Choose a Practice Area

Practical profiles for 22+ practice areas — typical clients, fee models, startup costs, cash-flow timing, risk, staffing, and a First 10 Matters checklist. Plus a comparison matrix.

Local Counsel & Appearance Counsel

Local and appearance counsel services for out-of-area attorneys.

Cost: Low
Court: High
Risk: Medium
Staff: Low
Fees: Flat fee, hourly
Outside General Counsel / Subscription

Recurring general counsel services for small businesses on a subscription basis.

Cost: Low
Court: Low
Risk: Low
Staff: Low
Fees: Subscription (monthly retainer)
Mediation & ADR

Mediation, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution services.

Cost: Low
Court: Low
Risk: Low
Staff: Low
Fees: Hourly, per-session flat fee
Appellate Practice

Appeals in civil, criminal, and administrative matters.

Cost: Low
Court: Low
Risk: Low
Staff: Low
Fees: Flat fee, hourly
Administrative & Benefits

Licensing, regulatory compliance, and government benefits representation.

Cost: Low
Court: Low
Risk: Low
Staff: Low
Fees: Flat fee, hourly
Tax Controversy

IRS and state tax disputes, audits, collections, and tax litigation.

Cost: Medium
Court: Low
Risk: Low
Staff: Low
Fees: Flat fee, hourly
Intellectual Property / Trademark

Trademark registration, copyright, trade secret, and IP licensing for small businesses.

Cost: Low
Court: Low
Risk: Low
Staff: Low
Fees: Flat fee (filings), hourly (disputes)
Workers' Compensation

Representation of injured workers in workers' compensation claims.

Cost: Low
Court: Medium
Risk: Low
Staff: Medium
Fees: Contingency (state-regulated fee schedule)
Social Security / Disability

SSDI and SSI claims, appeals, and administrative hearings.

Cost: Low
Court: Low
Risk: Low
Staff: Medium
Fees: Contingency (capped by SSA)
Lemon Law & Auto Fraud

Representation of consumers with defective vehicles and auto fraud claims.

Cost: Low
Court: Low
Risk: Medium
Staff: Low
Fees: Contingency, flat fee
Contract Review

Review and negotiation of business, vendor, and employment contracts.

Cost: Low
Court: Low
Risk: Low
Staff: Low
Fees: Flat fee, hourly
Small Business & Commercial

Entity formation, contracts, compliance, and outside general counsel services.

Cost: Low
Court: Low
Risk: Low
Staff: Low
Fees: Flat fee (formation), subscription (OGC), hourly
Real Estate

Residential and commercial closings, title, leasing, and property disputes.

Cost: Low
Court: Low
Risk: Low
Staff: Low
Fees: Flat fee (closings), hourly (disputes)
Landlord-Tenant

Eviction defense, lease disputes, habitability claims, and landlord compliance.

Cost: Low
Court: High
Risk: Low
Staff: Low
Fees: Flat fee, limited scope, hourly
Employment Law

Workplace discrimination, wage claims, wrongful termination, and employer compliance.

Cost: Medium
Court: Medium
Risk: Medium
Staff: Medium
Fees: Contingency (plaintiff), hourly/flat (employer)
Immigration

Family-based, employment-based, asylum, removal defense, and naturalization.

Cost: Low
Court: Medium
Risk: Low
Staff: Medium
Fees: Flat fee (most matters)
Criminal Defense

Defense of individuals charged with misdemeanors, felonies, and federal crimes.

Cost: Low
Court: High
Risk: Low
Staff: Low
Fees: Flat fee (by stage), hourly (complex)
Personal Injury

Representation of injured plaintiffs in auto, premises, and negligence cases.

Cost: High
Court: Medium
Risk: Medium
Staff: Medium
Fees: Contingency (typically 33-40%)
Estate Planning & Probate

Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, probate administration, and estate tax planning.

Cost: Low
Court: Low
Risk: Low
Staff: Low
Fees: Flat fee (planning), hourly (probate)
Family Law

Divorce, custody, support, adoption, and domestic relations matters.

Cost: Low
Court: High
Risk: High
Staff: Medium
Fees: Hourly, retainer, limited scope, flat fee (uncontested)
Bankruptcy

Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 consumer and small-business bankruptcy representation.

Cost: Medium
Court: Medium
Risk: Low
Staff: Medium
Fees: Flat fee (pre-filing), court-structured fees (Ch. 13)
Consumer Law & Debt Defense

Representing individuals against creditors, debt collectors, and predatory practices.

Cost: Low
Court: Medium
Risk: Medium
Staff: Low
Fees: Flat fee, limited scope, contingency