What Kind of Lawyer Do I Need?

Unless you’re an attorney, most people have no idea when they need a lawyer or what kind they actually need.

There are numerous types of law in the United States. This means there’s at least twice the number of lawyers out there for each field of law. It can be a stressful process trying to find the right attorney for your specific law needs.

You have to spend research deciding what lawyer to hire but how can you even get that far if you don’t know what type you actually need?

We wrote this guide of the main types of lawyers out there to make your vetting process go much smoother.

Bankruptcy Lawyers

Sometimes we get ourselves in debt too deep that we can’t climb our way out. We don’t see the light, and if we don’t ask for help, we keep digging ourselves deeper and deeper.

In a country where credit is king, it can feel impossible to get through. That’s when a bankruptcy lawyer can lend you a helping hand.

Filing for bankruptcy is a legal process that helps you be relieved of either part of your debit or in more dire situations; all your debt can be relieved.

There are two types of bankruptcy lawyers.

A commercial bankruptcy lawyer helps businesses or the people behind the business file for bankruptcy. Not only can they help you relieve your business’ debt, but they can help you gain time to rebuild your business.

[See our list of commercial bankruptcy lawyers]

A consumer bankruptcy lawyer helps you, the individual, file for bankruptcy.

[See our list of consumer bankruptcy lawyers]

Car Accident Lawyers

Being involved in a car accident can be a headache, even if it’s only a fender bender. There’s so much behind the scenes fighting against you from receiving an insurance claim. Insurance companies don’t like to pay out, so they’ll fight you every step of the way.

A car accident lawyer can help you receive monetary compensation for any damages done to your vehicle as well as help you prove that you weren’t at fault for the accident in the first place.

A car accident lawyer can also be considered a sub-type of a personal injury attorney. They can make sure you receive compensation for any injuries that resulted from your accident as well as compensation for pain and suffering.

[See our list of car accident lawyers]

Child Support Lawyers

Child support can be a difficult matter, whether a couple has divorced or a dead beat parent refuses to step up to their responsibility. It can bring up raw emotions, and two exes aren’t always the best at negotiating.

A child support lawyer falls underneath the specialty of Family Law and specializes in child support cases. They will aid you in the paperwork and steps it takes to get money to help support your child.

Not only can they help you receive child support, but they can also help determine the amount the judge will grant you as well as make sure you are continually receiving the child support.

If you are on the other side of the fence, but you have split custody, a child support lawyer can make sure you aren’t overpaying since you’re already supporting your child when your child is with you.

[See our list of child support lawyers]

Criminal Defense Lawyers

Maybe you find yourself in some hot water, or maybe you’re being accused of a crime you didn’t commit. Either way, it’s time to lawyer up with a criminal defense attorney.

A criminal defense lawyer will defend you if you’re charged with a criminal offense. They can prove your innocence before a jury due to a lack of evidence or confused witnesses.

Or they can help you get the best possible outcome by making a plea deal with the prosecutor if you are guilty of the crime you’re being charged for.

They can also help you maintain your rights if you’re being questioned or interrogated by the police. This is to keep you from incriminating yourself or even to make sure the police are following procedures.

[See our list of criminal defense lawyers]

Disability Lawyers

Filing for disability for a physical and mental disability is time-consuming and difficult. And even after all that effort, you have a low chance of being awarded disability by a judge.

You can go about it alone, but if you want a real chance, you’re going to want to hire a disability lawyer.

They can help you through the entire process. If you’re denied, they can appeal the decision for you. Plus, they have experience dealing with the Social Security Administration. They know what it takes to get accepted for disability compensation.

[See our list of Social Security disability lawyers]

Divorce Lawyers

Divorces are messy, and when you’re going through one, you’re bound to be an emotional wreck. When divorcing, these emotions can get in the way of logic and keeping the peace.

A divorce lawyer, who also falls under the specialty of Family Law, is there to be your mediator. They’re also there to make sure the two of you split up your possessions the way they should be. If you deserve alimony, they make sure you receive it.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Medical malpractice refers to when a medical professional causes you or a loved one injury or death due to their negligence.

To sue a medical professional of medical malpractice, it must be proven that you wouldn’t have this injury or illness if it hadn’t been for their direct actions.

A medical malpractice lawyer helps gather evidence for your case as well as speaks to other professionals to better understand what happened to you. They fight in court for you for monetary compensation that you’re deserved due to the suffering of the complications.

[See our list of medical malpractice lawyers]

Patent Lawyers

A patent gives you and only you reign over your invention or idea. This is to ensure that someone doesn’t take credit or make money off of something that you created. It prevents anyone else from profiting off of your invention.

A patent lawyer helps you through the patent process. They know the ins and outs of the paperwork for receiving a patent.

If someone does attempt to steal your idea or invention, a patent lawyer will back you up on legal proceedings to stop this person from their wrongdoings.

[See our list of intellectual property lawyers]

Personal Injury Lawyers

A personal injury lawyer ensures that you receive compensation when you’re injured from the negligence of someone else.

That negligence may not be a crime by federal or state standards, but you still deserve some type of justice, even if it’s only monetary. This money will help you pay your medical bills and compensate you for your pain and suffering.

They’ll build your case with evidence and witness statements. They’ll negotiate for you and take it to court if an agreement can’t be made.

[See our list of personal injury lawyers]

Wrongful Termination Lawyers

A wrongful termination lawyer helps you get compensation if you’ve wrongly been fired from your job. Whether it was a result of discrimination or a breach in a contract, this type of attorney will help you out.

You have rights as an employee, and a wrongful termination lawyer has the knowledge to make sure you’re protected, and some justice is served.

[See our list of employment lawyers]

Conclusion

These are just a few types of lawyers out there. We’ve listed the most common types and categories of attorneys below to get you started.

You can also use our simple Ask a Lawyer tool to chat with an attorney online who can get you pointed in the right direction. No matter what your situation is, you’ll find a lawyer in your needed field.

Ultimately, it’s up to you on how specialized you want your lawyer to be, but he or she should have experience in the type of matter you’re trying to resolve.

Other Types of Lawyers

If you need assistance, you can also chat now with a Laws101.com attorney, where you’ll be instantly connected to a lawyer who can give you legal guidance or point you in the right direction on your specific case or question.