There are different attorney specializations to select from when hiring a legal representative. It is important to hire the appropriate one when you n...
There are different attorney specializations to select from when hiring a legal representative. It is important to hire the appropriate one when you need help with aspects of the law. Lawyers go to school for many years in order to become a general counsel. If they want to specialize,
additional coursework will be necessary. Beyond high school, these professionals attend four years at a university before even applying to law school. Typical majors for these undergraduates may be English, Political Science, Business or Social Studies. Many are on debate teams throughout high school and college in order to hone their courtroom skills. Once an applicant is admitted into a graduate law program, he or she will work long and hard to learn everything there is to know about the law. After graduation, he or she will need to take a series of challenging exams in order to hang up a shingle and begin to practice law. 7 specializations that these professionals end up in include:
1) Family Law: Family lawyers typically handle domestic cases such as custody, divorce, legal separation, child support, grandparents’ rights, and any other situations that involve family members.
2) Immigration: Immigration specialists handle cases for employers who hire foreign nationals, individuals trying to achieve citizenship, those who are trying to bring family members into the country from another nation, those trying to obtain Visas, green cards and any other issues involving immigrating into the United States.
3) Criminal: Criminal attorneys represent clients who are accused of a wide variety of crimes. A client may be charged with drunk driving, assault, robbery, burglary, white collar crime, murder, rape or tax evasion.
4) Tax attorneys: Legal tax counsel is often given to businesses or to individuals who are experiencing trouble with their taxes or the IRS. These professionals often work in conjunction with CPAs, which is another name for Certified Public Accountants.
5) Business: In business, there are many situations that require the expertise of a legal eagle. Copyright laws, human resources compliance, OSHA regulations, going over contracts, leases and more, are all things that this type of law professional will do for you. In the business world, having all t’s crossed and i’s dotted is especially complex and crucial. A company’s survival depends on it.
6) Real estate: In some states, a real estate attorney is needed to buy and sell real estate property; in others, a realtor will suffice. There are other reasons that this specialization is needed, especially in today’s economic climate. Foreclosures, strategic defaults, and short sales often require the expertise of these seasoned and knowledgeable professionals.
7) General lawyer: Some lawyers are jack-of-all-trades in the legal world. They are similar to a family doctor, in that they have a broad range of knowledge about most common matters. When situations are extremely complicated or require the eye of a specialist, a general attorney will make a recommendation to his or her client, just like the family doc.
When it’s time to hire an attorney, it’s helpful to hire the one who specializes in the proper topic. Whether it’s family, immigration, criminal, taxes, real estate or business law you need guidance in, there will be a well trained professional available for your case.
