Types of Lawyers: 24 Practice Areas Explained

Entity formation, shareholder agreements, M&A transactions, joint ventures, commercial contracts, governance. The attorney who helps a business exist legally and operate structurally.

Due diligence, transaction documentation, regulatory approvals, post-closing integration. Sub-specialty of corporate, distinct enough in practice to be its own market.

IPO counsel, private placements (Reg D, Reg A+), SEC reporting, proxy statements, blue-sky compliance, securities litigation defence.

Disputes between private parties -- breach of contract, property disputes, business torts, fraud claims. File complaints, conduct discovery, argue motions, try cases.

High-value business disputes: breach of complex commercial contracts, business divorce, shareholder disputes, trade secret theft, non-competes.

Representing defendants charged with crimes. Negotiating pleas, challenging evidence, trying cases, appeals. Covers everything from misdemeanours to federal felonies.

Representing the government in criminal cases: charging, negotiating pleas, trying cases. District Attorneys (state) and US Attorneys (federal). Not private attorneys; government employees.

Representing injured parties in lawsuits against negligent actors: car accidents, slip-and-fall, medical malpractice, product liability, wrongful death.

Representing insurance companies and their policyholders in covered litigation. Paid by the insurer to defend the insured. Major volume segment of the litigation market.

Divorce, child custody and support, spousal maintenance, prenuptial agreements, adoption, guardianship, domestic violence protective orders.

Wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, estate tax planning, probate administration, trust administration.

Property purchase and sale contracts, title review, closing, landlord-tenant disputes, commercial leases, zoning and land use, easements and covenants, real estate litigation.

Visas (work, family, investor), green cards, citizenship/naturalisation, asylum, deportation defence, DACA, VAWA, immigration court representation.

Tax planning, compliance, IRS audits and appeals, Tax Court litigation, estate and gift tax, international tax, state and local tax (SALT). Distinct from CPA.

Patent prosecution (USPTO), patent litigation, trademark registration and enforcement, copyright registration and licensing, trade secret protection, IP licensing agreements.

Representing employees in discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, wage theft, whistleblower, FMLA, ADA, and ERISA claims.

Advising employers on compliance, handbook policies, investigations, response to complaints, employment litigation defence, NLRB matters.

Chapter 7 (liquidation), Chapter 11 (reorganisation), Chapter 13 (individual repayment). Representing debtors or creditors. Consumer or commercial depending on case type.

Regulatory compliance (EPA, Clean Air, Clean Water Acts), Superfund liability, environmental due diligence in transactions, environmental litigation (plaintiff and defence).

Healthcare compliance (HIPAA, Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute), hospital and physician practice transactions, pharmaceutical regulatory, FDA matters, healthcare fraud defence.

K-12 and higher education: disability law (IDEA, Section 504, ADA), student discipline, Title IX, employment, governance, accreditation.

Briefing and arguing appeals before intermediate appellate courts and supreme courts. Often specialists who do not handle trial-level work. Supreme Court practice is a sub-specialty.

Talent contracts, music publishing, film financing, sports endorsements and agent agreements, defamation, right of publicity, intellectual property in creative works.

Medicaid planning, long-term care planning, guardianship and conservatorship, nursing home contracts, Social Security disability, elder financial exploitation claims. Related to estate planning but focused on the living phase.