Lawyer up!
When these two words are thrown your way, it’s time to hire a lawyer. Otherwise, you risk exposing yourself to legal risks.
But if you’ve never procured legal services before, it’s normal to find yourself asking questions such as “what type of lawyer do I need,” and for good reason.
There are no less than 17 fields of laws. Each is vast, so vast that many lawyers typically choose to specialize in one or two.
In this article, we’re telling you how to identify the right lawyer for your needs.
What Issue(s) Are You Facing?
The first step to knowing the type of lawyer you need is to identify the issues you’ve at hand.
For instance, if you’re looking to start a business or take a company public, a business or corporate lawyer is best suited to help you. If you’ve been pulled over and arrested for drunk driving, you need a DUI lawyer. If you’ve been injured on the job and need to file a compensation claim, a personal injury lawyer with a focus on workers’ compensation will come in handy.
Facing murder charges? Get yourself a criminal lawyer.
Think your employer is mistreating or discriminating you? A labor lawyer will help you get justice.
Did someone use your copyrighted or trademarked material without your consent? An intellectual property lawyer will nail them, no doubt.
Are you facing deportation? You need an immigration lawyer.
We could go on and on, but it all comes down to this: however unique the issue you’re facing is, there probably is a specific legal field that deals with it. Do your research and get that specialized lawyer.
What About General Practice Law?
Well, general practice lawyers do exist. And just like the name suggests, these attorneys do not limit their practice to certain fields. They could be defending a murder suspect today, and helping other clients write wills and estate plans the next day.
This is starting to sound like general practice lawyers are jacks of all trades, right? Nobody can blame you for making that assumption.
Because of their lack of specialization, these lawyers tend to be cheaper than specialized lawyers. It’s a big selling point. But should you hire a general practice lawyer?
It really depends on the complexity of your issues, as well as the stakes involved. If you’re facing a criminal charge that could put you behind bars for years, for example, you stand the best chance of reaching a favorable outcome with an experienced criminal lawyer, not a general practice lawyer.
Similarly, if you need a lawyer to help you understand a simple loan agreement, you don’t need a specialist banking and finance lawyer. A general practice lawyer will suffice.
The Thing with Law Firms
Most lawyers partner up to establish law firms. As the firm expands, so does its areas of practice.
If you choose to hire a law firm instead of a lawyer who practices independently, it’s not necessary to consider whether the firm specializes in your area of need. As long as your issue falls under the firm’s areas of practice, you should be good to proceed. Here is more about a law firm with multiple practice areas.
What Type of Lawyer Do I Need? Now You Know
After reading this, we believe you’re now in a better position to answer the question “what type of lawyer do I need?” Really, it all boils down to the kind of situation you’re in.
Keep tabs on our blog for more hacks.
