The Most Common Types of Lawyers and how to Select the Right One


When we're in a bind and need a lawyer, it's common to hire the first law firm we contact because of the confusion and anxiety, but it can be a mistake. The legal field is vast, and if you find yourself in need of legal assistance, it's vital to find the right lawyer who specializes in the area in which you need help.

There are several types of lawyers - some specialize in unique niches, but others practice in common fields of law.

Continue reading to learn more about the most common lawyers and how to select the right one for your case.

7 Most Common Types of Lawyers

Family Lawyer

Generally, people associate family law with divorce attorneys, and while it's true, family law encompasses much more than just divorce. It deals with all legal family matters. Family Lawyers are equipped to deal with sensitive matters, such as divorce, annulments, prenuptial agreements, custody disputes, adoption, and spousal maintenance.

A good family lawyer acts as a mediator during a divorce case and handles the situation with logic and rationale. Other responsibilities of a family lawyer include advising clients on their legal options, drafting contracts and negotiations, resolving family disputes, and writing prenuptial agreements.

Personal Injury Lawyer

If you've sustained an injury and seek compensation, you need to get the help of a Personal Injury Lawyer. Whether you've been injured at work, involved in a car accident, or hurt while using a defective product, a Personal Injury Lawyer can take on your case and help you file a claim.

The Personal Injury Lawyer will take all the stress of dealing with this case away. They will deal with the responsible party, the insurance company, hospital, doctor, and anything necessary to file the claim.

Duffy & Duffy Attorneys at Law is a reputable firm that handles Personal Injury cases. A Personal Injury Lawyer will help you get compensation for your injuries and expenses like medical bills, damaged property, and any lost wages.

Corporate or Business Lawyer

Despite what popular TV shows have made us believe, Corporate or Business Law is not as glamorous as it seems. A company usually hires a Corporate Lawyer to get advice on their duties, rights, and responsibilities to make sure that all their business dealings are conducted within the law.

Corporate lawyers work on contracts by negotiating, drafting, and reviewing legally binding agreements for their clients. They are involved in mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, securities, and corporate governance. Most of their time is spent out of the courtroom helping their clients avoid litigation.

Immigration Lawyer

The process of gaining citizenship is complicated. Immigration lawyers help people who want to immigrate for work or studies or who are refugees. These lawyers know everything about the available visas and how to go about processing an application.

An Immigration Lawyer will handle all the paperwork and offer guidance and advice regarding the information you need to gather and the steps you must follow because a minor error can have your application rejected.

Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Suppose you've been the victim of medical malpractice. In that case, a Medical Malpractice Lawyer will help you file a claim to be compensated for any injury or loss that you experienced due to the malpractice. Medical malpractice occurs when negligence or an error made by the hospital or a doctor causes physical, mental, or financial harm to a patient.

A lawyer specializing in Medical Malpractice will investigate your case and deal with the doctor, hospital, and all other parties to get a fair claim. Your lawyer will file for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering you endured due to negligence or mistakes of the healthcare provider.

Criminal Lawyer

Criminal Lawyers represent and defend people who are charged with a crime. They have in-depth knowledge of criminal law and processes such as bail, arrest, arraignment, pleas, settlements, and other criminal trial matters. Usually, criminal lawyers are public defenders. They are paid and appointed cases by the public defender's office.

Some key responsibilities of a criminal lawyer include negotiating plea bargains, offering advice to their clients, gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and doing research.

Bankruptcy Lawyer

If you consider declaring bankruptcy due to financial difficulty, a Bankruptcy Lawyer can help and guide you through this stressful process. A Bankruptcy Lawyer has the knowledge of the US Bankruptcy Code and is usually a specialist in consumer or commercial bankruptcy.

The lawyer will deal with insolvency matters and advise you on the different types of bankruptcy options available and the best one that suits your situation. They'll also inform you of the other options apart from bankruptcy that you can consider and work on financial restructuring, plan confirmations, and valuation disputes.

Selecting the Right Lawyer

After you've identified the type of lawyer you will need to handle your issue, there are a few other factors to keep in mind while selecting the right lawyer to ensure the process is smooth and seamless.

Consider the lawyer's experience. A lawyer who has experience with an issue similar to yours can offer advice and guidance based on real situations and cases which is likely more valuable than theoretical knowledge. You can learn about a lawyer's experience by asking for references and asking them about similar cases they've worked on in the past.

Other important considerations are costs and the location. It's essential because laws are different in each state, so it's best to find a lawyer in your region familiar with the state's law.

Dealing with legal matters can be costly so do your homework beforehand. Ask for quotes and find out how clients are billed. If the rate you are offered is out of your budget and non-negotiable, look for another option that's within your budget. But don't overlook other factors while doing that.

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Posted - 05/17/2022