If you’ve always had a dream of becoming a future lawyer or if your mind is set on seeking justice in a court of law, you will need to choose the path that is right for you. Becoming a lawyer requires more than simply graduating from law school, whether you intend to work independently or for another law firm near you. When it comes to working as a lawyer, you will need to take some time to become familiar with the various industries and types of attorneys there are today to find the best direction to go.
1. Criminal and Defense
If you’re pondering the idea of working as a future lawyer, and you want to do so as a defense lawyer, going into the field of criminal law is one way to do so, regardless of your previous experience. Criminal lawyers work to represent clients who have been charged with committing a crime. In some cases, a client may have evidence to prove their innocence, and in others, it may be up to you to find a proper defense strategy for each case on an individual basis.
Working as a criminal attorney requires the ability to do so even if you believe the client you are representing is in the wrong or even guilty. As a criminal defense attorney, you will not only be responsible for creating a narrative for your client’s side of the story but also for providing evidence to support your case. In many instances, you will need to present your client and case in front of a judge and jury for a proper ruling.
2. Estate
Those who are interested in becoming a future lawyer but want to steer clear of potential moral objects and ethics disputes may want to work as an estate lawyer. Working in estate law can include everything from seeking elderly care services for a client to helping with the payments when one of your clients requires a funeral. Estate attorneys are not only well-versed in the law surrounding real estate and various investments, but they can also assist with managing massive estates and portfolios for both individuals and corporations alike.
Some of the responsibilities of an estate attorney may include identifying and designating estate beneficiaries, preparing wills, reviewing trusts, and even delegating the power of attorney to an individual, depending on a client’s wishes. Estate planning documents that need to be reviewed, submitted, or edited can be managed by an estate lawyer. In some cases, it may even be necessary for an estate attorney to educate their clients regarding the taxes and any probate laws that may interfere with their current estate plans.
In some instances, working as an estate planner or lawyer may require you to designate a power of attorney or even represent your client yourself, depending on your client’s exact and specific wishes. You will need to become familiar with estate laws in the specific state and region your client is located in to best execute any wishes they have included in their wills once they are no longer alive. You can also work as a mediator with family members and those who are set to inherit any aspect of an estate when you are working in estate law.
3. Personal Injury
If you’ve always had a dream of becoming a future lawyer, and you want to do so by representing individuals who have been hurt or injured while on the job, you can do so by working to become a personal injury attorney. Working as a personal injury lawyer is a way for you to represent clients who have recently been injured due to no fault of their own or even professional local roofers who have been disabled by faulty construction debris. Regardless of the area you choose to specialize in, working as a personal injury lawyer is a way to represent those in need while giving back to locals in your community.
After you evaluate the claims of your client, you will need to investigate and present evidence to help prove their case, often in a court of law or in front of a judge, depending on your location and the type of client you are representing at the time. Assisting your client with the process of documenting damages, injuries, and expenses sustained during their case is another way you will be responsible for representing your clients. Providing legal advice, solutions, and input on a case-by-case basis will also be necessary to ensure your client receives the best ruling possible.
If you are considering a lifelong career as a personal injury attorney, it’s important to consider the type of clientele you intend to appeal to and the cases you are most interested in representing in front of a judge or a court of law. While some personal injury lawyers may choose to only represent defendants and those who cannot afford a lawyer, others may choose to work for city prosecutors or as a prosecutor themselves, depending on the vision they have for their careers.
4. Immigration
For those who have always wanted to become a future lawyer to help others in need, working as an immigration lawyer is one option. If you are interested in working as green card attorneys for a law firm that represents immigrants and/or migrants, you will need to understand what the position entails before finding the right role for you. As an immigration lawyer, you will be responsible for filing motions for new clients along with any immigration paperwork that may be necessary for the individual, depending on the case you have accepted.
Working with law enforcement, regional immigration officers, and other relevant professionals to streamline the immigration process is also part of the job when you are assisting clients as an attorney. Processing potential visa petitions may also be one of your responsibilities when you choose to represent those who are migrants or immigrants, regardless of your current location and their homeland country. In addition to assisting with the process of selecting the most suitable type of visa for your client, you may also need to represent them in front of a judge in a court of law.
