Types of Lawyers

All lawyers must earn a bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor degree. Plus they must pass the bar before they are able to practice law. Below you find a list of the most popular types of lawyers. Learn more about each one, including what courses are most important during law school, duties they must perform, issues they must deal with, salaries they earn and the job outlook for the next 10 years.

Bankruptcy Lawyers- Bankruptcy lawyers have the best job outlook among all types of attorneys right now. This is due mainly to the economic state of the country. Find out what you have to do to become a bankruptcy lawyer.

Corporate Lawyer- Corporate lawyers ensure the legality of business practices and transactions. They must understand governmental laws and regulations to help their clients and employers stay within the legal boundaries of the law.

Criminal Defense Attorney- Being a criminal defense attorney can change day-to-day due to factors such as the client, case, and circumstances. The main goal of criminal defense lawyers is to reduce the negative consequences after the arrest and accusation of their clients.

Divorce Attorney- Divorce attorneys specialize in divorce law or family law and provide representation to one party of a divorce case. Their main goal is to guide their client through the entire divorce process, providing numerous services.

Family Attorneys- Family attorneys practice family law and represent clients going through divorce, custody, guardianship issues or issues relating to children with regards to divorce or custody.

Government Attorney- Governments hire lawyers for legal advice and representation. Lawyers are usually directly employed by the government and may or may not work for ministries, government agencies and crown corporations.

Immigration Lawyer- Immigration lawyers assist clients when they’re applying for entry, residing in the country, and becoming citizens.

Patent Attorney- A patent attorney specializes in representing clients who are trying to obtain patents. They act in all matters and procedures relating to patent law practice. In order to become a patent attorney one must endure an intense and rigorous education and training.

Personal Injury Attorney- Personal injury attorneys provide legal representation to individuals who claim to be injured physically or psychologically, as the result of negligence or wrongdoing of another person, company, government agency or other entity.

Private Practice Lawyer- Of all the lawyers in the United States, over ¾ of them are in private practice. Attorneys in private practice work can work in a law firm with two or more attorneys, or in solo practice.

Pro Bono Lawyers- There are numerous reasons why lawyers do pro bono work. Some do it because they believe in their client’s cause, while others do it because it’s mandatory.

Public Interest Law- Law school students who are more interested in protecting individual rights rather than making a huge profit should consider working under the public interest law umbrella.

Tax Attorney- A tax attorney deals with the taxes levied by different levels of government. Tax lawyers can give advice to individuals, small businesses, large corporations, and everyone in between.