The law is like the Rosetta Stone; if you don’t take the time to learn its intricacies and complexities, it will be difficult for you to understand it in one go. That’s precisely the reason lawyers spend years of their lives learning the law and their specializations before they can start practicing it.
As such, it’s only right that you take the time to figure out what kind of legal representation you need before you start looking for a lawyer to hire. This trajectory makes the most sense because you’ll want someone experienced and well-versed in handling cases like yours by your side. So, here are five fields of the law that you should familiarize yourself with:
Family Law
For anything related to familial relationships, your best bet will be to approach a family lawyer. This can include cases such as divorce, child custody, adoption, and child support payments, among others. By seeking the help of an experienced family lawyer, you may be able to make the grueling process of child custody, for instance, that much easier to go through.
Of course, your lawyer will only be able to guide you if you’re amenable to their suggestions and advice, so consider the fact that you will be sharing sensitive information with them before you hire one. This way, you can avoid changing representatives amid the case because you’re uncomfortable with sharing pieces of your life with your lawyer.
Criminal Law
For anything that can be considered as a misdemeanor or felony, your best bet will be to approach a criminal defense attorney to represent you properly. This can include cases like driving under the influence (DUI) charges, resisting an arrest, robbery, and drug-related crimes, among others.
You will be deemed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt under criminal law, so you have to find a representative that will help you clear your name. This is especially important if you believe that you’ve been falsely accused of a crime you didn’t do because you don’t deserve it.
Civil Law
For anything that involves bad blood between two individuals or private parties, your best bet is to approach a civil lawyer who can represent you properly. This can include cases such as a breach of contract, copyright infringement, property damage, and defamation, among others.
Whether you’re the plaintiff or the defendant in this equation, you’re still going to need a civil lawyer to win your case. If you’re the plaintiff, then you have to make sure that you can get the justice you seek throughout the litigation. But if you’re the defendant and you’re being falsely accused, you need to ensure that your lawyer can sway the case in your favor.
Employment Law
For anything that involves events that occur within the confines of the workplace, your best bet will be to approach an employment lawyer who knows their way around the industry. This can include cases like discrimination, sexual harassment, labor issues, and unfair compensation, among others.
So, if you think that your employers are impeding on your rights as an employee, don’t be afraid to seek help from an employment lawyer for fear of retribution. There’s a fine line between being a loyal employee and letting yourself get taken advantage of. Hopefully, you won’t experience the latter, but if you ever do, an employment lawyer will be able to help you.
Personal Injury Law
For anything that involves accidents due to somebody’s negligence, your best bet will be to approach a personal injury lawyer to help you get the compensation you deserve. This can include cases such as vehicular accidents, slips and falls, product liability issues, and medical malpractice, among others.
If you’re the victim in the scenario, you shouldn’t be afraid of seeking the help of a lawyer so that you can file a claim and be compensated for the damages you sustained in the process. This is particularly important if the accident caused you to lose your job, mobility, or quality of life because of another person’s negligence.
Being in the middle of a legal situation is already hard enough, which is why you’ll need the right professional by your side to get you through the process. After all, you wouldn’t trust a dentist to perform heart surgery on you, so why would you approach a family lawyer to handle the issues you’re having at work?
The law isn’t one-size-fits-all; it has many branches and fields of specialization. That’s why it’s essential to know what kind of case you’re dealing with because only then can you approach the right legal representative. If you don’t know what field of the law your situation falls under, you can always ask around and take recommendations to get back on track.
