Types of Lawyers in Canada
Persons who need the services of a lawyer can choose from different types of lawyers depending on the nature of their problem. There are business lawyers, estate planning lawyers, tax lawyers, corporate lawyers, and intellectual property lawyers, among others.
Business lawyers, for example, offer legal advice and assistance to business clients who seek to establish business partnerships and new enterprises, manage and protect intellectual property and brands, and more. Business lawyers negotiate contracts, review business documents, and prepare business agreements. They often work for one company, but some independent business lawyers work for multiple firms.
Estate planning lawyers, on the other hand, specialize in estate planning and arrange for the disposal of estates. It is their job to reduce expenses and taxes in order to increase the value of an estate. They also aim to eliminate uncertainties and ambiguities regarding the administration of a probate. Estate planning lawyers are the ones to interpret laws that bear upon taxes, probate and trusts, wills, and property rights.
Speaking of different types of lawyers, tax lawyers specialize in tax laws, helping businesses of all sizes as well as taxpayers with tax-related issues such as gift tax, income tax, and foreign taxes, among other issues. Tax lawyers organize documents on tax liabilities, and this is done based on future and past transactions. They also develop tax saving strategies and plans, undertake tax calculations, and evaluate the tax situation of clients.
Real estate lawyers are the ones to settle real estate disputes and handle the legal aspects of transactions involving real estate. They negotiate terms, review and prepare documents, and make sure real estate transactions do not go wrong. Real estate lawyers specialize in mortgage fraud, disclosure fraud, land use, commercial and residential purchases, and sales and lease transactions, among others.
Corporate lawyers are professionals who offer their services to business and corporate entities. They advise clients on their legal rights, confirm the legality of business transactions, and resolve legal disputes. Good corporate lawyers have extensive knowledge of matters related to securities law, contract and tax laws, tax matters, copyright and infringement law, etc.
Bankruptcy lawyers offer legal assistance to clients who plan to file bankruptcy. They handle business and personal bankruptcy cases. They also protect clients’ assets against crediting institutions in the event of corporate or personal financial distress. At the same time, bankruptcy lawyers protect the interests of financial institutions for debt collection purposes.
Intellectual property lawyers specialize in legal matters related to the ownership of patents, trademarks or service marks, copyrights, and trade secrets. Intellectual property lawyers act as advocates and legal advisors, drafting legal documents and representing clients in court.
Criminal lawyers, on the other hand, advocate for their clients by determining whether the laws and procedures were followed in relation to their clients’ charges. This is unlike formulating an opinion of innocence or guilt. Professional criminal lawyers prepare pleadings by looking at facts, answering to complaints, and handling paperwork before the trial. They submit documents to the prosecutor and within the court.
Unlike lawyers who specialize in one particular field of law, general practice lawyers handle a variety of cases that fall into different areas of law, including bankruptcy, divorce, personal injury, and more. They may ask colleagues for advice when they take a case requiring more extensive knowledge in a specific area of law.
In addition to these types of lawyers, there are immigration lawyers, DUI lawyers, personal injury lawyers, labor and employment lawyers, and divorce lawyers, each specializing in a particular area of law as to offer professional legal advice to business and personal clients.