George K.
According to statistics, there are over 1.35 million lawyers in the United States. Different types of lawyers specialize in varying types of legal issues. Depending on the legal issues you’re facing, not every lawyer can represent you in court.
Understanding the different specializations of lawyers is essential. It helps you to understand better who to approach when you run into legal issues. Below are the different types of lawyers and their areas of specialization:
1. Criminal Lawyers
Criminal attorneys specialize in criminal law. They are divided into two groups; criminal defense attorneys and prosecutors.
Prosecutors represent the state in court. They bring criminal charges against people who have been accused of committing crimes.
A criminal defense attorney, on the other hand, represents the accused individual. Private criminal attorneys are paid by the individual they represent.
Public defense attorneys work for the state. They represent the people who can’t afford to hire private attorneys.
Most criminal attorneys are constantly in and out of court. They interact with other attorneys, judges, and prosecutors. They also work closely with prosecutors, negotiating deals for their clients.
The Ladan Law Firm has the best criminal defense lawyers Orlando you can entrust your court case to.
2. Personal Injury Attorneys
These are lawyers that handle personal injury cases. Personal injuries are associated with:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Workplace-related accidents
- Car crashes,
- Boat accidents.
Personal injury attorneys help clients receive compensation for their injuries.
Personal injuries sustained during an accident may also include mental anguish and pain. A personal injury attorney helps injured individuals sue responsible parties for the accident. They are also hired to work on medical malpractice, civil battery, and product liability cases.
3. Immigration Attorneys
As the laws keep on changing, there is an ever-growing need for immigration attorneys. Most people cannot navigate the immigration laws on their own, especially when facing deportation. An immigration lawyer helps such individuals to file the right paperwork to secure a visa or a green card.
Different immigration attorneys may choose to specialize in different types of immigrants. For example, some lawyers prefer helping athletes or scholars coming into the U.S.
4. Entertainment and Digital Media Lawyers
These kinds of lawyers specialize in internet law. They handle all types of legal problems that may arise due to using digital gadgets and platforms. Such gadgets include tablets, mobile phones, the internet, social media, and computers.
Entertainment and digital media lawyers ensure websites comply with law requirements. They also advise companies on how to use tracking tools in their websites and mobile applications.
An entertainment and digital media lawyer can also handle online privacy complaints.
5. Estate Planning Lawyers
An estate planning lawyer helps individuals plan for what happens to their assets and estate if they pass on or are medically incapacitated.
Estate planning lawyers handle legal documents such as deeds, wills, trusts, and power of attorney. They should be conversant with tax implications.
A significant part of planning an estate involves considering the estate’s tax implications. For this reason, most lawyers prefer going back to law school and obtaining an LLM. An LLM is a post-law school legal certification focusing on taxes.
6. Legal Malpractice Lawyers
Attorneys also need other attorneys to represent them in legal matters. Legal malpractice cases involve lawyers accused by their clients of doing something against the law when representing them. The client may sue their lawyer for damages referencing the alleged wrongdoing.
7. Real Estate Lawyers
Since the recovery of the economy after the Great Recession, the demand for real estate attorneys has increased. The duties of a real estate attorney include:
- Handling, reviewing, and preparing documents involving purchase agreements, title deeds, and mortgages
- Handling real estate deals closing
- Completing title searches and writing title insurance policies
- They assist in handling the transfer of funds for the property on sale
- Provide legal representation for both buyer and seller
- They handle property dispute issues
Real estate attorneys help individuals and entities through a property-purchase process. They ensure the buyers’ and sellers’ paperwork is legally binding in case of future disputes. These attorney types also represent property owners in case of a foreclosure dispute.
What’s important to note is that they need to have a vast knowledge of the market surrounding them. This is why hiring a local lawyer in these situations is of essence as they’ll be well versed in the local laws and regulations. Moreover, they also have an extensive network of contacts and resources in the area which can come in handy. So whether you’re looking to buy or sell a property, it’s important to enlist the help of a local attorney to ensure everything goes smoothly.
8. Intellectual Property (IP) Attorneys
Any original invention that is of the public good should be protected from duplication and copycats. If you release a novel, create an art design, or invent a unique product, it’s essential to contact an intellectual property attorney. They will help you secure a patent, copyright, licensing, or trademark agreement.
IP attorneys give legal guidance to clients on the marketing and commercial feasibility of their creations. They have the know-how and experience in both innovation and business trends.
Intellectual property attorneys negotiate settlements for their clients in case someone infringes on their creations. Such cases may involve people who sell fake branded goods at a lower price than the original.
IP attorneys may specialize in different intellectual property laws, including:
- Biotechnology
- E-commerce
- The internet
- Pharmaceutical
- Computer engineering
IP lawyers may interact with numerous governmental regulatory bodies. These institutions include the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Commerce, and U.S. Copyright Office.
9. Consumer Protection Litigation Lawyer
Many customers suffer from corporate wrongdoing through purchasing defective products, false and misleading advertising, and privacy or data breaches. If you face such issues, a consumer protection litigation lawyer can help you confront the company and get compensation for the harm caused.
Now You Know the Different Types of Lawyers
Information about the different types of lawyers will help you when looking for one to represent you. Whatever legal issues you are facing, finding a lawyer will be easier. This is especially true if you know what you’re looking for.
Have you learned about new attorney options from this article? For more content, check out other posts on our site.
