To become a lawyer, you need to earn your Juris Doctor (J.D.) and pass the bar exam. However, you’ll also need to decide what type of law you’d like to specialize in. From criminal defense to immigration and taxes to intellectual property, there are plenty of concentrations available. Here’s a quick review of the different types of attorneys out there.
What Do Lawyers Do?
Lawyers, also known as attorneys, provide a wide range of legal services. They can assist individuals, businesses, organizations, or government agencies. Their specific tasks depend on their type of practice, but, generally, they’ll represent their clients by:
- offering legal advice.
- communicating with judges and others related to a case.
- conduct research.
- interpret laws.
- and help clients navigate the complex legal system.
Job Outlook:
- Average Salary: $145,000.
- Expected to growth (2022-2032): +7.6%
- Number of job openings in the US: 39,000
A Juris Doctor is required to practice as an attorney, and future lawyers will have to sit for the bar exam. The exact bar exam requirements depends on the jurisdiction the lawyer wishes to practice in.
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Types of Attorneys
There are several types of attorneys in the United States. The type of attorney you become depends on your individual interests and the legal issues you’re passionate about. Some lawyers practice several different types of law and many practices specialize in more than one area, which are usually known as general practices.
These are some of the most common types of lawyers out there:
1. Criminal Defense Lawyer
Criminal defense lawyers help individuals who are accused of crimes. It could be something minor, known as a misdemeanor, such as a traffic incident. However, it could also be a felony, such as fraud or robbery. They defend their clients in criminal trials, negotiate plea bargains, assist with bail hearings, and gather evidence.
Criminal defense lawyers can have their own practice or they may work as public defenders, which means they work for the local justice system and are appointed to clients by the court.
2. Business Lawyer
Business lawyers, also known as corporate lawyers, provide legal counsel to businesses. They may be asked to draft or review contracts, negotiate mergers and acquisitions, or handle disputes regarding intellectual property. They can also handle the legal side of forming a new business and help organizations meet or navigate the legal requirements of running a business, such as compliance.
Some business lawyers work directly for an organization. For example, The Walt Disney Company has in-house lawyers on call. Other attorneys may decide to open their own practice and specialize in business law.
3. Civil Rights Lawyer
A civil rights lawyer focuses on protecting individuals rights. They can handle cases regarding discrimination, voting rights, freedom of speech, and similar subjects. Their clients may have a case against a government agency, an organization, an individual, or a business.
Civil rights lawyers can have their own practice, but can also work with nonprofit organizations, such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
4. Family Lawyer
Family lawyers help individuals and families with adoption, child support, divorce, prenuptial agreements, and child custody. Most family law attorneys have their own practice, but they can choose to work with nonprofits as well. They tend to excel at mediation, and may specialize in other areas, such as estate planning.
5. Personal Injury Lawyer
Personal injury lawyers advocate for individuals who are injured in a car accident, on the job, in a business, or due to negligence. These lawyers help the client seek compensation for injuries, medical costs, or loss of work and negotiate with insurance companies. They can also assist with wrongful death lawsuits, dog bites, and product liability claims.
6. Intellectual Property Lawyer
Intellectual property (IP) lawyers work with individuals, businesses, and organizations to protect the client’s trademark, copyright, design, trade secrets, or invention. They can assist with trademarking and copyrighting an end product, licensing agreements, confidential information strategies, and sale or acquisition of IP.
7. Estate Planning Lawyer
Estate planning lawyers focus on wills, trusts, assets, probate, and inheritance and estate taxes. They can assist their clients with drafting wills or disputing a will’s contents in court, and advice on tax implications of estate planning and probate. Some estate planning attorneys also specialize in elder law or elder care.
8. Immigration Lawyer
An immigration lawyer helps individuals navigate the complexities of coming to the United States and gaining citizenship. They may help companies help their employees obtain visas or green cards in order to work in the country, or they might work directly with the individual. They’re also equipped to handle deportation and asylum cases.
9. Tax Lawyer
Taxes can be confusing, and tax lawyers advise individuals and businesses on tax planning, payments, and complaints. They can aid with disputes with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or state tax agencies, or help the client navigate audits and international tax matters. Some tax lawyers are also estate planning attorneys.
10. Real Estate Lawyer
Real estate lawyers help with everything related to property and real estate. They can assist with navigating a sale or purchase, and they can draft real estate contracts, purchase agreements, and leases. These lawyers are also knowledgeable about zoning laws, foreclosure procedures, and how to approach property disputes. Real estate lawyers can work with individuals, organizations, or businesses.
And More
There are lawyers for just about everything! Here are a few more types of Attorneys:
- Environmental lawyers focus on laws related to the environment, land use, public health, conservation, and natural resource management.
- Bankruptcy lawyers are equipped to assist individuals with the bankruptcy process, debt issues, restructuring, and related court proceedings.
- Employment lawyers work with employees and employers to navigate cases or concerns regarding discrimination, wrongful termination, wage disputes, and more.
- Entertainment lawyers represent individuals in the entertainment industry. They might assist with licensing, IP, contracts, endorsements, and disputes.
- Medical malpractice lawyers are a type of personal injury lawyer that specializes in lawsuits against healthcare providers.
- Constitutional lawyers represent clients in cases involving constitutional rights, including civil rights, freedom of speech, and due process.
- Contract lawyers specialize in all things related to contracts, including drafting new documents and negotiating favorable terms.
- Social Security disability attorneys assist individuals with applying for and gaining Social Security benefits.
- Civil litigation lawyers help with property disputes, contract disagreements, and some class action lawsuits.
- Workers’ compensation lawyers assist clients with navigating labor laws, claims processes, and injury benefits.
- Prosecutors are lawyers that work with the government to prosecute criminals, including individuals, organizations, and businesses.
Is a career in law in your future? Getting your Juris Doctor degree isn’t easy, but it can help to know what you’d like to specialize before you even step into your undergraduate college. You don’t have to major in pre-law to become a lawyer. If you know what type of lawyer you’d like to be, choosing a major related to that subject can be truly beneficial. If you’re ready to explore your options, start with our College Major search tool.
