By Juan Lucia
Congratulations! You’ve completed law school and you are ready to pursue a career in the legal field. You are probably focused on what is next for you and which career path to follow. Thankfully, there are many different types of law to practice. This might seem overwhelming, but it allows you to pick a type of law that excites you and makes you feel fulfilled. Here are four types of law that you may want to consider as you build your legal career.
Entertainment Law
Entertainment lawyers like John Branca represent clients across the entertainment industry. This can include directors, producers, actors, script writers, musicians, songwriters, publishers, authors and more across the areas of music, television, film, theater and book publishing. This type of law involves protecting the intellectual property rights of clients, dealing with any litigation, negotiating contracts and managing taxes, as well as other tasks that relate to the entertainment world.
Corporate Law
Corporate law involves representing businesses in areas such as contract negotiation, reviewing agreements, advising clients on various facets of their company activities and managing the handling of financial information. Corporate lawyers may also help their clients form or dissolve a business entity, such as a corporate or limited liability company.
Criminal Law
Criminal lawyers defend those who have been accused of a crime in a court of law. This can be on the state or federal level. The scope of their representation can include investigating a case, research, attending court hearings, negotiating plea deals and participating in a trial. Criminal lawyers may work at a law firm, but some choose to work at a non-profit providing legal services for a reduced fee or as a public defender.
Real Estate Law
Real estate lawyers represent clients with regard to the buying or selling of homes and other real property. They draft contracts, oversee the signing of necessary paperwork, review documents and represent clients in court if there is a dispute over the transaction. When a buyer closes on a house purchase, there is a good chance that a real estate lawyer will be overseeing that process. While some states don’t require that buyers and sellers have a real estate attorney to complete a real estate transaction, having a real estate lawyer can give clients peace of mind that their matter is in good hands.
These are only some of the exciting career paths available to you as a new attorney. Consider which area of the law may be right for you as you move forward with your career.
