Areas and Types of Law

Administrative law is the body of law and legal work that deals with government agencies. Lawmakers create government agencies to carry out laws and administer the functions of government. These agencies create, implement, and enforce regulations. All of the work that goes into these activities falls under the category of administrative law. Administrative Law Is […]

Advertising is everywhere. Each and every day, we see countless television commercials, magazine ads, billboards, posters, and more – all meant to convince us to buy one product or another. Something many people don’t consider, however, are the laws and regulations that govern how companies may or may not legally advertise. Attorneys who work in […]

Animal law can mean many things. An animal may be a household pet, in the care of a corporation, livestock, or wild. Laws that relate to animals determine the actions that people can take that have an effect on animals, animal rights, and the care of animals. Animal law isn’t one area of law. Rather, […]

Antitrust law is the broad category of federal and state laws that are meant to keep businesses operating honestly and fairly. Antitrust laws regulate the way companies do business. The goal is to level the playing field in the free market and prevent businesses from having too much power. For the purposes of antitrust law, […]

A trial isn’t always the end of the case. One or both parties may want to appeal part or all of the trial verdict. In addition, they may want to appeal certain aspects of the lower court’s proceedings that they believe may have led the jury or the court to make the wrong decision. The […]

Banking law is the broad term for laws that govern how banks and other financial institutions conduct business. Banks must comply with a myriad of federal, state, and even local regulations. Lawyers perform a wide variety of functions that relate to creating, following, and enforcing regulations. Multiple federal agencies oversee banking regulations. A bank or […]

Bankruptcy laws focus on helping individuals solve and repay their debts after they have suffered heavy losses. In the United States, there were bankruptcy laws as early as 1800. However, the first voluntary bankruptcy laws were allowed through the Acts of 1841 and 1867. These laws along with the Bankruptcy Act in 1898 also called […]

Biotechnology law is the broad name for the area of law practice that encompasses biotechnology. It is a relatively new field of legal practice, as it has only been around since about 1970. Lawyers who practice in this area often will be involved in a biotechnology project from the beginning, throughout the development process, marketing, […]

Business law is sometimes called mercantile law or commercial law and refers to the laws that govern the dealings between people and commercial matters. There are two distinct areas of business law: The regulation of commercial entities through laws of partnership, company, bankruptcy, and agency. The regulation of commercial transactions through the laws of contract. […]

Business organization law is the body of law that relates to creating, managing, and dissolving businesses. There are several ways to organize a business. Each type of business structure has its own set of rules to follow. Each type of business structure also comes with its own advantages and drawbacks. A business lawyer helps their […]

Civil rights law is the area of law that gives people in society the right to be free from certain types of discrimination. It’s the area of law that gives people the right to equal and fair treatment in society. Civil rights law creates protected classes of people. It gives people in these classes the […]

A class action lawsuit is a lawsuit with many plaintiffs. When a case is a class action case, there are a lot of people who claim they’ve been wronged by the defendant. The plaintiffs have similar complaints. The courts allow all of the plaintiffs to join together in order to litigate their issues together. Why […]

Communications law is the practice of law that relates to the exchange of information using technology. It’s any law that involves the regulation and use of electronic telecommunication. Communication law includes technologies like radio, television, cable, and broadband internet. It involves the creation of rules and policies that govern the use of these technologies. Communication […]

Computer law encompasses all of the laws that relate to the transfer, use, and storage of electronic information. Basically, it’s any law that has to do with computers and other electronic devices that store information. Computer law includes a wide range of topics including security, private property rights, and even constitutional law. Contracts When you […]

Constitutional law is the law that relates to interpreting, implementing, and amending the United States Constitution and the constitutions of the 50 states. It is an area of law that focuses on what the Constitution says, what it means, and what its limitations are. As social and political issues change and develop in the United […]

Construction law is the combination of all of the areas of law that apply to construction work. The process of building is complex. Builders have to follow a large number of rules and regulations. There are many things that they need to know and do before they ever pour the first bit of cement or […]

Consumer law is the group of laws that protect the public at large from unfair and predatory business practices. Consumer laws protect the public from unscrupulous ways of doing business. The area of law requires compliance from the corporations that consumer laws regulate. What Does Consumer Law Regulate? The practice of consumer law concerns itself […]

Contract law is the body of law that relates to making and enforcing agreements. A contract is an agreement that a party can turn to a court to enforce. Contract law is the area of law that governs making contracts, carrying them out, and fashioning a fair remedy when there’s a breach. Anyone who conducts […]

