nathaphat via iStockPhoto
What really are the different types of law and what are they used for? There are various ways to classify the different types of law. In this article, we will focus on the most common way, which is based on the area of practice in which lawyers choose to work. It is also important to note that there are many different categories and subcategories of law that will not be mentioned. We will focus on a handful of large and important types of practices and will provide a short explanation of each for busy college students who wish to learn more.
Employment Law
Employment law addresses the rules behind the relationship between an employee and their employer. This could range from fighting against employment discrimination to arguing for post-employment retirement benefits. Wage and hour laws, workplace safety, and the right to join labor unions also fall under employment law. As a whole, employment law is the governing body for the workplace.
Corporate Law
Corporate law focuses on a different side of the workforce. Corporate lawyers oversee company mergers, acquisitions, formations, and operations. When taking a closer look at company mergers, which are when two or more companies join together as one, a corporate lawyer’s job is to negotiate contracts, create the valuation of a company, and ensure that their company is complying with regulations and laws associated with merging companies. Corporate lawyers are integral to businesses because they provide legal advice to help these businesses avoid costly mistakes due to legal troubles.
Real Estate Law
Real estate law centers around who can occupy a location, how long they can stay there, and the rights of tenants and landlords. Real estate lawyers are also in charge of enforcing environmental and eyesore/obstruction laws as well as codes that buildings are subject to. These lawyers can focus on both residential and commercial real estate.
Bankruptcy Law
Bankruptcy law is relatively self-explanatory. For context, filing for bankruptcy is when a company cannot pay its debts and asks the court to have them cleared. Bankruptcy lawyers help facilitate this process by ensuring the rights of creditors and debtors. A debtor is the person or organization that is filing for bankruptcy and a creditor is the person or organization that the debtor owes money to.
Family Law
Family law focuses on conflict or arrangements related to families. For example, divorce, child custody, and domestic violence fall under this category. They often draft wills, prenuptial agreements, and custody agreements that help govern affairs within family law.
International Law
International law is the body of law that governs affairs between different countries. There is no official international government that has authority over the whole world, so international law helps to fill this gap by overseeing relations and solving disputes between countries. This category of law covers human rights, war, refugees, and other international issues. International lawyers engage in tasks such as creating treaties and negotiating borders to foster international peace. The United Nations and World Trade Organization are examples of international organizations that help oversee international law.
Intellectual Property Law
The World Intellectual Property Organization’s definition of intellectual property is “creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and images used in commerce.” In many cases, the owner of this creation will go through a process to obtain a patent. Patents disallow others from selling this product over a period of limited time. Lawyers help to obtain and protect intellectual property and patent rights, ensuring that people have ownership over their inventions.
Each type of law is unique. It is helpful for Vanderbilt students who hope to go into the field of law to have baseline knowledge on some of the most popular pathways. This way, they can begin their journey to becoming a lawyer in the field that most interests them.
