Common Practice Areas, Explained
Lawyers specialize, and the labels they use can be confusing. Knowing which practice area covers your problem is the first step to finding the right person. Here is a plain-language tour of the most common ones.
Family law
This covers divorce, legal separation, child custody and support, spousal support, adoption, and domestic violence restraining orders. Family law is emotional and deeply personal, so a lawyer who communicates clearly and calmly is especially valuable here.
Personal injury
If you were hurt because of someone else’s carelessness, such as a car crash, a slip and fall, or a defective product, a personal injury lawyer helps you seek compensation. These cases are frequently handled on a contingency fee, meaning the lawyer is paid from any recovery. See our fees guide for how that works.
Criminal defense
Criminal defense lawyers represent people accused of crimes, from minor offenses to serious felonies. If you are charged with a crime, this is not a do-it-yourself area. If you cannot afford a lawyer, you may have the right to a court-appointed public defender.
Estate planning and probate
Estate planning covers wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives, the documents that decide what happens to your money and your care. Probate is the court process for settling an estate after someone dies. Both can range from simple to complex depending on assets and family dynamics.
Business and employment
Business lawyers help with forming companies, contracts, partnerships, and disputes between businesses. Employment lawyers handle issues between workers and employers, such as wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and wage disputes. California has detailed employment laws, so this is a common and important area.
Real estate and landlord-tenant
This area covers buying and selling property, boundary disputes, and the relationship between landlords and tenants, including evictions and lease disagreements. Given California’s housing market, these issues come up constantly.
Immigration
Immigration lawyers help with visas, green cards, citizenship, and deportation defense. Immigration law is federal, but the help you find is often local. Make sure anyone you hire is a licensed attorney, not an unlicensed consultant.
Bankruptcy and consumer debt
If you are drowning in debt, a bankruptcy or consumer protection lawyer can explain your options for a fresh start or for fighting unfair collection practices.
Still not sure?
If your problem touches more than one area, that is common, and many lawyers can point you in the right direction even if they do not take the case. Once you have a label, head to our choosing a lawyer guide to find the right fit.