What Area of Law Should You Specialize In?

When it comes to in-demand specialisms in law, most graduates can probably identify complex litigation, corporate law, tax law, and intellectual property as being some of the most lucrative or in-demand. Many lawyers fall into a department once a firm hires them. They are usually offered a position in a specialism that is most in-demand. If you are given a choice, or you are interested in pursuing post-graduate studies in your chosen area, keep the following considerations in mind.

Honing Your Strengths

Modern psychology is very much divided with respect to the number of existing personalities. However, most agree that there are five main personality traits. These are: openness to new experiences, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. In general, people display either low or high levels of each of these traits. For instance, someone with a high level of extroversion enjoys being with people, feels energized after social contact, and enjoys assisting others with difficulties. Those who are low on this trait are referred to as introverts. Being around others for too many hours drains their energy, and they prefer to work alone. Think about the traits that are strongest in you and how they might be related to different areas of the law.

Combining an Interest in Health and in Law

Many countries offer combined Law degrees. Many students find that graduating with degrees in Economics-Law, Commerce-Law, or Arts-Law, can broaden their horizons and provide them with greater choice when it comes to choosing whether to work in the legal or other sectors. Combining legal and healthcare degrees are rarer. However, regardless of your chosen combination, you may choose to specialize in areas like Tort or Criminal Law, becoming a brain injury lawyer or specializing in another health-related area. These areas of the law do not necessarily require you to have medical studies. Rather, there is a large body of case law and statutes that govern the area, and receiving a large settlement for your client is a matter of proving negligence or intent. You can make a big difference in your client’s life by ensuring they receive damages for aspects such as lost wages, fatalities of family members, punitive damages, and more.

Keeping an Open Mind

Law firms typically offer a wide variety of services spanning different practice areas. While it is true that your specialism will depend on supply and demand, take every opportunity you can to gain experience in areas of the Law that you never imagined would interest you. Often, the area of Law is less relevant in terms of satisfaction than the roles you will be fulfilling within your specialism. You should also stay up-to-date on new specialisms that are emerging, in line with developments with technology and other sectors. For instance, lawyers will need to be savvier in areas like AI, workflow, blockchain, and general emerging technology.

Many lawyers fall into a specialism instead of choosing one. However, if you start working at a firm with a wide array of specialities, you should aim to spend as much time as you can in each department. This way, you can either confirm your current interests or discover new passions you may not have considered.