According to the American Bar Association, there are approximately 1.3 million lawyers in the USA. That’s because the United States has permissive, open-claim jurisdiction to protect people from harm at the hands of others.
As long as you prove a set of facts, you can sue someone for damages. There aren’t many rules about what you can or can’t sue someone for. This means there are a lot more civil lawsuits filed in the U.S. than elsewhere in the world.
Apart from this type of litigation, some lawyers specialize in more everyday aspects like real estate, divorce, and taxes. These are some of the most prominent types of lawyers in the country.
1. Family Lawyers
Family Lawyers deal with several emotionally-charged legal matters. These include divorces and adoptions.
These processes can get complicated at times, and a family lawyer offers much-needed advice and guidance during these trying times.
Family lawyers spend most of their time ensuring each family member receives fair treatment during a divorce. They can help with divorce papers, custody, and alimony negotiations.
On the other end of the scale, family lawyers also assist clients with drafting prenuptial agreements and can guide single mothers through the process of establishing paternity.
Family lawyers represent their clients during relevant court hearings if necessary, but they’re most active while negotiating the terms of a divorce or child custody dispute.
2. Tax Lawyers
Tax lawyers are of invaluable benefit to both businesses and individuals come tax time. They help demystify the process of paying taxes and help their clients avoid falling foul of the IRS.
Their knowledge of tax law helps guide you through the processes and legalities involved in:
- Compiling tax returns
- Filing taxes
- Figuring out deductions
- Negotiating tax settlements
- Auditing
Tax lawyers can also offer assistance with structuring a business, so they don’t end up paying unnecessary taxes. Tax lawyers rarely appear in court.
3. Personal Injury Types of Lawyers
Personal injury lawyers handle cases involving tort law. This law applies to acts or omissions that cause injury or harm to another person and amount to a civil wrong.
Tort law involved thousands of cases every year, and for that reason, some lawyers limit their expertise to only one area of specialization. These are some of the specializations applicable to personal injury lawyers:
- Car accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Wrongful death
- Birth injury
- Brain injury
- Dog bites
These cases usually involve large sums of money for damages incurred. Often, the parties’ lawyers negotiate on behalf of their clients to reach a settlement agreement out of court.
Lawyers don’t need to qualify for these specializations, it’s usually a matter of preference, and some lawyers choose more than one. Checkout these practice areas for more information.
Get What You Deserve
Access to all these types of lawyers and more ensures you get fair treatment whether you’re claiming damages, defending yourself in court, or fighting for your rights. It’s one of the privileges of living in a free and fair society.
Are you eager to explore more topics of a general nature? Browse our blog for information on a wide range of lifestyle topics.
