Types of Lawyers: Roles and Qualifications
Becoming a lawyer is a well-defined process that involves getting a Juris Doctor degree, passing the bar exam, and starting your practice.
However, with the countless types of lawyers available, choosing the type of law you want to specialize in can be a challenging decision.
What may interest you the most and the kind of work you wish to do can help you determine the area of law that suits you best.
It is essential to understand the responsibilities and roles of the various types of lawyers available, which will enable you to pursue the specialty that aligns with your interests.
- Bankruptcy lawyer
- Business lawyer (corporate lawyer)
- Constitutional lawyer
- Criminal defense lawyer
- Employment and labor lawyer
- Entertainment lawyer
- Estate planning lawyer
- Family lawyer
- Immigration lawyer
- Intellectual property (IP) lawyer
- Personal injury lawyer
- Tax lawyer
1. Bankruptcy lawyer
Bankruptcy lawyers are legal experts who specialize in handling insolvency issues for their clients under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. They can either specialize in consumer bankruptcy or commercial bankruptcy.
Consumer bankruptcy lawyers represent either individuals or creditors, while commercial bankruptcy lawyers represent corporate creditors and debtors. Even though the focus may differ, both specializations involve navigating solutions for financial restructurings, plan confirmations, and valuation disputes.
If you’re interested in this field, you can gain experience by clerking or interning at a firm that has a bankruptcy practice. While certification isn’t mandatory, some states offer bankruptcy law certification to further distinguish lawyers’ expertise in the field.
2. Business lawyer (corporate lawyer)
Business lawyers, also referred to as corporate lawyers, are responsible for handling legal matters for businesses. They ensure that all company transactions are conducted in compliance with local, state, and federal laws.
The legal work that they perform usually includes mergers, acquisitions, formation or dissolution of businesses, patents, intellectual property, and liability disputes. On a daily basis, a business lawyer may conduct legal research, write and revise legal documents, and negotiate contracts.
Some law schools offer students the opportunity to pursue a business law certificate in addition to their JD, providing them with advanced training for a corporate law career. After graduation and passing the bar, business lawyers typically work at a corporate firm or as in-house counsel for a single company.
3. Constitutional lawyer
Constitutional lawyers are responsible for interpreting and implementing the laws laid down in the U.S. Constitution. They work towards balancing the interests of government institutions with the interests of individuals.
The duties of a constitutional lawyer may include challenging the constitutionality of a legislation, representing individuals in discrimination lawsuits, or providing constitutional law expertise at a university. They may also be involved in civil rights cases and have the opportunity to argue legal issues before state supreme courts or the U.S. Supreme Court, which is a rare opportunity for lawyers in other fields.
Depending on the law school, students may be able to obtain a constitutional law certificate or pursue advanced studies by taking a certain number of related courses. Although it is not a mandatory requirement for a career as a constitutional lawyer, employers may view it as a strong commitment to the practice area.
4. Criminal defense lawyer
Criminal defense lawyers are legal professionals who represent individuals accused of criminal activities. Their primary role is to ensure that the basic rights and liberties of their clients are protected within the justice system.
Criminal defense lawyers can work either as public defenders or private attorneys, but their job remains the same – to use the law to their client’s advantage while staying within legal bounds. They may have to appear in court more frequently than other types of lawyers, especially if a case goes to trial.
Many state bar associations offer certification programs in criminal law, providing aspiring trial advocates with the opportunity to become certified as a criminal trial lawyer.
5. Employment and labor lawyer
Employment and labor lawyers work on the relationships between employers, unions, and employees. They handle various issues related to workplace discrimination, harassment, wage and hour regulations, employee benefits, and pension security.
Although the duties of employment lawyers and labor lawyers are often similar, labor lawyers mainly focus on union-management relations and collective bargaining, while employment lawyers deal with matters in non-union workplaces.
Many law schools offer a specialization certificate in employment/labor law for students who complete a minimum number of courses in the field, but it is not mandatory for employment.
6. Entertainment lawyer
Entertainment lawyers are legal professionals who represent athletes, artists, musicians, actors, and other clients or brands involved in media-related activities. They play a crucial role in protecting the intellectual property of their clients, which may include song lyrics or a comedian’s routine.