Copyright law is the area of law that protects the right of authors, artists, and creators to profit from their work. The purpose of copyright law is to encourage people to make creative works. Lawmakers believe that people are more likely to invest the time and effort to make creative, artistic works if they know […]

Corporate law is the body of laws, rules, regulations, and practices that govern the formation and operation of corporations. It’s the body of law that regulates legal entities that exist to conduct business. The laws touch on the rights and obligations of all of the people involved with forming, owning, operating, and managing a corporation. […]

Criminal law is the area of law that relates to prohibited conduct in society. When government leaders take steps to ban certain actions, they create crimes. Criminal law is the area of law that involves enforcing criminal law as well as defending against allegations of violations of criminal law. The purpose of outlawing conduct is […]

Cryptography law is the body of law that relates to securing and protecting information from unauthorized access. Cryptography laws protect individuals from having their personal information disseminated without their consent. They also work to protect government secrets as part of a military defense strategy. Another name for cryptography law is encryption law. What Is Cryptography? […]

Cultural property law is the body of law that relates to protecting the buildings, artifacts, and other items that are significant to a people and culture. Cultural property is the collection of unique real and personal property that’s important to a culture. The field of cultural property law seeks to protect cultural items that are […]

Cyber law, otherwise known as “internet law,” is the area of law that regulates how people use the internet. There are criminal cyber laws that are criminal, and there are cyber laws that are civil cyber laws. Any law or regulation that involves how people use computers, smartphones, the internet, and other related technology is […]

Defamation law is the area of law that relates to communications about the reputation of another person. Defamatory speech is a communication that might hurt the reputation of someone else. The purpose of the area of law is to protect people from having their lives and livelihoods ruined or significantly altered because of untrue statements […]

Derivatives and futures law is the collection of laws that regulate trading in derivatives and futures. Derivatives and futures law involve regulations. It also involves compliance. Practicing derivatives and futures law requires identifying applicable laws and regulations, creating a compliance plan, and helping clients negotiate business transactions. Attorneys in the area of law may also […]

DUI (driving under the influence) and DWI (driving while impaired) law is the body of law that makes up criminal drunk driving and impaired driving charges. Any law that penalizes driving under the influence or driving with an unlawful bodily content of alcohol or drugs is a DUI / DWI law. DUI / DWI law […]

Elder law is a broad term for any area of law that impacts the elderly. While it is a great deal of transactional law, elder law may also involve litigation. As elders have unique legal needs, elder lawyers work in niche areas to meet those needs. Elder law broadly encompasses any kind of legal need […]

Employment law is the collection of laws and rules that regulate relationships between employers and employees. Employment laws say when an employer can hire employees and when the employees can work. The laws cover what an employer must pay the employee for their work. They create minimum requirements for working conditions for employees. Following Employment […]

Energy law is the field of law concerned with creating, enforcing, and challenging laws that regulate energy use. Laws exist that regulate the creation and harvesting of energy. There are laws that regulate the taxation of energy use. Energy companies and the public alike must navigate energy laws as they relate to the sale, use, […]

Entertainment law is the collection of many areas of law that impact the entertainment industry. Entertainment law is the total of several different types of law that are relevant to the entertainment industry, including transactional law and litigation. Laws that impact the entertainment industry include federal and state laws, rules created by government agencies, and […]

Environmental law is the collection of laws, regulations, agreements, and common law that govern how humans interact with their environment. The purpose of environmental law is to protect the environment and create rules for how people can use natural resources. Environmental laws not only aim to protect the environment from harm, but they also determine […]

Estate law is the body of law that concerns a person’s physical and personal property. Estate law involves planning for a person’s finances and property both during their lifetime and after. It’s a body of law that includes taking care of people and property. It can involve both transactional law and litigation. Estate law is […]

Family law is the area of law that addresses family relationships. It includes creating family relationships and breaking them through divorce and termination of parental rights. Family law addresses adoption, contested custody of children, and the child support obligations that result. Because family law is the practice of law that relates to relationships and children, […]

Food and Drug Administration law, or FDA law, is the body of law that regulates food, cosmetic, and drug manufacturing and sale in the United States. The goal of FDA law is to make food and drugs safe for public consumption. The goal is to provide consumers with honest information about the contents of a […]

Financial services regulation law is the body of law that governs financial activities and transactions. Banking, credit cards, futures, stock markets, and all other kinds of financial transactions are a part of financial services regulation law. The purpose of the laws is to ensure a sound economy and fairness and transparency in individual financial transactions. […]

