There are several practice areas of law that you can pursue, all of which have important differences. Deciding which area of law to practice depends on your personal interests, skills, and personality. Take a look at the important differences between four of the most common types of law.
Personal Injury Law
Personal injury law focuses on wrongdoing that causes physical or psychological harm to individuals. Personal injury lawyers are experts in tort law and commonly handle personal injury cases resulting from medical malpractice, vehicular accidents, product liability, wrongful death, and workplace injury. Most personal injury cases are settled outside of the courtroom.
Injury victims are entitled to take legal action after suffering a serious injury due to a car accident, medical malpractice, or negligence that results in catastrophic injury. If you need a personal injury lawyer in Chicago IL who can provide you legal advice and financial assistance based on your case, WIN Injury Network has you covered. Their network of medical, legal, and financial services professionals can help injury victims get medical care and financial compensation for personal injury following an accident.
Personal injury attorneys have extensive experience winning fair compensation for medical bills and ongoing medical treatment resulting from auto accidents, slip and fall injuries, construction accidents, birth injuries, faulty medical devices, and wrongful death claims. Legal representation from workers’ compensation attorneys is the best way to win workers’ compensation benefits such as medical treatment, temporary total disability (TTD), and permanent partial disability (PPD). Learn about your legal rights, including the maximum compensation and punitive damages you are entitled to because of carelessness, by scheduling a free consultation with the best law firm in the state of Illinois.
Civil Law
Civil law focuses on the rights and duties of an individual within a community. Libel, slander, and breach of contract all examples of civil matters. Civil cases are initiated by a private party, known as a plaintiff, and are settled in civil court. Civil litigation is proven by a preponderance of the evidence or when the burden of proof shows a greater than 50 percent chance that the claim is true. The most you can win in a civil suit is financial compensation.
Criminal Law
Criminal law focuses on behaviors that are considered threatening or harmful to the property, safety, and moral welfare of the community. Criminal defense attorneys represent criminal defendants facing criminal charges. Criminal cases are prosecuted by the state, and criminal prosecution must prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. Punishment for criminal charges often results in jail time or long-term incarceration, depending on the severity of the crime.
To help further understand the diffference between criminal cases and civil cases, MicroLaw breaks down the basics of the two types of cases. The United States judicial system is divided into state and federal court systems, which are divided into other types of law. State courts uphold state law in criminal cases, minor civil cases, probate, contracts, family law, and more. Once you have a basic understanding of the court system, you can better understand the differences between these types of cases.
Corporate Law
Corporate law ensures businesses operate in compliance with local and federal regulations and acceptable business practices. Corporate lawyers are responsible for the formation, dissolution, and other legal aspects of corporations. Common duties include mergers, acquisitions, internal reorganization, and disputes regarding liability, patents, and compliance issues. Some corporations have an in-house counsel who only provides legal counsel to a sole client.
Another area of law related to business is Labor or Employment Law, which focuses on legal matters between workers and employers. Labor law is concerned with wages, workers’ compensation, harassment, and discrimination. Labor law usually involves unions and attorneys who offer legal assistance to individuals, unions, government regulatory agencies, and employers.
When it comes to choosing which area of law to practice, it helps to have a foundation knowledge of the most common types of law.
