12 Types of Lawyers: Their Roles and Qualifications

Bankruptcy attorneys are professionals in the United States Bankruptcy Code who manage insolvency cases for their clients. Bankruptcy attorneys often specialize in either consumer or business bankruptcy. In consumer bankruptcy, attorneys represent individuals or creditors, but in commercial bankruptcy, they represent corporate creditors and debtors. However, bankruptcy attorneys in either expertise deal on the same issues, such as financial restructurings, plan confirmations, and value disagreements. Clerking or interning at a bankruptcy company is one way to see if a career in this field is right for you.

While not needed, several jurisdictions provide bankruptcy law certification to identify attorneys' experience in the topic.

Business attorneys, also known as corporate lawyers, manage legal concerns for firms and verify that all transactions comply with local, state, and federal regulations. Common legal activity includes mergers and acquisitions, corporate establishment and dissolution, patents, intellectual property, and liability issues. A company lawyer's day-to-day responsibilities may include legal research, writing and revising legal papers, and contract negotiations.

Some law schools offer students to pursue a business law certificate in addition to their JD, providing them with extra training for a career in corporate law. After graduating and passing the bar, business attorneys often work for a corporate firm or as in-house counsel for a single corporation.

3. Constitutional lawyer

Constitutional lawyers are concerned with the interpretation and application of the United States Constitution, balancing the interests of government institutions with those of people. A constitutional lawyer's responsibilities may include contesting the legality of legislation, defending people in discrimination lawsuits, or offering constitutional law knowledge at a university. Constitutional attorneys may be engaged in civil rights disputes and may argue legal matters before state supreme courts or the United States Supreme Court, providing a rare chance for lawyers from other professions.

4. Criminal defense attorney

Criminal defense attorneys argue for persons accused of criminal behavior, ensuring that their freedoms and fundamental rights are appropriately respected in the legal system. A criminal defense lawyer might operate as a public defender or a private counsel. In either case, their goal is to exploit the law in favor of the accused. They must safeguard their client's interests within the scope of the law. Criminal defense attorneys may appear in court more often than other kinds of lawyers, particularly if the matter proceeds to trial.

Several state bar organizations have criminal law specialization programs, allowing people who are passionate about trial advocacy to become certified criminal trial lawyers.

5. Employment and labor lawyer

Employment and labor attorneys deal with the connections between unions, employers, and workers. They address concerns about employment discrimination, harassment, wage and hour standards, benefits, and pension security. While employment and labor attorneys' tasks sometimes overlap, labor lawyers are primarily concerned with union-management interactions and collective bargaining, while employment lawyers deal with non-union workplace issues.

Many law schools, like other specializations, provide a specialist certificate in employment/labor law to students who complete a certain number of courses in the field, but it is not necessary for employment.

6. Entertainment attorney

Entertainment attorneys represent sports, artists, singers, actors, and other media-related clients or brands. They work to safeguard their customers' intellectual property, which may include lyrics or a comedian's performance. In addition, entertainment attorneys may negotiate contracts and fee agreements, obtain talent releases, serve as a liaison between agencies and venue owners/staff, or monitor union and guild membership.

A number of law schools, including the LLM level, offer certificate programs or courses in entertainment law.

7. Estate planning lawyer

An estate planning lawyer understands the complexities of property rights, wills, probate, and trusts. They give legal advice and support to ensure that client assets passing both within and outside the will or trust are managed correctly, as well as that tax and legal concerns are dealt with appropriately. Choosing how to care for different family members is a difficult procedure; thus, estate planning attorneys may employ questionnaires to assist clients in examining their assets and obligations and making decisions.

8. Family Lawyer

While many people associate family lawyers with divorce, child custody, and alimony, the practice of family law encompasses a wide range of topics. A family lawyer may handle any domestic relations or family-related concerns, such as adoption and guardianship, paternity, juvenile delinquency, and child welfare. A family lawyer's typical tasks include preparing contracts or negotiations, making prenuptial agreements, advising clients on legal choices, and settling familial issues. Family attorneys may work for small legal companies that specialize in family law, as well as charitable groups.

Some jurisdictions provide board certification in family law or child welfare law for persons who desire to exhibit confirmed knowledge and skill in the field, although it is not compulsory.

9. Immigration lawyer

Gaining citizenship or legal status may be a daunting task. Immigration attorneys serve a critical role in guiding people and families through the criteria for living, working, or studying in the United States. Immigration attorneys may also aid refugees and asylum applicants. Employers and workers participating in work visa programs may also hire immigration lawyers to help them obtain legal employment status.

Some legal schools provide certificate programs allowing students to specialize in immigration law. Even institutions that do not provide a formal certificate may propose courses for interested students to attend. Immigration attorneys may practice in a range of contexts, including immigration law firms, government agencies, and non-profit groups.

10. An intellectual property (IP) lawyer

Intellectual property (IP) attorneys defend and enforce the rights and innovations of inventors, writers, artists, and companies. Copyrighting, trademarking, patenting, and trade secret protection are all aspects of intellectual property law that apply to both physical things like innovations and intangible ones like brand names, slogans, or symbols. Lawyers in this field have three primary responsibilities: The first is to advise their clients on how to effectively secure their intellectual property; the second is to protect their intellectual property by registering a trademark, copyright, or patent; and the third is to enforce intellectual property rights against infringement.

Both law schools and state bars may provide specialist programs or certifications to help students specialize in a particular profession.

11. Personal injury lawyer

Personal injury attorneys typically practice civil litigation, defending people who have been injured. Most of these injuries are the result of vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, product liability, or occupational mishaps. Personal injury attorneys must demonstrate that the guilty party—usually another person or corporation—is culpable and owes damages to their client. Most of these lawsuits are resolved outside of court.

Personal injury attorneys go through the same educational process as other lawyers who earn a JD and pass the bar.

12. Tax lawyer

Tax attorneys operate in a range of contexts and are well-versed in tax rules and regulations. Corporations, legal companies, accounting firms, charitable organizations, and government agencies are some examples of these contexts. Their responsibilities include tax planning, evaluating tax legislation (and how it affects their clients), and conducting extensive research. Tax attorneys must keep up with tax law changes, court decisions, and IRS judgments since tax rules are complicated and change regularly.

Some tax attorneys obtain a Master of Taxation degree to expand their expertise and remain current in their field.