Law is what ensures justice and prevents society from descending into ‘Jungle Raaj’. And lawyers are upholders of justice. The layman’s idea of lawyers is based on television shows and movies that mostly project them as criminal lawyers and defence lawyers.
However, there are many specializations in law. When a person searches for a lawyer, his/her search is almost exclusively based on a specific need. Say, for example, if someone is going through a messy divorce, he/she will most likely search for a family lawyer. A businessman looking to settle GST will search for a tax lawyer or a GST specialist.
These ‘specific needs’ are separated into different practice areas. Different types of lawyers specialize in different areas of law. While an LLB degree is required to be a lawyer, one can specialize in a particular field and pursue a career in the same by getting a postgraduate LLM degree.
Do you dream of being a successful lawyer? Most legal aspirants would answer, ‘Yes’. The question that arises next is what type of lawyer do you want to become? Read this article to know about 10 types of lawyers and then decide what you want to be.
1. Corporate Lawyer
Corporate lawyers handle all legal matters concerning a business, which is why they are critical to run a business successfully. Big companies even have their own legal departments to guide them, advise them and perform legal functions like compliance, acquisitions and mergers, drafting legal documents, preparing government reports, etc. A corporate lawyer also works closely with other executives advising them against business decisions that could lead to legal action. They represent the company in a court of law when legal action is taken against it or when they initiate legal action against another party.
Corporate lawyers are in high demand because they have the knowledge and expertise about legal proceedings related to the formation of a company, dissolution of a company, contract law, securities law, licensing, etc. Corporate lawyers also have to perform negotiations with individuals or other business entities on behalf of the company as and when needed.
2. Family Lawyer/Divorce Lawyer
A family lawyer’s job more often than not is quite depressing. You see couples who once loved each other engage in bitter divorce fights, you see families being torn apart, you see children being used as pawns in custody battles, which renders them heartbroken, brothers fighting with brothers for property and so on. Yet certain lawyers only focus on divorce cases. They are called divorce specialists.
Family lawyers also take care of issues such as adoption, paternity, alimony, prenuptial or postnuptial agreements, and emancipation. So, from child custody and support to the division of marital property to alimony, family lawyers litigate all sorts of family matters. They also draft documents like postnuptial agreements or divorce papers.
3. Criminal Defence Lawyer
A criminal defence lawyer’s job is to protect the legal rights of defendants who have been charged with committing crimes. A lot of law aspirants want to specialize in criminal law. Often idolized in television programs, like say the ‘Adaalat’ (remember KD Pathak), the criminal defence lawyer is very popular with the masses.
Criminal defence lawyers analyze a case and based on that, reach the conclusion. If they find that the case is in favour of the defendant then they plead not guilty before the court and if the defendant accepts his/her crime then they negotiate a plea or a settlement. Criminal defence lawyers are familiar with handling legal issues like unlawful arrests, bail, arraignment, plea bargains, etc. Criminal lawyers though have to perform a lot of paperwork, they are also the ones who appear in the courtroom more often, especially when the trial begins.
4. Tax Lawyer
Taxes are something that few people like to pay but everybody, whether a business entity or an individual, has to pay. Though GST has simplified the tax process, still, taxes can be complicated. Also, businesses may find that they need to approach a lawyer who is knowledgeable about GST.
A tax lawyer will prevent his/her clients from getting into trouble with the national or state level tax authorities. They interpret tax laws and their effect on clients, do tax planning on behalf of their clients, etc. Tax lawyers have to do a fair bit of research as well to be acquainted with the intricacies of taxation and to know the ins and outs of tax laws and regulations.
5. Intellectual Property Lawyer
An intellectual property lawyer protects and enforces the rights of inventors, authors, musicians, filmmakers and businesses. Intellectual property law safeguards trademarks, copyrights, patents, etc. Intellectual property lawyers protect tangible products like unique inventions and intangible products like brand names, slogans and logos.
An Intellectual property lawyer performs the job of counselling his/her clients as to the best way to protect their intellectual property. He/she actually carries out the process of protecting intellectual property by registering trademarks, copyrights, patents, etc. And if any infringement takes place, then he/she enforces intellectual property laws. An intellectual property lawyer is also hired by someone who wants to use the intellectual property or trademark belonging to a certain person or company.
