A career in law is often seen as both rewarding and challenging. With so many different fields of practice to choose from, it can be overwhelming to decide which path to pursue. Whether you’re fresh out of law school or still in the early stages of deciding where you want your legal career to go, understanding the various types of law tracks can help you make an informed decision. From specializing in a specific area to considering a broad field, there are countless opportunities available to law professionals today.
Here are 13 law tracks to consider following before starting your legal career. Each of these tracks offers unique challenges and opportunities, making it important to weigh the pros and cons to find the best fit for your interests, skills, and goals.
1. Bankruptcy Lawyer
If you’re interested in financial law and helping individuals or businesses navigate financial difficulties, becoming a bankruptcy lawyer might be the right path for you. Bankruptcy law involves helping clients who are either filing for bankruptcy or defending against bankruptcy claims. Bankruptcy lawyers guide clients through the complex legal system to help them understand their options, whether it’s Chapter 7, Chapter 11, or Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
Bankruptcy lawyers must have a solid understanding of financial statements, debt structures, and negotiations. This area of law can be quite stressful, especially when dealing with corporate bankruptcy cases, but it can also be incredibly rewarding when you’re able to help a client regain financial stability.
2. Family Law Lawyers
Family law is one of the most common and versatile fields in the legal profession. Family law lawyers handle cases related to marriage, divorce, child custody, adoption, and domestic violence. These cases often require lawyers to mediate conflicts, protect the best interests of children, and help clients navigate the emotional and financial challenges that come with family-related disputes.
Family law lawyers often work closely with clients in emotionally charged situations, and their work can have a profound impact on people’s lives. As a family law attorney, you’ll likely spend time in court, but you’ll also have opportunities to help families settle disputes outside of the courtroom through mediation or negotiation.
3. Best Traffic Lawyer
If you have an interest in transportation law and enjoy working on cases that involve traffic violations and accidents, becoming the best traffic lawyer could be an excellent track for your legal career. This area of law covers everything from traffic tickets and DUI charges to more complex matters like accidents, reckless driving, and hit-and-run incidents.
The work of a traffic lawyer involves defending clients in court, representing them during hearings, and negotiating plea deals. A traffic lawyer needs to be well-versed in local traffic laws and regulations, as they vary significantly depending on where you practice. This field can offer a great deal of variety, with cases ranging from minor infractions to serious criminal charges.
4. Estate Planning Lawyer Service
Estate planning lawyers specialize in helping clients prepare for the distribution of their assets upon death. Whether it’s creating wills, trusts, or handling powers of attorney, estate planning lawyers ensure that their clients’ wishes are carried out in the event of their passing. This track is perfect for those who have an interest in helping families plan for the future and navigate complex legal documents.
Estate planning is essential to avoid lengthy probate processes and ensure that wealth is passed on as intended. Estate planning lawyers must be knowledgeable about tax implications, inheritance laws, and the potential for future disputes. This track also provides the opportunity to build long-term relationships with clients as they return for ongoing updates to their plans.
5. Immigration Attorneys
Immigration law is another highly specialized field, with attorneys focusing on helping individuals and families navigate the complex and often-changing immigration system. Immigration attorneys help clients with visa applications, green card processes, asylum cases, deportation defense, and naturalization.
The work of an immigration attorney can be incredibly rewarding, especially when you’re able to help a family reunite or give someone the opportunity to live and work in a new country. However, immigration law can also be emotionally demanding, as it often involves cases with life-altering consequences. Immigration attorneys need to stay up-to-date on federal and state policies and advocate for their clients in immigration courts.
6. Local Divorce Attorney
If you’re interested in family law but specifically focused on divorce, a local divorce attorney track might be the right fit for you. Divorce lawyers handle everything from the legal dissolution of marriage to asset division, alimony, and child custody. This track provides an opportunity to work with clients who are going through one of the most difficult times in their lives, helping them navigate the legal intricacies of divorce.
A local divorce attorney’s work often involves mediation and negotiation, but they may also represent clients in court if an agreement cannot be reached. As with other family law tracks, communication and empathy are key to success in this field, as many clients seek legal counsel during emotionally challenging circumstances.