Firearm law is the combination of laws, regulations, and public policy that govern the manufacture, distribution, and sale of firearms in the United States. Although the basic rule is that guns are legal in the United States, there are exceptions to the rule, and firearm law remains controversial. Firearm law says who can make or […]

Food law is the collection of laws and regulations that govern food production, distribution, and consumption. Food laws aim to protect consumers and provide for the efficient growth and use of food in the United States. Food attorneys focus their careers on helping clients comply with food laws and regulations. In addition, they work on […]

Forestry law is the law that governs how people acquire, use, and harvest forest lands. The law concerns all of the many issues that impact forestry, including environmental regulations, tax regulations, and even legal issues that arise from tourism on forest lands. Forestry law encompasses all of the laws that impact the forest industry. What […]

Franchise law is the body of law that relates to making, operating, and ending franchise relationships. Franchise law encompasses laws and regulations at all levels of government that govern how corporations and individuals may enter into franchise relationships. The practice of franchise law involves helping clients understand and comply with franchise laws. It may also […]

Gaming law is the collection of laws and regulations that govern wagers and betting in the United States. Gaming laws determine who can offer games of chance or wagers and under what conditions. There are laws that directly regulate gaming. There are also laws that indirectly impact the gaming industry like contract law, employment law, […]

Healthcare law is a comprehensive field that encompasses all aspects of health care. Some people may assume that health care law only relates to medical malpractice lawsuits or to certain federal documents or policies, such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or the Health Insurance Portability and Affordability Act (HIPAA). The truth is that healthcare […]

Health law is the wide body of law that regulates the provision of healthcare services. Health law governs the relationship between those who provide healthcare and those who receive it. There are many topics and subtopics involved in the provision of healthcare law including the provision of services, contracts, employment law, and fraud. Health lawyers […]

Immigration law is the combination of laws, rules, and regulations that govern who can enter a country. Immigration and naturalization are two different things. Immigration governs who can come and go from a country. Naturalization controls who can become a citizen. However, they’re interrelated topics. Attorneys who practice immigration law usually have a practice that […]

Insurance law is the collection of laws and regulations that relate to insurance. Insurance is a contract between two parties. It transfers the risk of loss to the other party to the contract in exchange for a fee called a premium. Insurance laws and regulations manage and control how insurance contracts are formed and enforced. […]

Intellectual property law is the area of law that deals with legal rights to creative works and inventions. It controls who gets to use creations including new products, artistic works, and designs. The purpose of intellectual property law is to allow the people who create and invent things to profit from their work. Lawmakers believe […]

International law is the set of rules, agreements, and treaties that are binding between countries. When sovereign states enter into agreements that are binding and enforceable, it’s called international law. Countries come together to make binding rules that they believe benefit their citizens. International laws promote peace, justice, common interests, and trade. International laws apply […]

International trade law is the set of laws and agreements that govern commerce between countries. International trade laws create the rules that countries and businesses must follow in order to do business across borders. Lawyers who work in the field help create international agreements. They also educate businesses about what they need to do in […]

Everyone uses the internet nowadays, considering the number of possibilities on the web compared to decades ago. Today, people use the internet to stay connected with family and friends via social media and more all over the world, research information on nearly anything, operate businesses, and even buy items. However, the internet has also been […]

Juvenile law is the unique body of law that relates to minors. To put it another way, juvenile law is the law that applies specifically to juveniles. Although the juvenile criminal court is likely the most known example of juvenile law, there are many cases where the law treats a minor differently than an adult. […]

Labor laws are the laws that govern the relationships between employers and employees when employees unionize. Labor laws regulate whether employees can join together to negotiate employment terms collectively. When laws allow collective bargaining, they determine the obligations and rights of the employer and employees. Where Do Labor Laws Come From? Lawmakers pass labor laws […]

Land use and zoning law is the law that determines how a landowner can use their land. Land use and zoning law involves the creation, application, and challenges of land use laws. Government bodies create laws that restrict what landowners can do with their real property. The laws may control how landowners can develop property, […]

Maritime law is the collection of laws and agreements that govern behavior and activities on the seas. The area of law governs how people interact and do business in the waters of the world. Also called admiralty law, maritime law primarily governs activities on international waters. However, there are also laws that apply to the […]

Martial law is a military takeover of a country’s civil legal system. When a country has martial law, there’s no independent judiciary to oversee law enforcement activities. Instead, law enforcement can make arrests without any independent body to oversee or monitor their activities. Martial law means that the military and other law enforcement bodies control […]

