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« on: September 08, 2018, 09:26:24 PM »
There's more to the legal system than criminal, contract and constitutional law. Take a look at the different types of practice areas that a lawyer can specialise in-
Here's an overview of some of the practice areas you could enter…
Alternative dispute resolution (ADR)
ADR involves settling civil disputes between consumers and traders without going to court. This is often quicker and cheaper than litigation. The two most common forms of ADR are arbitration, where an independent third party considers the facts and makes a final decision, and mediation, where an independent third party helps the disputing parties to come to a mutually acceptable outcome themselves. Several large and well-established ADR schemes already exist in highly-regulated sectors such as energy, telecoms and financial services. However, an increasing number of businesses in other areas are members of voluntary ADR schemes. You would suit ADR work if you have good negotiation skills, are understanding and can act quickly.
Banking law
This type of law covers the full spectrum of finance, from personal bank loans to complex business transactions. Lawyers usually specialise in such fields as property, acquisition, capital markets or Islamic finance, and can work on behalf of either the borrower or the lender. They assist with negotiations, due diligence and the structuring of deals, ensuring legal compliance throughout. They are also involved in the analysis and prediction of future trends that might impact upon the client. An analytical mind, great attention to detail and a good head for numbers are needed to be successful in this practice area.
Commercial law
Lawyers working in this area of law advise companies and governments on business-related issues. They handle a range of corporate deals and standalone transactions, and are responsible for negotiating and creating contracts regarding, for example, the supply of goods and services. If you have good people management skills, commercial awareness and the ability to pick out the important facts then this could be for you.
Constitutional law
This core area of law governs the operation of political communities, most notably the state. It revolves around the concept of the state protecting fundamental rights.
Contract law
A contract is a legally-binding agreement between two or more parties regarding the sale of goods, provision of services or exchange of interests or ownership. Contract law therefore centres on the relationship, content and validity of these agreements. If disagreements arise, the blame and potential solutions can be identified by referring to the contract, or the laws that govern the contract.
Criminal law
This type of law covers any form of criminal behaviour, regardless of scale or severity, meaning that lawyers can work on crimes as serious as rape, murder or robbery. Criminal law can also require involvement in international relations and understanding laws from multiple jurisdictions, particularly when concerning issues such as terrorism, extradition and money-laundering.
Equity and trusts
This strand of law regulates situations where one person places trust in another to look after their affairs. Most lawyers working within equity deal with trust law. Equity and trusts specialists often ensure that charities are spending funds appropriately or help to resolve conflicts between family members. The latter often involves the scrutiny of wills, meaning that professionals must deal with sensitive situations well.
Family law
This strand of law covers numerous areas including same-sex parenting, parental responsibility, domestic violence and abuse, and finances and property upon divorce. You need to have effective communication skills and be able to empathise with your clients to succeed in family law.
Insurance law
There are numerous sub-specialisms of insurance, including property, professional indemnity and maritime. Insurance policies mitigate financial loss caused by, for example, human error, accidents and natural disasters. Lawyers are commonly required when disputes arise between the insured policyholder and the insurer, or the insured plus the insurer and another party. However, some lawyers specialise in the transactional aspects, advising on elements such as tax and regulations.
Intellectual property (IP) law
IP refers to creations of the mind, such as names, designs, inventions, images and artistic works. These are protected in law by patents, copyright and trademarks, which enable people to earn recognition or financial benefit from their creations.The ability to discuss complex ideas in a simple way, flexibility and good organisation are required if you want to succeed as an IP lawyer. For more information on what IP involves, see how to start a business.
Land law
Part of the wider sphere of property law, this specialism governs the land and anything within or attached to it, such as trees, buildings, treasure or oil. Lawyers fight or defend disputes over land matters, such as rights of way and boundary issues. They can work on behalf of landowners, companies, investors, private individuals or the state, and specialise in areas including property finance, mortgage lending and social housing.
Litigation
Also known as dispute resolution, litigation involves assisting with any civil disputes and claims that arise following a commercial deal or transaction, either between different companies, or between companies and individuals. Issues can include fraud, regulation, unpaid bills, defective products, corporate management, contractual matters, and mergers and acquisitions. If you can present facts in a persuasive manner, have commercial awareness and good negotiation skills then this could be the area of law for you.
Private client law
A private client lawyer manages the affairs of individuals, planning all aspects of their finances including wills, trusts, investments, estates and taxation. Their main objective is to help preserve and build wealth. Private clients are usually very rich celebrities or entrepreneurs, landowners who own a huge portfolio of properties, or individuals with inherited wealth.
Tort law
In civil law, a tort is a wrongdoing by one private party against another. There are three general types: intentional, negligence and strict liability, with types of grievance including injury, slander, trespass, noise pollution and false imprisonment. Successful cases usually result in monetary compensation for the claiming party.