6. Bankruptcy Lawyer
A bankruptcy lawyer helps a person or a company with the complex process of filing for bankruptcy. The demand for bankruptcy lawyers is high these days as an increasing number of people and businesses are filing for bankruptcy. The reason may be that they spent more than they should have or got into insolvency through unavoidable circumstances.
People and businesses who are struggling with their finances, bill payments and debts, should consult a bankruptcy lawyer to know what their financial strategy should be. A bankruptcy lawyer will try to sort out the problem first by talking with creditors, negotiate a settlement or arrange for a feasible repayment plan. Only as a last resort, will a bankruptcy lawyer file for bankruptcy.
7. Real Estate Lawyer
A real estate lawyer helps people resolve legal issues related to property, be it residential or commercial. If someone is buying or selling property, he/she will need the services of a real estate lawyer. Beyond buying and selling, a real estate lawyer also handles matters like sharing of family assets, foreclosures and appraisals, etc.
A real estate lawyer also works with his/her client and the real estate agent to draft documents and ensure that the agreement is legally binding. It is also in the job description of a real estate lawyer to negotiate between a landlord and a tenant in an eviction case. A real estate lawyer also takes care of insurance issues. Typically, almost everything that is associated with a client’s house or real estate property, demands the attention of a real-estate lawyer.
8. Employment Lawyer/Labour Lawyer
Employment/Labour lawyers generally handle the relations between employees, their unions and employers. They deal with issues such as workplace discrimination, unlawful lay-offs, harassment, benefits, pension security, etc. An employment lawyer can be hired by an employee who is having trouble with the company or vice-versa.
An employment lawyer may also be tasked with settling disputes in contracts of employees. However, an employment lawyer is required most during the documentation process while hiring an employee. A labour lawyer generally concerns himself/herself with union-management relations while an employment lawyer works for an employee in a non-union setting.
9. General Practice Lawyer
Some lawyers don’t want to restrict themselves to any particular specialization. They may provide all or most of the services detailed in this article. If say, for example, a lawyer who provides criminal defence, employment law services and family law services may be called a general practice lawyer.
A general practice lawyer is basically a ‘Jack of all trades’. In India, there are many general practice lawyers. It will be unfair to assume that they lack the expertise to deal with a client’s specific needs. Some general practice lawyers work very hard to keep up with the specific needs of their clients. A civil litigation lawyer is also considered to be a general practice lawyer.
10. Cyberspace Lawyer/Internet lawyer
With the advancement of the internet, cyber law is a new addition. The widespread acceptance of internet-based technologies has opened up an entirely new field for lawyers. A cyberspace lawyer handles issues relating to the terms and conditions of a website, digital media, etc.
A cyber lawyer also concerns himself/herself with internet defamation, online reputation monitoring, offering consultation services to start-ups, social media privacy issues, etc. Cyberspace lawyers are also called internet lawyers. An internet lawyer will represent his/her client in a court of law, prepare all the paperwork and file lawsuits just like regular lawyers.
Conclusion
Apart from the ten types mentioned in this article, there are other types of lawyers as well. Like, say, contract lawyer, medical malpractice lawyer, entertainment lawyer, personal injury lawyer, etc. But the ten mentioned are the most popular lawyer roles here in India.
Whatever may be the specialization, the path to becoming a successful lawyer is not a cakewalk. You need either good education or a great deal of experience or perhaps both. Most law aspirants try to make this journey a little smooth by trying to get into the top law colleges in India, like say, NLSIU Bengaluru, National Law University, Delhi, NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, NUJS, West Bengal and so on. These are some of the best law colleges in India according to NIRF ranking.
However, to seek admission to these top law colleges, you have to pass competitive exams like the CLAT, AILET, etc. It will help your cause if you enroll in law coaching classes. In these pandemic times, it is best to select an online law coaching centre. There are many good law coaching centres that offer online coaching. But if you are looking for an affordable yet good law coaching centre, you can check out Manu Law Classes. They have built quite a reputation for themselves in recent years.