Media law is a law that regulates media production and use. Media law can encompass many different types of media including broadcast television, internet, and print media. The practice of media law may involve all of the types of legal issues that might arise during the production or consumption of various types of media. Not […]

Medical malpractice law is the body of civil law that compensates victims of poor medical treatment. It’s a body of law that provides financial compensation when a person seeks medical care and receives care that falls below reasonable, professional standards. Medical malpractice law is the law that allows victims of poor medical care to receive […]

Mergers and acquisitions are business transactions that result in the purchase or takeover of one company by another. When companies complete a merger or acquisition, they combine businesses or absorb one business entity into the other. The transaction allows a business to become larger or smaller or change its business structure. Mergers and acquisitions law […]

Military law is any law that governs the operation of the U.S. military. Military law is a body of law that’s separate and supplementary to U.S. civil and criminal law. Every service member in the armed forces is subject to military law. In addition to laws that govern the conduct of military officials, there are […]

Mining law is the collection of laws and regulations that apply to mining activities. There is a diverse set of laws and rules that directly and indirectly govern mining in the United States. Mining laws determine who can mine, where they can mine, and how they may go about mining. Mining Laws Include Federal, State, […]

Music law is the law that affects the music industry. Music is commercially bought and sold in the United States and around the world. Any law that impacts how the music industry does business is part of music law. Music law includes any laws of any kind that apply to the business of creating, selling, […]

Mutual funds are a form of investment where the shareholders combine money in order to invest in several stocks, money market investments, and bonds as opposed to just purchasing stock in one company. Mutual funds are regulated through investment laws. Mutual funds law is the area of law that governs the development, sale, and operation […]

Nationality law is the body of law that governs how a person gains or loses citizenship. Also called citizenship law, nationality law is the law of how a person becomes a citizen of a country or forfeits the citizenship of a country. The area of law also involves the rights and obligations of a citizen. […]

Native American law is the collection of laws, administrative rules, and other authorities that impact Native American populations and their relationship with the United States and state governments. Native American law defines the relationships between Native American tribes and other governments. It also encompasses the self-government of Native American tribes. Achievements in Native American Law […]

Obscenity law is the law that regulates what images, speech, and other expressions individuals can lawfully communicate. Obscenity law concerns itself with banning or suppressing speech that violates standards of good taste and decency. The area of law balances legitimate communication in a free society with the purpose of public censorship. The practice of obscenity […]

Occupational Health and Safety law is a field of law that centers around the safety of employees at work. It is an area of law that creates and enforces regulations surrounding employment and labor. Attorneys who practice occupational health and safety law are litigators, administrative attorneys, and in-house counsel who all work to make, implement, […]

Oil and gas law is the area of law that governs oil and gas production. Oil and gas laws determine who owns the right to mine for oil and gas. It determines what conditions miners have to follow when they harvest oil and gas. The field of oil and gas law is a mix of […]

Parliamentary law is the collection of laws, rules, and procedures that organizations use to conduct business. Parliamentary law is the set of rules that a public or private group uses to conduct meetings or otherwise go about their affairs. Parliamentary lawyers facilitate the use of parliamentary laws. They also help their clients challenge decisions when […]

Patent law is the area of law that deals with an inventor’s exclusive right to use their own invention. The area of patent law aims to encourage new products and inventions by granting creators the legal right to use and profit from the things that they create. Patent attorneys help clients apply for patents, enforce […]

Personal injury law is the body of civil law that allows individuals to bring a legal claim when they’re hurt because of the wrongful actions of someone else. The purpose of personal injury law is to require the people who are responsible for an accident to pay for the damages that they cause. Personal injury […]

Poverty law is the practice of law as it intersects with the less privileged in society. The practice of poverty law concerns itself with making sure that poor people and the disadvantaged are treated fairly under the law. Poverty law doesn’t always represent clients in court. It might include an analysis of issues that impact […]

Privacy law is the collection of laws that relate to the gathering, storage, and use of personal information. In the information age, both government entities and private businesses want access to personal information. Information privacy laws address an individual’s reasonable expectation of privacy in society and their right to privacy as they go about their […]

Within the high-stakes finance world are private and hedge funds that act as sophisticated investment options for those of high net worth, accredited entities, and institutional investors. Although these are incredible financial opportunities, they are accompanied by complicated legal regulations. To navigate the labyrinth of laws and regulations, there are private fund and hedge fund […]

