Legal matters, such as divorce, child custody, traffic ticket, and many more need the expertise of attorneys. Lawyers have various specializations, and you may need them from time to time when faced with a legal issue.
Below are the different types of lawyers and what they do. Knowing the specialization of each will help you decide which type of attorney is best to hire when you need legal assistance.
Criminal Lawyer
Criminal defense lawyers are public defenders. Their primary responsibility is to defend entities, individuals, or organizations against criminal charges. Criminal lawyers handle various types of criminal cases, which include drug crimes, homicide, murder, domestic violence, embezzlement, theft, driving under the influence (DUI), fraud, and sex crimes.
The job responsibilities of a criminal lawyer include the following:
- Drafting, filing, and arguing appeals
- Investigating the case
- Interviewing witnesses
- Advocating for the defendant during trial
- Drafting, filing, and arguing motions
- Researching case laws, crime codes, statutes, and procedural law
- Developing a case strategy and building defense for the defendant
Criminal lawyers may work in firms or in private practice. They may also work for non-profit agencies.
Family Lawyer
Attorneys specializing in family law are focused on legal issues that involve family relationships. They handle legal matters concerning divorce, child custody, alimony, adoption, emancipation, and many other family-related issues. Family lawyers can also help in drafting prenuptial agreements. They may also act as mediators when issues arise concerning the contracts. Moreover, the family lawyer may help family members settle their problems outside the court.
Intellectual Property Lawyer
Intellectual property (IP) is a valuable asset in any organization. It refers to the designs, inventions, literary and artistic works, symbols and logos, trademarks, images, and names used in commerce. Inventors and owners of intellectual property are protected by patent, trademark, and copyright law. No other entity can use their patented work and claim it as their own.
The intellectual lawyer is tasked with counseling and defending clients against IP crimes. They handle legal matters concerning copyright, trademark, patent, licensing inventions, trade secret projects, franchising, technology transfers, and IP distribution. They also assist in drafting legal licensing agreements and in negotiating settlements. Moreover, they can advise inventors and entities regarding new regulations surrounding the protection of unique concepts.
Contract Lawyer
Contract attorneys specialize in providing legal assistance to businesses having troubles with their legally binding agreements. They have immense knowledge on contracts and contract requirements, as well as on laws that govern the creation of contracts in a particular area. A contract lawyer can help prevent legal issues that may arise from a contract breach or from contracts that have been poorly written. They can represent individuals or organizations in court when needed.
Personal Injury Lawyer
Personal injury attorneys specialize in tort law, a branch of law that mainly covers civil litigation. These lawyers represent people who have issues associated with personal injury, which can include the following:
- Defamation
- Auto accidents
- Animal bite injuries
- Construction accidents
- Brain injury
- Bicycle accidents
- Burn injuries
- Insurance or bad faith claims
- Boating accidents
- Slips, falls, and related accidents
- Wrongful death
- Medical malpractice
- Pedestrian accidents
- Defective products
- Nursing home abuse
- Spinal cord injuries
- Aviation accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
Apart from representing clients in court, the job responsibilities of a personal injury lawyer also include gathering enough evidence, investigating claims, and screening clients to see if their cases have merit. They may also formulate legal theories and study case laws, as well as draft motions and pleadings. Personal injury lawyers may also counsel their clients to help them deal with difficulties in the legal system.
The work of a personal injury lawyer is vast. Their skills are crucial for people and organizations who need legal assistance with problems concerning tort law.
Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Medical malpractice can sometimes happen and victims are sometimes left with no help at all. Medical malpractice lawyers provide assistance to victims of medical malpractice. They execute tasks related to general civil litigation, working closely with medical experts to analyze medical records and perform medical research.
Labor or Employment Lawyer
These attorneys are primarily hired to negotiate or provide counsel on cases involving legal issues on labor or employment. These issues can include worker’s compensation, sexual harassment in the workplace, termination of employment, employee benefits, workplace safety, privacy rights, wage, overtime standards, and workplace discrimination.
Apart from those mentioned above, there are still many types of lawyers that you can seek help from when you are faced with legal issues. If you are not sure which type of lawyer you should consult with, try a general practice lawyer. This type of attorney is well-versed in the different areas of law.
Lawyers undergo intensive training and education. They are required to pass written board exams before they can earn a degree in their field of specialization. They must be good at negotiating, communicating, speaking, writing, client advocacy, and client development.
