When you find yourself in a situation where you need legal presentation, you may wonder what kind of attorney do I need. There are attorneys for all the different areas of law. Let’s look at the different types of lawyers and how they can be of help for your case.
1. Bankruptcy Lawyer
Bankruptcy lawyers specialize in the United States Bankruptcy Code and manage insolvency matters for people and businesses. They focus on consumer or commercial bankruptcy. In the prior, lawyers represent creditors or individuals, while in the latter, they represent corporate debtors and creditors.
However, as both specialties deal with valuation disputes, financial restructurings, and plan confirmations, the scope of work in either specialty is similar. Some jurisdictions provide bankruptcy law certification, which is optional but helps to identify lawyers with the necessary expertise. While you can go pro se, which is filing the case without legal help, using the services of a professional will increase your chances of success.
2. Worker’s Compensation Lawyer
If you get an injury while on the clock or have lost a loved one due to an occupational disease or a workplace accident, you may wonder what kind of attorney do I need. A workers comp attorney can help you navigate details like the benefits you’re entitled to and the extent of the employer’s fault to increase your chances of success. If your employer contests that the injuries took place on the job or you experience any other form of employer retaliation or resistance, a lawyer can help you gather relevant evidence to prove your injury occurred while on the job.
3. Corporate Attorney
Corporate attorneys, also known as business lawyers, represent businesses in legal disputes and ensure all business dealings comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws. Typical legal work includes liability disputes, intellectual property, patents, formation, acquisitions, mergers, or dissolution of businesses. Their day-to-day work may include negotiating contracts, writing and revising legal documents, conducting legal research, and sometimes helping businesses access small business start-up loans.
4. Labor and Employment Lawyer
If you’re dealing with a workplace issue such as harassment and discrimination, termination, negotiating an exit package, or even reviewing a job offer, you may ask yourself what kind of attorney do I need. Employment and labor lawyers offer legal advice for interactions between employees, employers, and unions, typically involving pension security, benefits, wage and hours regulations, and workplace discrimination or harassment. Although the duties of labor and employment lawyers often overlap, labor lawyers concentrate on collective bargaining and union-management relations, whereas employment lawyers handle matters in non-union workplaces.
5. Entertainment Attorney
If you’re in the entertainment industry and facing legal issues such as theft of your intellectual property, contract violation, or need help navigating legal matters in the sector, the answer to the question what kind of attorney do I need is an entertainment lawyer. These lawyers represent actors, musicians, artists, athletes, and other media-related brands or clients. They help them to safeguard their intellectual property, which may be anything from a comedian’s stand-up routine to a singer’s lyrics.
Entertainment attorneys may manage union and guild membership, secure talent releases, oversee contracts and fee arrangement negotiations, or liaise between venues or agents. They may represent individual clients, work for a particular entertainment firm, or represent a corporation that conducts business in the entertainment industry. Most choose to specialize in a specific field of law, like transactional or intellectual property law.
6. Tax Lawyer
When facing legal issues concerning taxes, the answer to what kind of attorney do I need is a tax attorney. These lawyers help their clients navigate the complexities of U.S. tax laws. They typically deal with issues such as tax debt relief, disputes with tax authorities, estate planning, or business planning.
Depending on the specifics of your situation, you can hire a tax attorney from an accounting business or law firm. In accounting firms, they provide clients with tax advice but don’t necessarily represent them if tax disputes go to court. Those in law firms typically deal with tax controversies and represent clients in legal disputes.
7. Intellectual Property Lawyer
When dealing with copyright or trademarking issues and thinking of what kind of attorney do i need, turn to an intellectual property lawyer. They focus their practice on protecting the creations and enforcing the rights of artists, authors, inventors, and businesses. IP laws protect trade secrets for intangible products such as symbols, slogans, or brand names and tangible ones like inventions.
Lawyers in this area are responsible for three primary tasks. The first is to advise clients on the best strategies for protecting their intellectual property. The second is to secure that property through the registration of trademarks, copyrights, or patents, and the third is enforcing clients’ intellectual property rights to prevent infringement.
8. Personal Injury Lawyer
Being the victim of a serious personal injury can be traumatic and profoundly affect your life. Besides the injury, you’ll incur relatively high medical bills and must deal with insurance companies and the related paperwork. Focusing on your recovery while dealing with all of this can be overwhelming.
Handling a personal injury claim yourself may result in a longer claims process and lower settlement, and in the worst case, you may not receive compensation at all. In this case, the answer to what kind of attorney do I need is a personal injury attorney. They’ll handle all the intricacies of filing a claim and ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
While there are laws that govern the operations of insurance companies, their motive is hard to regulate. Like any business, insurance providers are always looking out for their best interests, so they keep a team of attorneys on retainer to find ways of reducing the amount of money they spend on payouts. Just like they have attorneys working for them, you should also have one on your side.
