The legal profession can be divided into many different areas. There is a wide range of careers for the right, from academia to healthcare. Of course, most people associate the law with lawyers.
According to the latest statisticsThere were 1.33 million lawyers in the US.only. Among this wide range of legal minds, there are many different types of lawyers working in different categories of the legal industry. The following article covers a dozen different jobs for lawyers that can serve as a useful starting point for anyone wanting to practice law.
Lawyer vs Lawyer - What is the difference?
These two terms are often used interchangeably, but there is oneDifference between solicitors and attorneys.. Although both have legal training, lawyers and solicitors do not perform the same functions. In other words, it is one thing to earn a Juris Doctor, a professional graduate degree in law, and quite another to pass the bar exam and practice law. So before we look at the more interesting types of lawyers and solicitors, it's important to point out the difference between the two terms. A lawyer is a lawyer, but a lawyer is not necessarily a lawyer.
For example, a lawyer has a law degree and practices as a court attorney. The word lawyer comes from French and is used to describe a person who acts on behalf of others.
Unlike attorneys, attorneys do not necessarily practice in court after graduating from law school and passing the bar exam. up to youdifferent careersand practices law outside of court, often as legal counsel and counsel.
What types of lawyers are there?
There are many employment opportunities for lawyers, but once you graduate from law school, it can be difficult to decide what type of legal practice you want to pursue. There are countless careers to choose from based on your plans, ambitions, and perhaps most importantly, your interests.
For example, some graduates see themselves as future adoption and juvenile law attorneys and seek positions at institutions where they can practice family law. Others tend to focus more on the high-salary types of legal careers, such as tax and business attorneys who provide in-house counsel to large corporations.
While there are so many types of law to study and practice, we've narrowed our list down to 28 careers to help you make a decision about your future. Our list is based on the most common legal problems faced by US citizens.
28 different types of lawyers
Below is a list of general law professions. As you can imagine, whether in a law firm, in the government, or on their own, lawyers can handle a wide range of legal matters.
This can range from landlords and creditors suing debtors, divorced parents fighting over child custody, law enforcement and bail proceedings, workers' compensation claims, immigration law/green card applicants, and much more.
1. Company Lawyer
commercial or company lawyersensure that all operations are carried out within the legal framework of local, state and federal laws. A corporate lawyer is involved in everything from liability and copyright disputes to mergers and review of all kinds of legal documents.
To become a business lawyer, you need a JD. However, many law students also acquire a certificate in business law. After that, it is enough to pass the bar exam and work in a company.
2. Bankruptcy attorney
Certain types of legal careers require you to be an expert in very specific laws. As abankruptcy attorney, you need to know everything about US bankruptcy law. There are two types of bankruptcy lawyers: those who specialize in consumer bankruptcy and those who know everything about commercial bankruptcy.
3. Tax Lawyer
tax lawyersThey are experts in the United States tax system. They help businesses and individuals understand complex tax rules and regulations and enable them to comply with local, state, and federal tax laws.
Because the US tax system is complex and subject to frequent changes, tax attorneys must be up to date with all IRS regulations and any changes in tax laws.
4. Defender
There are two mainTypes of Criminal Defense Lawyers- Defense attorneys and prosecutors. Criminal defense lawyers defend people accused of a crime. In other words, these defense attorneys protect the rights of the defendant.
Defenders can work aspublic defendersor private lawyers. Regardless of what you choose, criminal defense lawyers typically spend more time in court than some of their peers. Criminal law can also be divided into several categories, giving you the option of working as a drug crimes lawyer, violent crimes lawyer, or homicide lawyer.
5. Constitutional Lawyer
As the title suggests, a constitutional lawyer is an expert on the Constitution of the United States.constitutionalistensures a legal balance between the interests of its clients and those of state institutions. There are different types of lawyers who are experts in interpreting the Constitution of the United States. For example, there are constitutional lawyers whose job it is to examine the constitutionality of certain laws. Some of them may be working as constitutional lawyers at universities or federal agencies. Constitutional lawyers must be able to understand all the possible interpretations of the founding document of the country. If you are detail oriented and willing to think outside the box, this is the legal profession for you.
6. Family Lawyer
Family lawyers are familiar with all laws related to domestic relations and family related matters. When people think of family lawyers, they usually think of divorce. But there are so many other types of attorneys out there, dealing with everything from child adoption and surrogacy to child crimes and domestic violence.
If you want to practice family law, some states offer various training options that will allow you to earn certificates in different areas of family law.
