One unhelpful misconception about lawyers is that they’ll always win you a case, as long as they have a long-standing reputation for being good ones.
Here’s the thing, though: No lawyer is equally good at all legal practice areas.
You wouldn’t hire the same lawyer to handle your personal injury case and your criminal defense case, would you?
To help you figure out which type of lawyer you need, we’ve compiled a non-exhaustive list of the 10 most common types of lawyers and the cases they usually deal with.
Hopefully, this will help you cut the time and cost of legal proceedings and save you some nerves along the way!
1. Contract lawyers
It’s becoming increasingly evident that the US is facing a rental crisis as the scarcity of housing supplies and rents continues to increase.
This is, consequently, creating an increase in contract disputes between landlords and tenants related to commercial leases.
If you want to ensure that your rights are protected and that the terms of your lease are enforceable, you’ll need the assistance of a contract lawyer.
A contract lawyer will help you:
- Get through the negotiation
- Prepare a draft of your contract
- Add amendments
- Ensure contract execution
Apart from commercial leases, contract lawyers can help you avoid and solve other contract disputes, including non-compete agreements, NDAs, company contracts, etc.
2. Civil rights lawyers
If you’ve been denied employment or housing due to discriminatory reasons, if you’ve experienced a hate crime or been falsely arrested, you’ve likely experienced a civil rights violation.
Civil rights lawyers can help you file a civil lawsuit and guide you through the litigation process by performing case research, drafting legal documents, representing you in court, and much more.
3. Personal Injury lawyers
You might’ve been driving a car when another driver’s speeding or running a red light caused an accident in which you’ve suffered personal injuries.
In fact, car accident claims due to a driver’s negligence are one of the most common personal injury claims.
A personal injury lawyer can provide legal advice and representation on how to recover damages inflicted in accidents like these.
Read more here to find out what qualifies as a personal injury case and how much money you can recover in personal injury lawsuits.
4. Immigration lawyers
If you’ve ever applied for a green card, you know how easy it is to get stuck in the immigration process or get denied due to an incomplete application.
An immigration lawyer will help you prepare and review necessary forms within legal deadlines, as well as remove any obstacles you may face in your quest to become a US citizen.
5. Employment lawyers
Whether you’re an employer or an employee facing a work-related dispute, employment lawyers can help you handle any issues related to:
- Working hours
- Wages
- Wrongful terminations
- Discrimination allegations
- Other breaches of employment agreements.
An employment lawyer will advise you on which procedures to follow, which documents to obtain, and how to file an administrative claim.
6. Medical malpractice lawyers
Failure to treat a patient, establishing a wrong diagnosis, or prescribing incorrect drugs all qualify as medical malpractice.
Medical malpractice lawyers represent clients in civil litigation similar to those in other personal injury cases.
However, as opposed to personal injury lawyers, they collaborate more closely with medical experts when analyzing your medical records, and they conduct medical research in addition to legal research.
7. Toxic tort lawyers
Exposure to dangerous substances and chemicals at work can lead to devastating lifelong effects on your health and result in significant medical expenses.
As these types of cases often include suing large companies, you’ll need to hire shark lawyers that specialize in dealing with difficult cases.
Toxic tort lawyers are exactly that – and their aggressive approach will ensure that you’re properly compensated for injuries inflicted on you.
8. Business lawyers
If you’re running a business and the other party has failed to deliver on the terms of your business agreement, you may need a corporate lawyer.
Business lawyers, much like contract lawyers, will ensure that your agreements are bulletproof and enforceable, as well as help you successfully negotiate a mutually beneficial business deal.
9. Tax lawyers
Are you being charged too much in taxes or being denied a tax refund?
If the answer is yes, you should hire a tax lawyer to help you navigate the complex tax systems within the US.
Apart from that, a tax lawyer can help you figure out if you’re eligible for certain tax deductions and exemptions.
10. Family lawyers
Is your partner not paying child support? Are you looking for a way to dissolve your marriage or keep yourself safe from domestic violence?
A family lawyer can help you with all of the above.
Family lawyers can also help you with cases dealing with adoption, draft your prenuptial agreements, and provide you with necessary legal assistance involving any family relationships.