As portrayed on television or on movies, it seems attorneys are only available to prosecute or defend major criminals in murder cases. While some attorneys do represent people charged with serious crimes, there are a vast array of attorneys that can represent a wide variety of cases.

Many law offices, such as the Law Offices of Irving Solnik, P.C., have a wide-ranging practice area, or types of cases they handle. Examples of different types of practice areas include (but are not limited to):

  • Criminal Law
  • Family Law
  • Personal Injury Law
  • Estate Planning
  • Civil Litigation
  • Corporate Law
  • Civil Rights
  • Employment/Labor Law
  • Intellectual Property
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Probate, Trust & Estate Planning
  • Real Estate Law
  • Securities Law
  • Tax Law
  • Workers Compensation

Attorneys choose which practice areas they represent and usually seek to gain experience in these specific types of law.

Regardless of why you need an attorney, you should always seek out someone who has relevant experience in the type of case you have.

Within specific practice areas, attorneys are there to do many things, including (but not limited to): help you understand your rights; help you understand important legal implications, constraints, and information; protect your rights and interests; help you make informed decisions about the best way to proceed with your case; conduct thorough research to bolster your case; develop a legal strategy with your needs and goals in mind; advise you; and be an advocate for you.

The benefits of hiring an attorney increase when you know the type of attorney you need. For example, if you’re injured in an accident because of someone else’s negligence, you’ll want to contact a personal injury attorney with your specific circumstances to find out about any possible course of legal action. A personal injury attorney can then carefully assess your damages to ensure you don’t settle for less than you deserve, find and interview witnesses, gather evidence, secure expert testimony, handle all communications with insurance companies, negotiate a settlement on your behalf and take your case to court if a fair settlement cannot otherwise be reached. Individuals that hire an attorney typically receive a larger award or settlement (even after attorney fees are taken into consideration) than those who do not hire an attorney.

In short, attorneys don’t only prosecute or defend people charged with crimes. Attorneys serve in a wide-variety of cases and can assist and guide you through many different types of circumstances in life.