Law, like many other fields of study, is vast. Criminal law is the fastest that comes to mind since society has many injustices, and movies make it a hot topic. However, the law is not limited to that.
As a student, you can choose one area from these law school concentrations that aligns with your personal career goals and interests in life. While you’re not expected to know which one you will practice before matriculating, educating yourself about the different practices before submitting your law school application is good. Here, we’ll discuss different areas of law in detail.
Bankruptcy Law
Bankruptcy law is part of the law school concentration dealing with organizations and individuals’ insolvency problems. It directly issues from the Constitution, making it a domain of Federal law. However, state laws have an essential effect on procedures.
Bankruptcy involves in-depth knowledge of federal laws and procedures related to debt relief, reorganizing finances, and restructuring debts. As a bankruptcy lawyer, you often represent the debtor or creditors involved in bankruptcy cases. You will be helping clients using the court system to eliminate or reduce debt, seek unpaid debt, or file for bankruptcy.
Bankruptcy attorneys are experts in the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. They can work with businesses, creditors & creditors’ committees, individuals, debtors, or bankruptcy trustees. They also work in or out of the court system to either create debt restructuring plans for a debtor or try to extract as much money as possible for a creditor.
As much as bankruptcy lawyers have in-depth knowledge of federal bankruptcy and state laws and procedures, they also need a few more skills. Some of those skills include math, negotiation, and litigation. If you also have a background in finance or accounting, that’s a plus.
Health Law
Health law is another area in law school concentrations that focuses on legislation related to health care. In this field, attorneys work with clinics, patients, individual health practitioners, or insurance companies. The government also relies on health lawyers to oversee the implementation and enforcement of public health policies. They can also work for biotechnology & pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions.
The area of health law is crucial, given the complexity of the healthcare system and the ever-changing rules and regulations that govern it. As a health lawyer, you advise clients on healthcare-related legal matters, such as healthcare compliance, patient rights, medical malpractice lawsuits, and insurance coverage disputes. You may also represent clients in court or during negotiations with regulatory bodies.
Some of the responsibilities of a health lawyer include drafting and reviewing contracts, conducting legal research, and advocating for changes in healthcare policies. To excel in this field, you will need a strong understanding of both the legal system and the healthcare industry. You also need to be a member of professional bodies like the American Health Law Association.
Criminal Law
Criminal law is among the most popular fields in law school concentrations, with over 252,159 defense lawyers, according to Zippia. This area of law focuses on behaviors sanctioned under the criminal code and stipulated as illegal. It deals with issues of fundamental rights, individual liberty, and responsibilities.
Criminal lawyers represent individuals charged with crimes, ensure a fair trial, and defend their rights in court. Some of the common cases that criminal lawyers handle include theft, murder, drug offenses, and white-collar crimes. For instance, drug possession lawyers are responsible for defending clients charged with illegal drug possession, distribution, or manufacturing.
Being a criminal lawyer requires strong analytical and communication skills. You also need the ability to handle high-pressure situations. You must also be detail-oriented and able to think on your feet in the courtroom. Additionally, having a thorough understanding of legal procedures and criminal law is essential in this field. However, criminal defense lawyers are not the only professionals in this field. Others include District Attorneys and Prosecutors. All these professionals work together to ensure justice while holding fundamental human rights in criminal cases.
Civil Rights Law
Another field in law school concentrations that deals with rights is civil rights law. It aims to balance competing interests among different societal groups, such as two or more government institutions and individuals. The main aim of this branch is to ensure individuals and groups from all backgrounds receive equal treatment in all aspects of life, including education and employment.
Civil rights lawyers work on cases involving unfair practices that infringe on fundamental rights and liberties such as housing, expression, employment, and access to public facilities. They also advocate against discrimination based on race, gender, age, religion, or sexual orientation.
Some common cases these lawyers handle include employment discrimination, housing discrimination, police misconduct & brutality, and voting rights. As an attorney, you will work with individuals to protect their rights through legal actions. You may also counsel organizations on workplace human rights policies and anti-discriminatory laws.
Business (Corporate) Law
Corporate or business law is a field of law you can explore if you want a career in the space of big businesses. Among all law school concentrations, this field is the most encompassing. It deals with legal matters involving the formation and dissolution of corporations.
A business lawyer’s job includes acquisitions, mergers, and internal reorganization. They also work in cases involving disputes between corporations and individuals concerning intellectual property, liability, and contracts. As a corporate lawyer, you may counsel companies on compliance with federal and state laws such as taxation and international accords. In some cases, such as bankruptcy, you may negotiate deals between businesses and other legal entities.
Furthermore, business lawyers also play a crucial role in advising businesses on the legal implications of their decisions and actions. That includes ensuring the company operates within legal boundaries and avoiding potential lawsuits or penalties. They may also assist in drafting contracts, creating policies and procedures, and providing legal advice on various business operations.
Family Law
Family conflicts have a whole set of legalities, which is where family law comes into play. The law school concentration deals with legal matters related to individuals in the family context. It covers everything from prenuptial agreements, divorce, and child custody to estates, wills, and trusts.
