6 Most Common Types of Lawyers

It takes many years of advanced education before a person can become a lawyer. However, those who can withstand the rigorous training are often richly rewarded. There will always be a demand for those with in-depth knowledge of the law to represent the interests of clients. Therefore, the career outlook for attorneys is, and should remain, promising.

Not all attorneys practice all types of law, however. Lawyers often specialize in a particular area of the law. Some attorneys enjoy practicing in a more esoteric area, valuing the time they get to devote to crafting each individual case. However, most tend to gravitate to practice areas in which they can serve the most clients with more common legal issues.

1. Personal Injury and Criminal Lawyers

It is not always easy to tell which areas an attorney practices in. Some, such as Courtney Sarofim, do not provide many details, while other firms practice in more than one area at the same time. These are typically larger firms that have multiple attorneys, each specializing in a particular practice area.

Personal injury and criminal law are areas in which clients often need the most help, so firms that practice in either or both of these areas are fairly common. Personal injury attorneys help plaintiffs who were hurt by someone else's actions, whether unintentionally or otherwise. Criminal defense attorneys represent those accused of committing crimes.

2. Employment Lawyers

Disputes often arise between employees and employers regarding wages, workers' compensation, harassment and discrimination, and other issues. When the two parties cannot work out their differences on their own, one may file a lawsuit against the other. Employment lawyers represent clients in situations like these. There are some who strictly represent employees, others who represent employers, and a handful who are willing and able to represent either side of an employment dispute.

3. Bankruptcy Lawyers

Bankruptcy is not a punishment, as many people imagine, but a remedy for crushing debt. It is advisable to have an attorney experienced in bankruptcy law to help one to handle the paperwork, or the person filing could lose much more than anticipated.

4. Estate Planning Lawyers

Estate planning is the process of deciding what happens after an adverse event. Most estate planning relates to one's death, but there are also provisions one should make in the event of incapacitation. For example, an advance directive outlines medical treatment that a person wishes to receive if no longer able to make health care decisions. Estate planning can be simple or complex, but with so much at stake, it is a good idea to have an attorney help with the process of planning and preparing the documents to avoid difficulties down the line.

5. Intellectual Property Lawyers

Intellectual property is a broad category. Essentially, it provides protection for products of the mind. These include the concrete, such as inventions and works of art, as well as the abstract, e.g., things like slogans and logos that cannot be held in one's hand but nevertheless hold great value. The practice area of intellectual property has expanded significantly over the last few decades because of the ease with which people on the internet can copy, share, and steal intellectual property.

6. Family Lawyer

There are many different legal issues that specifically affect families. Such issues often stir up deep emotions and long-buried hurts and offenses. These make it difficult, if not impossible, for family members to work them out on their own. Family lawyers assist with legal challenges such as these. A sizable portion of a family law practice relates to issues that arise from divorce, e.g., asset division, child custody, and spousal support. However, a family law practice can also relate to other areas. For example, family lawyers are often very involved in the adoption of a child, typically representing the prospective parents.

There can be significant overlap between different areas of law. For example, a divorce might raise issues relating to a couple's estate plan. It is convenient for clients if attorneys have the ability to practice in more than one area of the law so the clients do not have to go to the trouble and expense of hiring separate lawyers to handle different matters.