Being a lawyer takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and patience. You might think it’s as simple as taking years of schooling, passing the Bar examination, and getting your certification. Easy, right? But did you know there are various subjects in the lawyering field? In this article, you will uncover the different types of lawyers, and how they can assist you for various needs.
To begin, the journey to becoming a lawyer can take about seven years on average in the United States. Students interested in this field will need a Bachelor’s, (or undergraduate) degree, which will take 4 years to complete. Then, you will need to complete a graduate law school degree for an additional three years. After graduating, aspiring lawyers are required to pass the Bar examination to practice law.
From car accident injury compensation lawyers such as caraccidentlawyersperth.com.au, to criminal defence lawyers, every lawyer serves a different purpose. Here are the different types of lawyers and their qualifications so as to help you choose the right lawyer for your business and other legal matters:
Business, Labour and Employment Lawyers
Unfortunately harassment and discrimination is common occurrence in today’s workplace? If so, a labor and employment may be the right choice for you. This attorney specializes in issues regarding harassment, workplace discrimination, benefits, wage and hourly regulations, and pension cases. Their main focus is to assist in finding solutions to problems in a workplace, ensuring safety measures are taking place, and issues regarding wrongful termination.
There are two kinds of employment lawyers:
Plaintiff lawyer – Their main focus is the plaintiff or employee,
Defendant- Their main focus is the defendant or employer.
You may require an employment attorney if you’re experiencing wage or hourly issues, you believe you are being harassed by an employee or employer, or if there are safety measures not taking place under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). Your attorney can protect your rights and make you aware of any violations pertaining to your case.
Requirements: Various law schools may offer a special certification for labor and employment law.
Tax Lawyers
If you’re dealing with tax issues, you may require a tax lawyer. Not only does a tax lawyer specialize in numbers, they have a great understanding of tax laws. These specialties include tax liability, tax processing, planning, and handling any disputes with the IRS.
We all know taxes can be a tedious process for most, and you may need a tax lawyer for various reasons. A tax lawyer is essential for taxes regarding real estate, business taxes, and even international taxes. Here are a few reasons why you may need a tax lawyer.
If you’ve been accused of tax fraud, or facing a criminal charge, a tax lawyer can represent you in court and provide legal advice.
If you owe tax debt, their knowledge of tax codes can dismiss any unnecessary charges made to you.
The IRS may provide a tax audit to ensure the information you provide about your financial background is accurate. Tax lawyers can protect your rights during the auditing process.
If you need to get in contact with the IRS, a tax lawyer can protect your rights by making negotiations with the IRS.
Requirements: Tax lawyers can pursue a Master’s Degree in Taxation. Moreover, tax lawyers must ensure they are staying up-to-date with tax laws because they are likely to change.
Personal Injury Lawyer
This is the most common type of lawyer, and their purpose is to assist individuals who have experienced a personal injury that may require financial compensation. Some examples of personal injuries include workplace incidents, car accidents, and medical malpractice. Some of their responsibilities include:
Investigating various claims – A lawyer will evaluate and take on a case they believe will be a win for their client.
Gathering evidence – Evidence is crucial when supporting the plaintiff’s claim. This may include surveillance footage, damage to property, etc.
Negotiations with insurance companies – They may investigate insurance policies to determine compensation.
Representing their clients – If the plaintiff’s case goes to trial, an attorney will represent their plaintiff and follow case procedures.
Requirements: Personal injury lawyers are required to complete their Juris Doctor (J.D.) Degree and pass the bar examination.
Family Lawyers
A family lawyer’s main focus involves inquiries that may tie into personal factors. Individuals may request a family lawyer if they are thinking about adopting a child, have marital disputes such as a divorce, request custody of a child, paternity factors, and others.
A family lawyer is responsible for negotiations, drafting contracts, counseling their clients on legal action, implementing prenuptial agreements, or resolving disputes.
A family lawyer is essential to your needs because they are willing to protect your rights so you can receive entitlement. They are great for handling negotiations regarding separation, child support cases, visitation rights, etc.
Requirements: Some states may offer a family lawyer to complete a certification in child welfare and/or family law, but it is not a requirement.
Car Accident Lawyers
Car accident lawyers specialise in assisting people with claims for injury and property damage compensation arising from motor vehicle accidents. Making sure that you choose the best car accident lawyer Perth will ensure that you obtain the best possible outcome for your injury compensation claim.
Criminal Defence Lawyer
A criminal defence lawyer specializes in the defense of individuals or companies that may be charged with criminal activity. There are two kinds of criminal defence attorneys:
Prosecuting attorneys – They represent the government against a crime that was committed.
Public Defense attorney – They represent the defendant that was accused of a crime.
Criminal defense attorneys can represent their clients in sentencing or trial hearings, a settlement conference, or arraignments. Moreover, they can defend their clients at a state, federal, or local level.
Representing yourself in a criminal case can be a long and difficult process, especially if you are not familiar with how the court system is conducted. They can provide you insight regarding the charges filed against you, plea bargains, available defenses, and what to be expected after your trial, and convictions. They are willing to protect your rights and your future by reducing any necessary charges, lessening a penalty, and can dismiss a case if there are police errors involved.
Requirements: Upon passing the bar examination, some states offer aspiring attorneys to partake in specialty programs and criminal trial certifications.