Statutes of limitations determine the maximum period from the accident’s date to when you can start the legal process of filing your claim. Missing this deadline will reduce your chances of receiving compensation for your suffering. A personal injury attorney such as a brain injury lawyer is aware of this, so they’ll ensure you meet deadlines to ensure you don’t miss out on the opportunity.
9. Contract Attorney
When dealing with contracts, you may wonder what kind of attorney do I need. A contract lawyer specializes in everything to do with contracts and can help you with your contract-related issues. Whether you need -advice to help you decide if you should sign a specific contract or if something has already gone wrong with a contract, these lawyers will help you ensure you don’t find yourself in tight legal situations.
10. Social Security Disability Attorney
Navigating the complexities of the Social Security Disability System is challenging for the average homeowner. An attorney whose practice focuses on Social Security Disability issues can guide you through the process. They’ll help you deal with the termination or reduction of benefits, start an appeal of the decision to deny you benefits and address eligibility issues.
11. General Practice Lawyer
Unlike lawyers who focus on a specific area of law, these attorneys handle various legal issues. However, like general dentists, different general practice lawyers have different areas of law they’re most comfortable with. So when consulting one, ask them about their experience with the legal issue you’re facing.
12. DWI Lawyer
Every state has laws against driving while intoxicated. DWI cases are thus heard in criminal court. While you have the right to represent yourself, most defendants choose to hire a private DWI attorney or use a public defender chosen by the court.
Without legal training and experience, it’ll be hard for you to assess and understand the strengths and weaknesses of your DUI case. Besides the fact that DUI laws are constantly changing, every case’s facts are unique. Hire seasoned DWI attorneys to ensure you get the best representation possible.
13. Civil Rights Lawyer
Civil rights are the fundamental rights guaranteed by United States Constitution to every citizen. They include protection from discrimination based on nationality, disability, skin color, religion, gender, or age. Civil rights also provide for the right to freedom of thought, assembly, a fair trial, privacy, religion, and the right to free speech.
They handle various kinds of cases involving wrongful arrests, illegal searches, excessive force, and inappropriate law enforcement conduct. Civil rights attorneys also represent parents of special needs kids who may have been neglected or mistreated by teachers, other pupils, or third parties. Their work involves performing legal research for cases, drafting legal paperwork, arguing cases in court, and negotiating settlements.
14. Construction Lawyer
Construction lawyers offer clients legal advice relating to building and construction projects. They advise people at different levels of the contracting chain, including suppliers and consultants, trade contractors and subcontractors, project and construction managers, head contractors, and principals such as occupiers, developers, and property owners. Construction attorneys are well-versed in construction contracts and can offer valuable advice about issues resulting from them, such as payment conflicts, variations, delays, and defects.
15. Criminal Defense Attorneys
When facing a criminal charge with serious penalties such as jail time, the first thing that’ll come to mind is what kind of attorney do I need for legal representation. The prospect of going to jail or paying a huge fine can make you panic, affecting your ability to make the right decisions. In such cases, having a criminal defense lawyer in your corner can make all the difference.
Navigating the intricacies of the judicial system is challenging. There are aspects of criminal law that can confuse almost everyone. When that happens, you may find yourself in a position that results in an unfavorable outcome.
You don’t have to navigate the system alone. With criminal defense lawyers, you can be certain you’re making the right decisions for your case. Depending on the lawyer, some even offer a step-by-step manual to help their clients get ready for the process.
16. Estate and Probate Attorney
When feasible, you should schedule a consultation with an estate lawyer before you become incapacitated or die. Estate planners can guide you through drafting documents that specify what will happen to you, your property, debts, and assets when you die or can’t make decisions. These attorneys can also help you set up a trust for your kids and make plans for incapacitation or long-term care with documents such as powers of attorney or healthcare proxies so a dependable partner or family member can take charge of your affairs.
After your death, a probate lawyer can help administer your estate by filing the relevant paperwork in a probate court. If you or a family member has not created a trust or written a will, a probate lawyer can help untangle and distribute their assets and clear their debts from the estate. In the wake of a death, probate attorneys can also assist family members and other interested parties in contesting wills or navigating challenging legal issues.
17. Guardianship Attorney
There are various reasons why you might require the services of guardianship lawyers. For example, you’ll need one if you want to become a guardian or if you’re one already and need help with your responsibilities. If you’re the parent of a kid with special needs or a family member of someone unable to care for themselves, you may also need the services of a guardianship attorney.
These lawyers can guide you through becoming a guardian and offer advice on how to carry out your duties to the best of your ability. If you’re currently serving as a guardian, they’ll help you understand your obligations and rights and give tips for handling challenging situations. With their help, you can be sure your ward the best possible care.
When you’re facing legal issues, hiring the services of an attorney is key to ensuring you get the best outcome. Some attorneys specialize in one area of law, while others have a more general practice. Use this read to find the answer to what kind of attorney do I need for my case.