7. Labor Lawyer
Labor lawyers focus on issues related to the relationship between employers, employees and unions. They provide legal advice on various employment laws covering wages, working hours, workplace discrimination, safety, and other topics. All types of lawyers are familiar with employment law, but an employment lawyer also specializes in the field and works on creating and reviewing company policies.
If you want to earn a certificate in this field, many law schools offer programs that focus solely on employment law.
8. Estate Planning Lawyer
Probate attorneys handle wills, trusts, and property rights. Providing legal advice to clients ensures that all matters related to the transfer of assets are dealt with appropriately. As an estate planning attorney, you may also create questionnaires to help clients assess their estate. This facilitates the drafting of the will.
The types of attorneys who choose to practice this practice are experts in the intricacies of estate planning, from creating estate plans to ensuring their clients' wishes are honored after their death.
9. Immigration Lawyer
Immigration lawyers deal with individuals and entire families trying to obtain US citizenship. They advise on legal life and work in the United States. Immigration attorneys also work with political refugees and asylum seekers. Additionally, many employers and employees turn to immigration attorneys to help them obtain work visas. While not among the highest paid lawyers, helping people find a better life in the US can be rewarding work.
As aimmigration lawyer, you can work in many different places. For example, there are companies that offer specialized immigration services. You can also work for non-profit organizations and government agencies.
10. Personal Injury Lawyer
There are some other important professions that we need to address when trying to answer this fundamental question: What are the different types of lawyers? First, personal injury lawyers focus primarily on civil litigation, representing people who have been injured on the job or as a result of improper medical practices.
As a personal injury attorney, you are responsible for gathering evidence, documenting injuries, calculating expenses, and speaking with witnesses.
11. Intellectual Property Lawyer
Intellectual Property or Intellectual Property Lawyerswork with clients who need to protect their intellectual capital: ideas, inventions or patents. They help individuals (artists and inventors) and companies with disputes over trademarks, copyrights, distribution, etc. Intellectual property lawyers also help clients obtain licenses and understand trademark laws. In addition, they advise on new regulations and rules for the protection of patents.
12. Entertainment Lawyer
The list of different types of lawyers would not be complete without mentioning them.Entertainment Lawyers. They work with actors, musicians, athletes and other people or brands that are well known in the media. The primary role of entertainment lawyers is to help their clients protect their intellectual property, including music, paintings, and performances. Entertainment attorneys also work on contracts, fee agreements, and talent pitches.
13. Medical Malpractice Lawyer
people who hireMedical Liability LawyersIn most cases, they suffered personal injuries due to medical error. Any damage caused by improper treatment, negligence, botched surgery or incorrect diagnosis falls within the practice of this type of lawyer. A medical malpractice lawyer can also represent healthcare professionals when charges are brought against them, and they are usually hired directly by the medical facility where they work.
14. Staff Attorney
Contract lawyers specialize in assisting clients in the preparation and execution of legally binding documents. They are often retained for infringement proceedings, advice on contract disputes, advice or conduct of contract negotiations.
15. Social Security Disability Advocate
The social security disability system is complex to navigate at the best of times. Fortunately, disability law is one of the most beneficial areas of expertise for attorneys, and these attorneys help clients navigate this compensation and assistance system, ensure their clients are eligible for assistance, appeal the denial, or prosecute cases, terminate benefits or shorten them.
16. Fiscal
Lawyers who work for a branch of the US government, at the local, municipal, state, or federal level, are government attorneys. They typically focus on the legal aspects of running the agency they work for. A government-employed attorney can work on cases involving wrongful death, stalking, taxes, torts, top-level domain, and many other types of cases.
17. Military Lawyer
Amilitary lawyer(also known as Judge Advocate General (JAG)) is similar to a general practice attorney in that it can represent military personnel in both criminal and civil matters. They deal with military, civil and even international law. In addition, they prepare their clients for the process, create documentation, maintain military manuals and are responsible for the technical writing of these manuals.
18. M&A Lawyer
Mergers and acquisitions lawyers are corporate lawyers who act solely as acquisition advisors. Buying and selling large companies requires in-depth knowledge of stock, tax and financial law. These types of lawyers and what they do deal with highly specialized matters, but still need to be familiar with different areas of law and business practices. The most important task of these lawyers is the drafting of contracts. These contracts between two organizations must contain all the necessary clauses such as non-compete, employees and confidentiality.
19. Defender of the Environment
With the increasing need for conservation initiatives due to global warming, more and more lawyers are specializing in this topic.environmental law. The experience of these law enforcement professionals includes a thorough knowledge of Environmental Protection Agency policies and guidelines. While these are not the top-earning types of lawyers, most professionals in the field are happy to do their part to save the planet. These advocates work with various government organizations, citizens, and businesses to help them prevent further environmental damage through their actions or seek justice for damage already caused.
