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I am wondering what are the best fields of law to practice. I know Patent Law is very good and lucrative, but unfortunately I do not meet the requirements for that. I am currently thinking about Tax Law or maybe Estate Planning.

What do you all think...since your already in Law School and have had some exposure to the legal field already. Thanks in advance.

What do you mean by "best"?

Ipsa Dixit wrote:What do you mean by "best"?

+1. Do you mean "most jobs available ITE" or "most opportunities for making an asston of cash" or "most chances for advancement", etc? "Best" could mean a multitude of things. I'm interested to see where this thread goes and what everyone's opinion on this is...I think this question could also depend on where you intend to practice, too.

Well, I'm not going to pull op's post apart and just go with the gist of the question:

Tort law.

I'm taking about being both lucrative and secure.

jdland2010 wrote:I'm taking about being both lucrative and secure.

If this is your criteria, my guess is tax and bankruptcy. Otherwise, the rest are generally going to be subject to the whims of the economy.

jdland2010 wrote:I'm taking about being both lucrative and secure.

I'm no practicing attorney (I don't think very many of us on here are), but I get the feeling that, statistically, those two values rarely intersect at a price point north of $100k ITE.

Yeah, thats what I was thinking too. Tax always seems very solid.

macattaq wrote:

jdland2010 wrote:I'm taking about being both lucrative and secure.

If this is your criteria, my guess is tax and bankruptcy. Otherwise, the rest are generally going to be subject to the whims of the economy.

Tax

betasteve wrote:

jdland2010 wrote:I'm taking about being both lucrative and secure.

I want this, plus a great quality of life... Any ideas???

Health Law, anyone? It's not always well represented at BigLaw firms, but it's associated with a huge (and growing) swath of the economy, facing more government involvement, and looking at an increasingly geriatric population. I'd say it's fairly recession proof, as well.

I will look into that too.

soullesswonder wrote:Health Law, anyone? It's not always well represented at BigLaw firms, but it's associated with a huge (and growing) swath of the economy, facing more government involvement, and looking at an increasingly geriatric population. I'd say it's fairly recession proof, as well.

jdland2010 wrote:Tax

betasteve wrote:

jdland2010 wrote:I'm taking about being both lucrative and secure.

I want this, plus a great quality of life... Any ideas???

If you're authoritative enough to hand out advice on the subject, why did you create this thread?

BS: props for the successful troll.

Bird Law, though at times it may seem to not be governed by reason.

Tax is more subject to the economy than you guys think

A large percentage of the high-level tax planning work is tied to corporate dealmaking. Lots of laid off tax lawyers -and the IRS can't absorb them all.

Low-level tax planning work tends to be taken by accountants and "tax preparers" who can undercut tax lawyers on price.

Tax lit is still doing ok- but not notably better than lit in general.

space law!

IP

patentThis wrote:IP

rainbow colors

DoubleChecks wrote:

patentThis wrote:IP

rainbow colors

i've been meaning to get that checked

leobowski wrote:space law!

Fuck yes. International law? For pussies. Try intergalactic law.

I'm vying to be the first attorney to invoke the prime directive in front of SCOTUS.

(yes I know space law is a real field)

Maybe you shouldn't post anything, because you have an attitude. Your part of the problem and the reason why people don't respect lawyers and law students--people like you are always quick with your tongue and looking to cut someone else down.

patrickd139 wrote:

jdland2010 wrote:Tax

betasteve wrote:

jdland2010 wrote:I'm taking about being both lucrative and secure.

I want this, plus a great quality of life... Any ideas???

If you're authoritative enough to hand out advice on the subject, why did you create this thread?

BS: props for the successful troll.

I dont think that I would like that one very much...it might be better for someone who is an activist.

burtonrideclub wrote:Bird Law, though at times it may seem to not be governed by reason.

burtonrideclub wrote:Bird Law, though at times it may seem to not be governed by reason.

but, but...glancing geese had JUST SO MUCH reason to it

Recently a solo practitioner was a guest lecturer at my school, and after the lecture I asked him a similar question (the context of course was for solo practice or work in a small/boutique firm). He answered stating that general litigation areas are the most reliable. Personal injury, workers compensation, breach of contract, divorces, and criminal defense are always reliable areas that get money in the door regardless of how the economy is. He said that no matter how bad things get people are always suing each other and committing crime.

I understand this and think that the solo practioner was completely right (people do need those things, regardless of the economic outlook). But, I am not interested in going that solo route...it's way to difficult and not a lot of solo people make a decent living.

On the otherhand, I personally know some that do (solo) and they are strictly personal injury (aka ambulance chasers). They do extremely well. Personal injury doesn't excite me in the least bit--even with the money. Criminal defense and all the rest of the stuff is not that exciting to me either--I have seen the majority of the clients that they see: most of them are scum bags and low-lives. Most are lower-class people.

I know that some my find these comments to be mean, but I am calling it like I see it. I will not apologize either.

Garinold wrote:Recently a solo practitioner was a guest lecturer at my school, and after the lecture I asked him a similar question (the context of course was for solo practice or work in a small/boutique firm). He answered stating that general litigation areas are the most reliable. Personal injury, workers compensation, breach of contract, divorces, and criminal defense are always reliable areas that get money in the door regardless of how the economy is. He said that no matter how bad things get people are always suing each other and committing crime.

jdland2010 wrote:I understand this and think that the solo practioner was completely right (people do need those things, regardless of the economic outlook). But, I am not interested in going that solo route...it's way to difficult and not a lot of solo people make a decent living.

On the otherhand, I personally know some that do (solo) and they are strictly personal injury (aka ambulance chasers). They do extremely well. Personal injury doesn't excite me in the least bit--even with the money. Criminal defense and all the rest of the stuff is not that exciting to me either--I have seen the majority of the clients that they see: most of them are scum bags and low-lives. Most are lower-class people.

I know that some my find these comments to be mean, but I am calling it like I see it. I will not apologize either.

Garinold wrote:Recently a solo practitioner was a guest lecturer at my school, and after the lecture I asked him a similar question (the context of course was for solo practice or work in a small/boutique firm). He answered stating that general litigation areas are the most reliable. Personal injury, workers compensation, breach of contract, divorces, and criminal defense are always reliable areas that get money in the door regardless of how the economy is. He said that no matter how bad things get people are always suing each other and committing crime.

I know you are a troll, but that whole writing over the top of the quoted posts thing is freaking annoying. Btw- lol at you finding tax law exciting but not personal injury. You must be a gem of a person to be around.