutor and defense lawyers. Prosecutors work for the state, and their job is to present a case against the accused for breaking the law. On the other hand, the role of a defense lawyer is to defend the accused, representing their best interests based on evidence and various legal strategies.
Intellectual Property
Intellectual property (IP) lawyers handle matters relating to the protection of inventions, literary or creative works, and product names. This practice area further comprises of patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, licensing, and unfair competition law. Tasks of IP lawyers include working with their clients to license inventions, negotiating settlements, and defending the IP portfolio of individuals or businesses.
Tax
Understanding all the tax implications for an individual or business is no easy task. An experienced tax lawyer will guide clients through the complex tax laws, saving them large sums of money in allowable tax deductions. Different lawyers within the tax law area of practice will also help prepare clients for IRS audits.
Immigration
Immigration attorneys help potential or newly immigrated individuals with visa applications, green cards, and citizenship requirements. Compared to other different types of attorneys, immigration attorneys generally spend less time dealing with disputes in civil courts. Rather, they act as advisors as well as a mediator between their clients and immigration authorities.
Court appearances for immigration attorneys do occur in some instances, however. Issues of immigration/deportation hearings or criminal cases are examples of when an immigration attorney will be required to make an appearance.
Personal Injury
Personal injury is another extremely broad area of law. Categories under personal injury law include car accident lawyers, bicycle accidents, product liability, slip and fall incidents, and medical malpractice. Essentially, personal injury cases can cover incidents where an injury was sustained due to negligence from an individual, employer, business, or a third-party.
An experienced personal injury lawyer will represent those injured through various legal procedures. This may include investigative work, handling insurance companies, and representing clients in the courts.
Labor
A labor or employment lawyer assists both employer and employee in various workplace-related affairs. For employers, a labor lawyer will ensure they are complying with relevant labor laws, such as discrimination laws, OSHA guidelines, and environmental regulations.
A labor lawyer can also work to defend the interests of employees. They can help employees launch lawsuits against employers based on discrimination, wrongful termination, wage and hour claims, and workplace injuries.
Valiente Mott
As you can see from our list, there is pretty much a lawyer for any situation.
The Nevada personal injury attorney team at Valiente Mott is dedicated to helping victims receive the best legal advice and recovering damages from their incident. Contact us today for a free consultation!