In addition to this, entertainment lawyers also negotiate contracts and fees, obtain talent releases, act as intermediaries between agents or venue owners/staff, and oversee membership into unions and guilds. Many law schools offer certificate programs or classes in entertainment law, including at the LLM level.
7. Estate planning lawyer
An estate planning lawyer is an expert in the legal aspects of property rights, wills, probate, and trusts. They offer legal advice and assistance to ensure that a client’s assets, whether passing through a will or trust, are handled properly while ensuring that tax and legal issues are appropriately addressed.
As the process of deciding how to provide for different family members can be challenging, estate planning lawyers may use questionnaires to help clients assess their assets and liabilities and assist them in making informed decisions.
8. Family lawyer
Family lawyers are often associated with divorce cases, where they deal with matters such as the division of marital assets, child custody, and alimony. However, family law covers a broader range of issues. Any legal matters that are related to domestic relations or family, including adoption and guardianship, paternity, juvenile delinquency, and child welfare, are within the scope of a family lawyer.
Their typical responsibilities may include drafting contracts or negotiations, writing prenuptial agreements, counseling clients on legal options, or resolving familial disputes.
Family lawyers can work in small law firms that specialize in family law or in nonprofit organizations. Some states offer board certification in family law or child welfare law for those who want to demonstrate verified knowledge and expertise in the area, but it is not required.
9. Immigration lawyer
Gaining citizenship or legal status in the United States can be a challenging process. Immigration lawyers play a crucial role in providing guidance to individuals and families who are navigating the necessary requirements to live, work, or study in the U.S. In some cases, immigration lawyers help refugee and asylum seekers.
Employers and employees participating in work-visa programs may also hire immigration lawyers to assist in the process of gaining legal work status. Some law schools offer certificate programs that allow students to specialize in immigration law.
Even if a school does not offer a formal certificate, it may recommend suggested courses for interested students to take. Immigration lawyers can work in a variety of settings, such as firms that specialize in immigration law, government agencies, or nonprofit organizations.
10. Intellectual property (IP) lawyer
Intellectual property (IP) lawyers are responsible for protecting and enforcing the rights and creations of inventors, authors, artists, and businesses. IP law covers copyrighting, trademarking, patenting, and protecting trade secrets, both for tangible products such as inventions, and intangible ones such as brand names, slogans, or symbols.
Lawyers working in this field have three main responsibilities: firstly, to advise their clients on the best way to protect their intellectual property; secondly, to register a trademark, copyright, or patent to protect their intellectual property; and finally, to take legal action to enforce intellectual property rights against infringement. Law schools and state bars may offer specialty programs or certificates to specialize in this field.
11. Personal injury lawyer
Personal injury lawyers primarily work in civil litigations, representing clients who have suffered an injury. Most often, these injuries stem from car accidents, medical malpractice, product liability, or workplace accidents.
Personal injury lawyers are responsible for proving that the responsible party, typically another individual or a corporation, is liable and owes damages to their client. Many of these cases are settled out of court.
To become a personal injury lawyer, one must follow the same educational path as all lawyers who earn a JD and pass the bar. However, personal injury certifications are less common. Some states, like Texas, do offer such certification programs.
12. Tax lawyer
Tax lawyers are professionals who specialize in understanding tax laws and regulations. They work in various settings such as corporations, law firms, accounting firms, nonprofit organizations, or government agencies.
Their primary responsibilities include tax planning, interpreting tax laws and their effects on their clients, and conducting extensive research.
Due to the complexity of tax laws and their frequent changes, tax lawyers must keep themselves updated with tax law developments, court opinions, and IRS rulings. Some tax lawyers further specialize their knowledge by pursuing a Master’s in Taxation.
What type of lawyer should I be?
It all depends on what interests you and what your career goals are. Consider the type of work you would enjoy doing on a daily basis, as well as the coursework that interests you the most. Some specializations in law may be more appealing to you than others. It’s important to take into account your strengths, as well.
Some types of lawyers may require strong interpersonal skills, while others rely on their analytical abilities. You can refer to the types of lawyers listed above to get a better understanding of each type. If you have ever wondered what you can do with a law degree, you may have realized that there are many different possibilities.
While this guide provides information about the responsibilities of the most common types of lawyers, you may also be interested in other factors such as job outlook or lawyer salaries. You should carefully consider the factors that are most important to you.