5. Bankruptcy
One career path to consider if you’re working to become a future lawyer is acting as a bankruptcy attorney. Whether you choose to represent clients independently or if you prefer to work for a local bankruptcy law firm, there are many different opportunities for those who choose to pursue a career representing those in need of filing for bankruptcy. When you want to become a lawyer who represents clients interested in bankruptcy, you will need to understand all the laws surrounding both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy, depending on the type of clients you intend to take on and represent.
Working as a bankruptcy attorney will also require you to file the proper paperwork on your client’s behalf, especially if you are also in the process of negotiating with creditors, banks, or even the IRS. Depending on your client’s assets, investments, and how much debt they are in, you will also need to work with them to find the best route to take for an optimal outcome. Working alongside a client and digging deep into their financial records, expenses, and any taxes they may owe are also part of the job when you are working in the field of law that involves bankruptcy, whether you choose to represent individuals or corporate entities.
Those who are interested in working in bankruptcy should also be comfortable working with numbers and accounting, even if they choose to represent individual clients instead of large corporations. Understanding the basics of accounting and financial management can help significantly when it comes to building a solid portfolio, attracting new clientele, and delivering exactly what your clients are looking for when working with you. You may also need to spend some time working with local accountants and CPAs, or Certified Public Accountants near you along with business advisors, depending on the scope of the case you have accepted.
6. Foreclosure
Another career option to keep in mind if you are working towards becoming a future lawyer might include acting as a foreclosure attorney. Working for a foreclosure law firm or even as an independent lawyer is a way for you to represent clients who are currently in the process of experiencing a foreclosure on their homes for the first time. In some cases, you may also have the ability to represent companies and banks that enforce foreclosures, depending on the area of law you prefer.
If you choose to work in the area of foreclosures, you will need to become familiar with the mortgage industry, banking laws, and loans surrounding obtaining homes and properties. You will also need to become well-versed in managing properties and investments in the state you live in, reside in, and represent clients. The more familiar you are with the laws in your region and state, the easier it will be for you to determine the best course of action for each of your individual clients to take, depending on the type of foreclosure issue they are dealing with at the time.
When you are handling foreclosures, you will also need to understand the complete timetable to do so properly and without missing any important deadlines, especially when it comes to submitting the necessary paperwork and documentation associated with each case. You will also need to work with your clients individually to determine which route they intend to take based on their current assets, risks, and their ability to pay for any home or property that is currently undergoing the foreclosure process. Evaluation and assessments are a big priority when you are working as a foreclosure attorney in any capacity, whether you choose to do so on your own or if you opt to work for a foreclosure or real estate law firm in your own community.
7. Divorce
For those who have always had dreams of working as a future lawyer while acting as a mediator, working in family law as a divorce attorney may be the right path for you. A divorce lawyer will provide legal tips, advice, and guidance to clients who are currently thinking of getting a divorce and those who are already going through the process. When you are working as an attorney for a client who is getting divorced, you may need to assess prenuptial agreements, state marriage laws, and even child custody agreements with all parties involved in the divorce at the time.
Working with both parties and acting as a mediator may be necessary when you choose to go the route of becoming a divorce lawyer. If there is not currently a child support or custody agreement in place, you may also need to help with completing any paperwork or documentation required during the process. Having a complete and thorough understanding of family law in your current state is imperative if you want to succeed as a divorce attorney, whether you choose to work for and represent a law firm near you, or if you are more interested in representing clients independently.
Choosing to work in the realm of divorce law, family law, and mediation is best if you are someone who genuinely enjoys helping others and keeping families from fighting or destroying themselves. If you pride yourself on your ability to communicate, negotiate, and mediate, working in family law as a divorce attorney might be the most fitting position for you. The more comfortable you are with working with multiple parties while representing a client, the easier you will find it to adjust to working for a divorce law firm or on your own.
Becoming a future lawyer does not have to feel overwhelmed once you are familiar with your options in terms of the type of law you intend to practice. Once you understand the ins and outs of the educational requirements to become a lawyer, you can take the necessary steps to ensure you are wholly qualified to begin representing clients of your own. The more comfortable you become with the legal system, the easier it will be for you to set goals to become a future lawyer in just about any field or industry today.
