Many lawyers started dreaming of their career path when they were children. Maybe they’ve watched too many Law and Order episodes and were enamored by the whole legal process in the United States. Maybe they’ve been dreaming of the day when they get to give Judge Judy a run for her money.
But many of them weren’t quick to decide which field they wanted to focus on. There are a lot of specializations that lawyers can build a career on. But some specializations are more obscure and relatively interesting than others. Here are some paths that many lawyers don’t take.
Art Law
Many people aren’t quick to assume that the art world gets entangled with the web of the legal system. After all, many artists tend to be free birds that aren’t committed to corporations and whatnot. But art law is a branch of the law that caters to collectors, artists, dealers and auctioneers, privately-owned art foundations, museums and galleries, and other people conducting business transactions within the art world.
Art lawyers are also well-versed with copyright, trademark and fair-use laws, royalty rights, statutory artist protections, and other laws that govern the professional relationship between artists and dealers. They deal with issues on contracts, authentication challenges, ownership disputes, and the like. Some art lawyers work at law firms. But many of them work as in-house attorneys at museums and galleries, and auction houses.
Fashion Law
Fashion lawyers operate similarly to art lawyers. They have broad knowledge and experience in intellectual property rights (brands, copyright, and trademarks), contracts, and distribution agreements. It sounds very glamorous, though, because many fashion lawyers work as in-house attorneys for fashion stores and labels. They get to rub shoulders with the leading groundbreakers of the fashion industry. They are always up-to-date with news and trends.
Fashion lawyers also settle cases on counterfeiting and international trade. It’s their job to ensure that their clients adhere to government regulation on sustainable resources and practices, privacy rights, and issues concerning wearable technology.
Space Law
We had state and federal laws. We had national and international laws. But did you know that we also have a special branch of law dedicated to space? Space law started with President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1957 when space travel started to break ground. This branch of law operates in accordance with the United Nations (UN).
Space lawyers deal with the legal matters on preserving space and Earth’s environment, damages caused by space objects, the rescue of astronauts, space-related technologies, international cooperation, and many others. Space law also put a stop to the use of weapons of mass destruction in space.
Equine Law
Environmental law is a vast and busy field of law. Many environmental lawyers focus on more specific areas such as animal welfare and rights, and responsible agricultural practices. But did you know that there’s a specific branch of law focusing on horses? Equine law deals with matters involving racehorses. This includes issues on insurance and partnerships, the horses’ health and welfare, and misrepresentation. They offer their services to equine associations, racehorse enthusiasts, and farmers.
There’s a lot of money involved in the racehorse industry. So equine lawyers are there to ensure that every business transaction is clean, clear, and aboveboard. However, few law firms offer services in equine law. So there’s a need for more experts in this highly niched branch of law.
Some dreamed of becoming lawyers because of their interests. They want to be in a fast-paced and competitive environment of corporations. So they went into corporate law. Some understand the value of planning for the future. So they joined law firms that specialize in estate planning. And some deeply believe in the notion that people are “innocent until proven guilty.” So they went into criminal law and became public defenders. They helped those who could not shell out money for legal assistance.
On the other hand, some budding lawyers go to law school because of a specific cause. They have advocacies that inspire them to do more for their communities and their country as a whole. Some slaved through the difficult years of law school because they want to make a difference in civil rights. Some went into immigration law. After all, they have friends and families who suffered because they weren’t born and raised in the country. And some specialized in environmental law because they grew up with a special bond with nature and want to ensure its welfare.
There are many fields of law that you can choose from. It’s all just a matter of deciding which.