7. High Asset Divorce Attorneys
For those who want to specialize further in divorce law, high asset divorce attorneys focus on cases involving substantial wealth and complex financial portfolios. These cases often require a deep understanding of business valuation, tax law, and hidden assets, as wealthy clients tend to have more complicated financial situations.
High asset divorce attorneys often represent clients with significant real estate holdings, investments, business interests, and other assets that need to be divided fairly. This track can be highly lucrative but also comes with unique challenges. You may need to work with financial experts, forensic accountants, and business consultants to ensure fair asset division.
8. PFAS Litigation
If you’re interested in environmental law and the intersection of public health, science, and legal claims, PFAS litigation might be a compelling area to explore. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of human-made chemicals found in products like non-stick cookware, water-repellent clothing, and firefighting foam.
PFAS litigation attorneys focus on cases involving the contamination of water supplies, soils, and human health as a result of these chemicals. Many companies are being sued for PFAS-related contamination, making this a burgeoning area of law with both corporate and environmental implications.
9. Local Estate Lawyer
A local estate lawyer specializes in handling matters related to estate planning, probate, and trust administration. If you enjoy working closely with clients and assisting them in navigating the complexities of their loved ones’ estates, this could be a fulfilling track. Estate lawyers often help clients write wills, administer trusts, and represent estates in court.
Working as a local estate lawyer can give you the opportunity to build lasting relationships with clients and their families. It’s a rewarding field if you value helping people in times of grief and transition, and it can offer steady work with predictable caseloads, as people often need estate planning at various stages of life.
10. Local Felony Attorneys
Local felony attorneys represent clients charged with serious criminal offenses. Felony cases can range from violent crimes to drug trafficking, white-collar crimes, and even financial fraud. These attorneys work to defend individuals against charges that can lead to lengthy prison sentences and life-altering consequences.
Felony cases can be high-stakes, and a local felony attorney must have sharp negotiation skills and the ability to handle complex legal arguments. Whether the case ends in a plea deal or goes to trial, felony attorneys play a crucial role in defending the rights of their clients, often working closely with investigators, expert witnesses, and other professionals.
11. Personal Injury Law
Personal injury law is an area of civil law that focuses on securing compensation for individuals who have been harmed due to the negligence or wrongful acts of others. Personal injury lawyers handle cases involving car accidents, medical malpractice, slip and fall injuries, and workplace accidents, among other things.
If you’re someone who enjoys helping others get justice and compensation for their suffering, this could be a great law track to explore. Personal injury lawyers often work on contingency fees, which means they are paid a percentage of the settlement or award they secure for their clients.
12. Real Estate Law
Real estate law covers legal issues related to property ownership, leasing, zoning, and transactions. Real estate lawyers work with clients in both residential and commercial real estate matters, including negotiating contracts, handling disputes, and ensuring that transactions comply with local, state, and federal regulations.
This track can be particularly appealing to those interested in the intersection of law, business, and property. Whether working with developers, homeowners, or large corporations, real estate lawyers have the opportunity to handle high-value transactions and help clients navigate the complexities of property ownership and development.
13. Corporate Law
Corporate law focuses on business and commercial matters, ranging from mergers and acquisitions to corporate governance and regulatory compliance. Corporate lawyers help businesses set up, operate, and grow in accordance with the law. If you’re interested in working with large companies and helping them navigate legal issues as they expand, corporate law could be the right fit for you.
Corporate law requires a thorough understanding of business regulations, antitrust laws, and intellectual property protections. It’s often a lucrative field, especially for lawyers who work in corporate litigation or deal with complex business disputes.
Choosing a law track can be one of the most important decisions in your legal career. Whether you’re drawn to family law, environmental litigation, or high-stakes criminal defense, there are many paths to consider. Understanding your interests and how they align with different areas of law will help you choose the track that’s right for you. Each of these law tracks offers a unique combination of challenges and rewards, and with the right preparation, you’ll be well on your way to building a successful legal career.
