Are you looking to hire a lawyer, but aren’t sure what type of lawyer to hire?
Choosing the right lawyer can be difficult. The lawyer you hire can make all the difference in whether or not you win your case.
But, with so many different types of lawyers out there, how do you know which one you should hire?
Check out this guide to learn about the different types of lawyers.
Family Lawyers
If you search “lawyers near me for divorce,” you’ll get a lot of hits for family lawyers. But, family lawyers do more than just handle divorces. Family lawyers also handle:
- Child custody
- Adoption
- Legal separation
- Pre and postnuptial agreements
- Paternity
- Alimony
- Emancipation
Family lawyers may also take on cases that involve reproductive rights, and sometimes their work intersects with other areas of the law. For instance, if there’s a child abuse investigation, then a family lawyer may work with a criminal lawyer.
Intellectual Property Lawyer
Any invention that’s creative, scientific, or technical and may benefit the public needs to be protected from duplicates.
Whether you’ve created a unique product, an art design, a computer program, or a novel, you’ll need to consult with an intellectual property lawyer in order to secure patents, copyright, trademarks, and licensing.
Much of the work of intellectual property lawyers involves offering legal advice to clients on the marketing mechanisms and commercial viability of their product. As a creator, you’ll need to have expertise in both innovation and business trends.
Intellectual property lawyers may also work on behalf of their clients if someone has infringed upon their work. Some intellectual property lawyers also have specialties. For example, some work with biotechnology, e-commerce, computer engineering, pharmaceuticals, or the internet.
Therefore, their work may entail working with the Department of Commerce, the US Copyright Office, or the Food and Drug Administration.
Estate Planning Lawyer
No one likes the idea of planning for their own death. However, planning for your death is something that’s very important to do if you have specific wishes for your estate.
Estate planning lawyers help their clients figure out how they’d like to pass on their property as well as other assets. An estate planning lawyer may also help clients build trust funds, and they may also help clients prepare documents that will outline their final wishes. This may include things such as burial arrangements, funeral plans, and medical donations.
Malpractice Lawyer
If a medical professional, lawyer, government official, or accountant violates their duties, then you need to hire a malpractice lawyer.
Because these professions are held to a higher responsibility, they may face legal charges if they don’t live up to these responsibilities. Often, these lawyers specialize in one practice area. For example, someone may choose to specialize in medical malpractice.
Personal Injury Lawyer
If a person is accusing another company, individual, or governmental institution of physical or psychological injury, then that person needs to hire a personal injury lawyer.
A personal injury lawyer is an expert in tort law, which is a type of law that deals with damages and civil legal liabilities. For example, if you’ve been injured on the job, gotten food poisoning from a restaurant, or received a damaged product that caused you injury, then you need to hire a personal injury lawyer.
If the injury has resulted in a loss of income, then a personal injury lawyer will work to make sure you get proper compensation.
Criminal Defense Lawyer
A criminal defense lawyer is the type of lawyer you always see on TV.
Criminal defense lawyers defend clients who are arrested for an array of crimes. This could be anything from homicide to DUIs to robbery. While we’re used to seeing criminal defense lawyers engaging in a courtroom drama on TV, many criminal defense lawyers work to settle their clients’ cases out of the courtroom.
Corporate Lawyer
A corporate lawyer, also known as a business lawyer, often work for a specific company. These lawyers handle everything having to do with managing, maintaining, building, transferring, and dissolving a business.
Corporate lawyers deal with tax compliance, employment contracts, company formation, and acquisitions and mergers.
Tax Lawyer
We all know that taxes can be complicated. But, with the help of a tax lawyer and accountant, the tax process becomes a whole lot easier.
Consulting with a tax lawyer is helpful if you plan to set up a business or if you have taxable assets that you plan to pass on after your death. Or, if you have a dispute with the IRS, then you may also need to hire a tax lawyer.
Immigration Lawyer
Millions of people immigrate to the US each year. Whether you’re applying for a green card of US citizenship, you’ll need to hire an immigration lawyer.
Becoming a US citizen involves a ton of paperwork, and navigating immigration law can be extremely complicated. Just one small error can delay your chances of becoming a citizen.
This is why it’s so important to work with an immigration lawyer every step of the way.
Constitutional Lawyer
If someone believes their right shave been violated, then they can consult with a constitutional lawyer.
For example, non-profits such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) employ constitutional lawyers in order to protect the civil liberties of minorities.
Environmental Lawyer
Due to the increased interest in climate change, environmental law is a growing practice area.
Environmental lawyers are experts on the guidelines and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency. They represent groups, government entities, and individuals on both sides of the law and deal with problems related to the protection and damage of the environment.
Types of Lawyers: Which Lawyer Will You Hire?
As you can see, there are many different types of lawyers out there. Now, you just need to decide which type you need to hire.
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