20. Real estate lawyer or real estate lawyer
Lawyers working with real estateThey usually have intermediaries, owners and buyers as clients. The experience of these lawyers allows them to guide the purchase of a home or advise builders on various zoning laws. They also handle evictions and foreclosures and represent tenants and homeowners. Negotiation skills are essential for real estate attorneys, as they often act as mediators between parties in real estate transactions and disputes.
21. Toxic Liability Lawyer
One of the more targeted branches of attorneys are toxic liability attorneys. They specialize in litigation and settlements related to personal injuries caused by toxic and hazardous materials. Exposure to toxic drugs, chemicals, products or environmental factors can cause serious health problems; The most common liability cases involving toxic substances involve asbestos exposure or class action lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies. To practice law in this field, lawyers must pass the bar exam to be able to represent their clients in court.
22. Defender of video games
Video game industry lawyers represent gamers and fans, as well as the studios that develop the games. While these are some of the most interesting types of lawyers, they require extensive industry knowledge to be successful in this field. The clients of these lawyers are game developers, publishers, tournament organizers and even gamers. Video game lawyers provide legal advice, enforce contracts, and use their negotiation skills to resolve disputes and reach agreements. Good knowledge in the areas of copyright, consumer compliance, data protection, GDPR, licensing, and contract drafting are advantages for professionals in this industry.
23. Public Interest Lawyer
Non-profit organizations or government agencies often employ public interest lawyers. They offer their clients their legal services for free or at a significantly reduced price. Of course, this prevents them from becoming the highest paid lawyers, but they play a key role in helping people overcome social injustice. They are frequently involved in health, disability and environmental matters and represent their clients in court.
24. Defender of digital media and the Internet
Lawyers who handle cases involving digital media or Internet-related technologies are Internet and digital media advocates. These attorneys primarily handle litigation related to copyright, piracy, Internet privacy, protecting children from online predators, and writing terms and conditions pages for websites.
25. Finance and Securities Lawyer
Securities and financial attorneys are often employed by individuals or companies who need assistance with cases involving the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC). These agencies are designed to prevent fraud, market manipulation, or insider trading. Hiring these types of lawyers is necessary for stock trading, banking or treasury cases and can help your organization comply with government regulations.
26. Civil Rights Lawyer
Civil Rights LawyersAddress civil rights violations committed by the government, its agencies, or other authorities against your clients. Whistleblowers are often discriminated against based on gender, age, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or other grounds. These attorneys play a critical role in defending their clients' constitutional rights, such as the right to privacy, the right to vote, free speech, freedom of speech, religion, the press, and many others.
27. Workers' Compensation Lawyer
There are many dangerous jobs out there, and certain work areas are prone to injury and even death. Among other things, workers' compensation lawyers deal with the consequences of incidents in the workplace. Their primary role is to help injured workers or family members whose loved ones have died due to workplace accidents receive an orderly closure and financial compensation.
28. Civil Trial Lawyer
As the name suggests, these types of lawyers deal with litigation and civil lawsuits. While corporate trial attorneys primarily handle claims brought by or against corporations (and often both), civil trial attorneys handle civil disputes.
Because civil litigation is such a broad field, even a general attorney usually specializes in a few areas, such as: B. employment law or product liability. In fact, several types of lawyers we talked about above are specializations in civil litigation.
Career prospects and salary.
In our article we present and describe some of the common law professions. Obviously, the full list of different types of legal practices is much longer. The legal professions that we present also have different specializations. For example, those who start out as personal injury attorneys may specialize as medical attorneys. Other careers include environmental lawyers, military lawyers, and contract lawyers.
As you can see, a law degree opens up many career opportunities that allow you to work in different settings and choose different lifestyles. In addition to your personal characteristics, finances can also have a significant impact on the legal career you choose. In general, a legal career guarantees financial stability.
Average Lawyer Salaryit was $122,960 in 2019, but the top 25% had an annual income of $186,350. Of course, some great jobs pay better than others. We compared different types of lawyers and their salaries and found that medical lawyers earn the most. The average annual salary for a physician is over $150,800.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, private sector lawyers earn more than public sector lawyers. Of course, there are significant salary differences between lawyers working in big cities and in the countryside. According to the latest statistics, the cities with the highest paying legal jobs are San Jose (CA), San Francisco (CA), Washington DC, Los Angeles (CA), and Bridgeport (CA).
But don't expect to earn a six-figure salary straight out of law school. Take a look at some junior positions for your desired positionwell doneto help you gain the experience you need to achieve your broader career goal.