Lawyers either represent the plaintiff (the person filing or starting legal action) or the defendant (the party being sued or charged). They advocate for their client’s cases through oral arguments and written documentation, and they advise clients on how the circumstances of their specific case pertain to the law.
A law degree may take you down a variety of paths and offer you a variety of lifestyle options. From graduation through retirement, how you use your legal degree will have a significant influence on your financial life. Private-sector attorneys make more than public-sector attorneys, although lone practitioners earn less than corporate lawyers.
When the ordinary individual searches for a lawyer, he or she almost certainly has a specific legal need in mind. This is true whether the individual has been charged with a crime, has been injured in an accident, or requires assistance in drafting an estate plan.
These distinct requirements are divided into several “areas of practice,” which are essential fields of law with attorneys who specialize in addressing unique legal needs. As a result, there are many distinct sorts of attorneys that assist people with specialized legal issues.
Different Types [i]of Lawyer
Personal injury lawyer
Personal injury attorneys are crucial for wounded accident victims and their families who require and deserve compensation following an accident.
A personal injury lawyer will utilize the law and facts of your case to demonstrate that the legal misconduct of a responsible party caused your injuries and damages in an accident. As a result, you will be able to obtain the compensation you deserve through a reasonable settlement offer or a victorious jury decision at trial.
Although car accident injuries are the most prevalent reason that the ordinary individual would require the services of a personal injury lawyer, these attorneys defend injured clients in any sort of accident that came from the carelessness or legal misconduct of a legally liable party.
Salary: $73,000
Real estate attorney
In property-related legal disputes, a real estate attorney represents clients. The majority of individuals will require the legal services of a real estate lawyer when purchasing or selling a home. Several states, in fact, need real estate attorneys to complete real estate transactions.
Aside from purchasing and selling legal requirements, real estate attorneys also handle problems including family asset distribution, foreclosures, and appraisals, to mention a few typical real estate legal difficulties. Simply put, if you have problems with commercial or residential real estate, consulting with a real estate lawyer will assist you to manage the legal intricacies that emerge more efficiently.
Salary: $118,000
CORPORATE LAWYER[ii]
A corporate lawyer is one who works for a company or corporation. A corporate lawyer’s only purpose is to serve the best interests of the company or organization for which they work. A corporate lawyer should be financially astute since they may be called upon to provide advice on business choices on occasion.
Companies may acquire one or many corporate lawyers, each specializing in a particular element of the business. Corporate attorneys are needed by a wide range of businesses, including banks, insurance firms, communications companies, technology companies, and automobile manufacturers. While corporate attorneys should have a foundation in business, they should also be familiar with mergers and acquisitions, trademarks, and labor and employment law.
Salary: $66,000-$170,000
CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER
In court, a criminal defense attorney is in charge of representing defendants. Arrests, preliminary hearings, trials, and sentencing hearings are just a few of the tasks that criminal defense attorneys must manage. Criminal defense lawyers will try to settle cases outside of court as much as possible, but trials are sometimes required.
Lawyers for criminal defense will be working on many cases at once, each with its own schedule. Criminal defense lawyers will be juggling many tasks at once, including interviewing witnesses, acquiring fresh evidence, and studying similar cases. A criminal defense lawyer is frequently assisted by a support team. Paralegals, private detectives, and other lawyers may be part of their support team.
Salary: $45,000 – $130,000
Family lawyer
In every relevant legal scenario, family attorneys are ready to meet your family’s immediate legal needs. A family lawyer can assist parents who wish to adopt their children, grandparents who want to establish legal rights for their grandkids, or a couple that wants assistance establishing a prenuptial agreement.
More often, family attorneys assist families in navigating the complexities of divorce, child custody, and spousal support difficulties. Based on preliminary CDC data, we have reason to believe that almost 1,000,000 divorces occurred in 2016. Given that divorce is only one type of family law issue, it stands to reason that millions of Americans will use the legal services of a family lawyer each year.
Salary: $48,000 – $80,000
Immigration Lawyer
While navigating the complexity of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, immigrants face a number of obstacles. Thus, immigration attorneys are a helpful partner in matters as “simple” as overcoming language barriers on application forms to dealing with the huge volumes of documents necessary during the immigration process.
These attorneys help reunite families, represent clients facing deportation, and deal with other important concerns that might have a negative impact on an immigrant’s life and well-being. When dealing with the substantial documentation required to address immigration legal concerns, it is all too easy for an immigrant to make mistakes, but an experienced immigration lawyer will ensure that these mistakes are avoided and that trustworthy legal guidance is supplied at all times.
Salary: $80,000 – $85,000
Trial lawyer
The person who represents a client in court is known as a trial lawyer. A trial lawyer is accountable for much more than merely arguing in court. A trial lawyer will review papers, interview witnesses, get documents, and complete a plethora of court forms.
Due to the high cost of trials, a trial lawyer may seek to settle a matter outside of court — this can be for both criminal and civil cases and is known as arbitration, mitigation, or mediation.
Salary: $103,712 – $206,000
