Below, you can explore many of the common lawyer types and reflect upon which career path might be right for you. For all types of lawyers, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates job growth to be 10% from 2021 to 2031, faster than average. This indicates that employers expect to hire about 48,700 new lawyers each year through 2031.1
Criminal Defense Attorney
Criminal law is often the first subfield that people think of when they hear the word “lawyer.” In the U.S., every accused defendant has the right to legal counsel and is innocent until proven guilty.2 Criminal defense attorneys are tasked with protecting defendants’ rights and defending them in court. They may also negotiate plea bargain agreements with prosecutors, whereby the defendant agrees to enter a guilty plea in exchange for a lighter sentence.
Being a criminal defense lawyer isn’t for the faint of heart. These lawyers must often handle difficult cases, such as those involving violent acts or juvenile victims.
Tax Lawyer
Taxes may not be popular, but they are necessary for everything from funding a local fire department to paying public school educators. However, filing taxes can get quite complicated, and individuals and businesses may sometimes need the help of a tax lawyer to sort through tricky situations. For example, a tax lawyer may represent individuals or businesses that are being audited.
Intellectual Property Lawyer
What are the types of lawyers who work in corporate settings? One answer is intellectual property lawyers. Individuals and companies who invent or create materials have ownership rights under intellectual property law.2 An intellectual property lawyer, or IP lawyer, is a professional who specializes in IP law. These lawyers handle cases involving patents, copyright law, trademarks, licensing agreements and trade secrets.
Employment Lawyer
In the U.S., all employees have certain rights, such as the right not to be harassed in the workplace or discriminated against in hiring, firing or promotion decisions.3 Employment lawyers specialize in employment law. It’s typical for an employment law attorney to specialize either in representing companies or representing individuals, but not both.
Immigration Lawyer
Immigration law in the U.S. is notoriously complex. Far removed from the days of Ellis Island, modern immigration procedures are so complicated and backlogged that more than a quarter of immigrant applicants must wait more than 10 years to get a green card.4 Needless to say, it can be difficult for an aspiring immigrant (particularly one who does not speak English well and is unfamiliar with U.S. law) to navigate the immigration laws and procedures.
This is where immigration lawyers come in. Immigration attorneys are responsible for educating their clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and for representing them in administrative courts.
Estate Planning Attorney
An estate planning lawyer, also known as an estate planner or estate lawyer, is a professional who helps clients make key financial decisions related to their estates. For example, an estate lawyer can draft a legally binding will, set up a trust for a minor child and advise a client on reducing inheritance taxes. Estate lawyers often work with clients who are making their own end-of-life decisions, but they can also work with family members of deceased individuals who need guidance through the probate process.
