When lawyers advertise, they often advertise what branches of law they practice. Family law, criminal law, personal injury law, etc.; these are all examples of branches of law a lawyer can choose to practice. There are also general attorneys that practice most any type of law. Then there are trial lawyers. To get a clear understanding of how trial lawyers differ from other types of lawyers, here are some pointers.

Trial Lawyers Reserve the Right to Practice in Trials Only

Trial lawyers often reserve the right to practice in trial courts only. They are setting themselves up as criminal lawyers, defense attorneys and the like, and so they may not advertise which branches of law they practice. They make themselves available to the courts as lawyers to defend those who have been charged with crimes in the hopes that they can gain plenty of experience in this area of law. Some then use the experience they gain to become public defenders, district attorneys and even judges.

Clients Are Often Assigned Rather Than Chosen

Because of the nature of their careers, clients are often assigned to trial lawyers rather than the clients choosing a lawyer to defend them. The trial lawyers may not even know that they have been assigned to a particular client until a day or two after the fact. Clients are visited in jail by trial lawyers to hash out the details of their cases and try to cut deals to avoid going to court and to trial. If no deals are cut, then the trial lawyers prepare themselves and their clients for court. Trial lawyers may be assigned several clients all at once and have to juggle their cases to meet the defense needs of the clients.

Trial Lawyers Serve in Firms

Trial lawyers often serve in firms and rarely have their own practices. This is how they are able to get cases assigned to them rather than have to go after clients themselves (as they would in a private practice of their making). Unless you have been charged with a serious crime, you may never meet a trial lawyer. If you need a trial lawyer, be sure you know as much about the ones offered by your county circuit court as you are able to learn so that you know something of what to expect when you meet your assigned lawyer for the very first time.