Private equity/venture capital law is the area of law that pertains to private investment funding and startup capital funding. With private equity and venture capital funding, business owners find the financial capital they need to do business. The area of business is subject to varying levels of regulation depending on the type of investment. Private […]

Procedural law is the collection of rules that govern how courts do their business. All levels and types of courts use procedural law. It controls how courts hear cases. It also dictates what a party must do in order to bring their case before the court. Where Does Procedural Law Come From? Each court has […]

Product liability law is a type of personal injury law that gives victims a legal cause of action when they’re hurt because of a dangerous product. People and corporations who make products must make products that are safe. Product liability is the area of law that governs what manufacturers must do to protect public safety […]

Property law is the area of law that governs what people own. It’s the area of law that says who can own land and personal items, how they can use them, and with what conditions. Property law applies to both real property and personal property. Ownership and use of property is an area of law […]

Law plays an important role in the public health care system. A public health official has many responsibilities and legal rights when protecting and promoting their community’s health. There are three areas associated with public health law, law of populations, prevention of disease and injury, and police power. Public health law is the area of […]

Railroad laws encompass all areas that are related to railroad services. Most often the cases regarding railroad laws will be wrongful death litigation by employees, passengers, or non-passengers, or personal injury cases. Another issue that arises is workers’ compensation when railroad employees are injured while working. In 1869, American engineers created the first transcontinental railroad […]

Real estate law is the area of law that governs buying, using, and selling land. It’s the law that governs how people acquire property and what they can do with the property that they own. Real estate law is also called real property law. Real estate law is called real estate because it’s about real […]

Securities law (or Capital Markets law) is the group of laws and regulations that govern the issuance of securities. A security is a financial instrument usually designed to raise money for a business from investors in the business. Securities law dictates what a corporation has to do in order to offer its investment to the […]

Social Security Disability law is the area of law surrounding federal social security programs. Federal law determines who may apply for benefits from these programs and what benefits an applicant can receive. Social security lawyers create social security laws, manage these programs as government administrators, and represent clients who make claims. The area of law […]

Does the United States own the moon? Have you ever wondered if there are laws about space? Space law is the body of laws, agreements, and treaties that govern outer space. Worldwide leaders must grapple with how to regulate activity in space. Space law covers issues like rules for exploration, weapons use, damage liability, rescue […]

Sports law is the collection of the many different types of law that impact the sports industry. Sports law might involve issues that relate to professional or Olympic athletes. It also relates to laws that govern youth and amateur sports. Many different types of law impact the sports industry, like contract law, personal injury law, […]

Statutory law is a law that’s written by a legislative body. It’s a law that a government deliberately creates through elected legislators and an official legislative process. It’s up to the judiciary to interpret and enforce statutory law, but the judiciary can’t create statutory law. Laws created by statute are often codified. That means they’re […]

Tax law is the practice of law that relates to the assessment and payment of taxes. Tax laws come from a variety of sources. They come from federal, state, and local authorities. They’re based on federal and state constitutions, laws, and regulations. Tax law involves understanding, implementing, and defending the payment or non-payment of taxes. […]

Technology law is the body of law that governs the use of technology. It is an area of law that oversees both public and private use of technology. The practice of technology law can mean a lot of different things depending on whether the attorney works for the government or works in private industry. Technology […]

Timber law is the area of law that governs how timber is sold and harvested. The area of law creates rules for what circumstances must be present for a person or entity to lawfully cut down trees. The area of law also involves the commercial activity of buying and selling timber. Timber law is any […]

Tort law is the area of law that protects people from the bad acts of others. When a person commits a tort, they violate civil law. If a person is damaged by someone else’s wrongful act, they can bring a claim for compensation against the person who commits the tort. The purpose of tort law […]

Trademark law is the law of business slogans, names, and identifiers and the right to use them. Trademarks are a type of intellectual property. They help businesses build brand identity and sell their products. Trademark law involves creating and protecting trademarks for business use. There are both federal and state laws that apply to trademark […]

Transportation law is the body of law that governs transportation infrastructure and its use. It regulates the way that people travel using any method of transportation, including railways, air travel, vehicular travel, and even waterways. Much of transportation law comes from the government agencies that make regulations and oversee compliance with the regulations that they […]

Venture Capital Law involves the creation, implementation, and regulation of complex transactions and business deals made between startups and investors. As such, understanding the complexities of Venture Capital Law first requires an understanding of its foundational component – which is Venture Capital. When new startups seek funding to open, the money and resources that people […]