Family lawyers typically work on cases that involve disputes between spouses or other family members, such as parents and children. They also handle legal matters related to adoption, surrogacy, domestic partnerships, and guardianship. As a family lawyer, you may also negotiate and draft prenuptial agreements, post-nuptial agreements, and other legal documents related to marriage and family.
Divorce cases have steadily increased, presenting an opportunity for you as a divorce mediation lawyer. For example, according to Forbes, in 2021, there were 689,308 divorces across the USA. In such cases, you will be responsible for helping couples reach a mutual agreement on such issues as division of assets and spousal support.
Custody attorneys also fall in this category. These lawyers represent clients in child custody battles and work towards determining the best interests of the child or children involved. They also assist with creating parenting plans and visitation schedules. They may also help clients restrict or modify existing custody orders.
Personal Injury Law
Personal injury law is among law school concentrations that deal with intentional or unintentional wrongdoing that affects people psychologically and physically. Working as an accident lawyer is among the experts in this field, representing clients who want compensation for harm caused by others. They are well-versed in auto accidents and tort laws.
In auto accident law, the lawyer may seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and punitive damages. Some common cases that a personal injury law firm handles include car accidents, slip & fall accidents, and product liability. They may also work in cases involving workplace injuries, medical malpractice, wrongful death claims, and intentional or negligent acts causing bodily harm.
You may also work as a disability lawyer under personal injury law. These lawyers assist clients with claiming disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They will help determine if clients qualify for disability benefits and represent you before administrative judges who hear disability cases.
Apart from representing clients in court, personal injury lawyers offer legal advice on insurance claims. They may help individuals working towards negotiating settlements. They may collaborate with other professionals, such as medical experts, investigators, and accident reconstructionists, to gather evidence and build a strong case for their clients.
Immigration Law
If you care about the rights of immigrants and refugees, becoming an immigration lawyer may be a good fit. These law school concentrations deal with foreign citizens’ legal status in a country. Experts in the field help clients at all stages of naturalization, including permanent residency, citizenship applications, and deportation proceedings.
Immigration law attorneys must keep up with frequent changes in policies, laws, and regulations covering immigrants. They may also work on behalf of clients seeking asylum or refugee status. They help them navigate complicated legal processes for protection and a new home. These attorneys may also assist with visa applications for employment, education, or family reunification purposes.
Besides providing legal representation, immigration lawyers also educate clients about their rights during the immigration legal process. They may organize workshops and seminars to raise awareness about current immigration policies and advocate for fair treatment of immigrants. Immigration law attorneys play a vital role in protecting immigrants’ rights and promoting diversity and inclusivity.
As an immigration lawyer, you will often work with immigration law offices, non-profit organizations, and government agencies to provide legal services to immigrants. Your job may also involve collaborating with other professionals, such as social workers, translators, and community leaders. That way, you create a more just and inclusive society for all. According to ZipRecruiter, an immigration lawyer can earn an average of $98000 annually.
Intellectual Property Law
Like bankruptcy, intellectual property laws are another specialized law area requiring specific expertise and knowledge. These law school concentrations deal with the protection of tangible and intangible ideas, inventions, and creative works. Such creations include patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.
Lawyers in this field are more than legal experts. They are experts in domains such as the arts, science, technology, or industry. They must understand the intricacies of intellectual property laws and how they apply to different fields. Intellectual property lawyers help clients secure patents for inventions, register trademarks and copyrights for creative works, and offer legal advice on protecting trade secrets.
Intellectual property lawyers may work with businesses and individuals in licensing agreements, negotiations, and contract drafting. They can also represent clients in court if their intellectual property is infringed upon and enforce the protection of their rights.
With the rise of technology, intellectual property laws have become increasingly important and complex. As an expert, you will be critical in safeguarding the creations and innovations that drive economic growth and progress. You will also work towards promoting fair competition, protecting creators’ rights, and fostering innovation. According to Salary.com, you can expect a base salary of $167,000.
Labor (Employment) Law
Another vital area of law is labor or employment law. This field deals with the legal relationship between employers and employees. It covers wages & compensation, working conditions, harassment, discrimination, and employee rights. Most work involves collective bargaining and negotiating contracts between employers and labor unions.
A labor lawyer may also double as a disability attorney and assist clients in navigating employment laws. If the disabled client faces discrimination or harassment at work, you can help them file a complaint and seek compensation. You also cover workplace safety regulations to ensure employees are not subjected to hazardous conditions. If they must work in such situations, employers must provide protective gear and training to minimize the risk of injury.
You need excellent negotiation and communication skills to excel as a labor lawyer. You must also have a thorough knowledge of employment laws and regulations and possess the ability to handle complex legal disputes. In this role, you will advocate for employees’ rights and ensure they are fairly treated.
Labor lawyers may represent clients in cases of sexual harassment, wrongful termination, or discrimination based on race, religion, gender, or age. Experts in this field may also switch sides and help employers draft policies and contracts that comply with labor laws. Alternatively, they may work for the government or advocacy groups to promote fair employment practices and protect workers’ rights.
Law school concentrations are many and varied. Since you can’t practice all of them realistically, selecting one that aligns with your interests, strengths, and career goals is essential. That way, you can offer your services as an expert in a specific field of law and make a significant impact.
