In the modern world, a wide range of adverse incidents can involve the public and companies. In some cases, the severity of these incidents can lead to the need for legal representation to pursue the matter through the court system. For example, if a person is involved in a car accident with an uninsured driver and suffers significant or life-changing injuries. As a result, they may take the person to court to claim compensation and damages. There are estimated to be approximately 32 million uninsured drivers in America today, so affected parties in road traffic accidents often need legal redress to claim compensation. Lawyers often specialize in key areas of legal practice. This allows them to build deep and comprehensive knowledge in a specific area of law and provide the best possible representation for their clients. This article describes three key legal specialties that law firms may focus on.
Personal injury
It is a fact that accidents can and do happen to millions of people around the world every year. Accidents leading to personal injury can lead to severe and life-changing forms of trauma. They may directly affect a person’s quality of life and the ability to keep working. It is estimated that over half a million workers suffered an injury that was non-fatal in the UK during 2021/22. These types of injuries can result from slips, trips or falls, or exposure to hazardous chemicals and can vary in severity. When an injury is sustained at work, and it is believed that the accident occurred directly from the employer’s negligence, personal injury lawyers can take the case to court. If it is proven in a court of law that the employer did not take reasonable steps to protect the employee, then compensation may be paid out.
Family law
Many legal firms choose to specialize in family law or have a team of lawyers within the firm that do so. Family law covers a wide range of subjects, including divorce, custody of a child, and paternity, which is the legal acknowledgment of a child’s father. A common court action that takes place involving a lawyer that specializes in family law is when divorce proceedings take place. This is often when a mutually agreeable settlement between the estranged parties cannot be reached without legal assistance.
Sex trafficking
In 2022, sex trafficking is still a major global problem, and as such, there are a growing number of legal professionals who specialize as a sex trafficking lawyer. Sex trafficking is a form of human trafficking involving the individual or group of individuals being transported or harbored for sex for commercial purposes. When acts of sex trafficking are identified, often by the person who has been used for this crime escaping from criminal gangs, prosecutions can occur. Sex trafficking lawyers will aim to build a comprehensive case against the gangs or individuals involved and seek financial compensation for their clients and legal sanctions for the perpetrators.