Choosing the Right Specialty

Not sure which type of lawyer you need?

Legal issues rarely come with a clear label. You might know you have a problem — a landlord keeping your deposit, a visa that's expiring, or a contract you don't understand — but not which type of lawyer can help. That's completely normal.

Think problem-first, not label-first

Instead of trying to figure out the legal category, start with your situation. What happened? What are you worried about? What outcome do you want? The specialty label is just how lawyers organize their work — it doesn't need to be your starting point.

On our Practice Areas page, we've added real-life examples under each specialty. These are stories from people in situations similar to yours. Browse them to see which scenario feels closest to your own.

Common overlaps that confuse people

• Is my visa issue immigration or administrative law? — If it involves permits, visas, or residency status, start with immigration. Administrative law covers things like business licences and government sanctions.
• Divorce with property — family or real estate? — Start with family law. Your family lawyer will coordinate with a real estate specialist if needed for property division.
• Employment contract problem — labor or civil? — If you're an employee (or were one), it's labor law. Civil law covers disputes between independent parties, like freelancer contracts.
• Bank won't refund charges — banking or consumer? — If it involves your bank account, mortgage, or financial products, start with banking and finance. Consumer law covers purchases of goods and services.

Browse real-life examples

Visit our Practice Areas page to see all 13 specialties with relatable scenarios from real people. Each scenario explains the situation, what a lawyer can do, and links directly to lawyers who handle that type of case.