Laws exist for good reasons. They are sets of rules and regulations to ensure that society functions efficiently and people work together harmoniously. They essentially serve to protect the rights of individuals and groups. However, they act as mediators of relationships between people. Ultimately, they ensure peaceful and smooth social and economic interactions in a given society.
Know that a legal system varies from one country or state to another. Law has different branches, from civil rights to business to international law. Whether you’re a client seeking legal services or a certified attorney specializing in a particular practice, it pays to understand the common areas of legal practice.
In this blog, we’ll share the common types of law. Keep on reading to learn more about the areas of legal practice.
1. Civil Rights Law
Civil rights law serves to protect the personal rights and liberties of people. It aims to prevent or stop unfair practices and discrimination based on race, color, national origin, age, religion, and even sex or gender. Also, it endeavors to balance the competing interests between governmental institutions and individuals or groups. Ultimately it covers personal rights and freedom such as expression, housing, education, employment, and access to societal needs.
2. Criminal Law
The most common area of legal practice is criminal law. However, this type of law can be the most crucial. Why? It focuses on illegal behaviors and activities sanctioned under the criminal code. A perfect example is when a person has committed a crime, whether a mere misdemeanor or a felony. As such, a criminal defense attorney represents this person, while the prosecutors sanction this illegal behavior.
3. Family Law
Family law is what it is — a legal system focusing on family affairs or matters. It comes in various types, such as civil unions, domestic partnerships, and marriages. All these relationships are in the context of a what we call a family. It covers marital agreements, divorce cases, child support, and adoptions. Lastly, it tackles, addresses, and resolves family issues such as domestic violence, child abuse, and even sexual abuse.
4. Business Law
Different businesses across various industries need to comply with business law. Big companies hire corporate lawyers and even small and medium enterprises (SMEs) work with attorneys. They want to ensure that every aspect of their business complies with the laws to avoid legal ramifications, penalties, and even complete shutdown. In corporate law, attorneys handle legal business matters such as business registration and licensing, trademark of assets and intellectual property, merger and acquisition (M&A), and internal reorganization.
5. Employment Law
In the world of business, employment law is a crucial aspect. It serves to protect both parties — the employers and the employees. Also known as labor law in most countries or states, it focuses on the relations between workers and business owners. It aims to address employment issues such as wages and compensation and work discrimination based on gender, age, race, and disability. For the most part, labor law entails unions and collective negotiations.
6. Immigration Law
Immigration law includes national statutes, regulations, and legal precedents concerning entering and deporting individuals in a given county. It involves individuals and families looking to apply for immigration and hoping to stay in the country. They typically hire immigration attorneys who can legally help them move to the country. Other legal aspects of immigration include refugee and asylum seekers and individuals without legal permission. Understand, however, that the immigration laws in most countries honor international treaties, bilateral accords, and political conjecture.
7. Personal Injury Law
Personal injury law covers accidents resulting in injuries due to the negligence of another party. The most common type is a road accident that causes personal injury and vehicle damage. Other types include work injury, medical malpractice, product liability, slip-and-fall accident, premises liability, and even animal-related accidents. In most cases, lawyers representing the injured clients seek accountability from the party at fault. They would either reach a settlement or file a lawsuit. They even go as far as filing a claim to seek proper compensation from the responsible party’s insurance company.
They say that ignorance of the law excuses no one. As a responsible citizen, it pays to know the laws of your land. Whether you’re an attorney yourself or a client looking for legal services, consider the common areas of law practice discussed above. Be sure to understand the basics to exercise your legal rights or practice your areas of legal specialization. Ultimately, contribute to protecting the legal system and upholding the laws of the land for the good of all.
