Attorneys help people solve problems and issues ranging from business situations (negotiating, writing and closing deals) to criminal matters (representing the victim or defending the accused). Attorneys present and resolve claims for personal injuries, property ownership, housing, ending a marriage, adopting a child, complying with laws, the environment, insurance, discrimination, employment, health care, pensions, taxes, death, patents, computers and other technology rights, ethics, and more. There is an almost limitless list of different types of jobs and types of law available to individuals with a law degree.

While a large number of attorneys work in law firms, both small and large, many attorneys work for a local, state, or federal government, a non-law related company, a legal service organization, a non-profit organization, or alone in their own law firm. Some licensed attorneys never actually practice law. They may enter politics, work in business, or government, assist attorneys in finding jobs, work for attorney associations, such as the American Bar Association, sell services and goods used by attorneys, teach, or work in non-law related fields.

Many types of law are available to attorneys in the practice of law. Although some attorneys practice many different types of law, most attorneys focus or specialize on one or more specific areas of law. The two main categories for attorneys in private practice are transactional (corporate) law and litigation. Transactional attorneys deal with a wide range of business issues: corporate financing, contracts, mergers & acquisitions, bankruptcy, and the like. The goal of this work is to help businesses make deals and to avoid future legal problems. Corporate deals include everything from buying and developing real estate to helping companies obtain financing for their projects.

Litigators, in contrast, help resolve conflicts between different people and entities and help resolve legal conflicts or problems before and after they occur. Litigators handle issues that could land their clients in court: breaches of contract, fraud actions, defective products, securities-law violations, class-action lawsuits, antitrust actions, employment-related problems, white-collar crime, and the like. Other general areas of law include appellate work (litigation that occurs after a trial), criminal law, environmental and natural resources law, family and juvenile law, bankruptcy, health law, intellectual property law, international law, tax law, and civil rights law. Most of these specialized areas have sub-specialties.

Attorney's day-to-day activities differ greatly. Although litigators will appear in court to try a case before a judge or a jury, or to present motions for a judge to decide, many attorneys never see the inside of a courtroom as part of their job. Similarly, although some attorneys will interview witnesses, leave their office to investigate a product, an accident scene or a building's condition, other attorneys may seldom leave their office. These attorneys may spend most of their time in front of their computers preparing documents or briefs.

As an attorney, you often do not know what the day ahead will hold. An exciting new case or client issue may come through your door requiring you to learn a new area of the law or to learn something new about a type of business or the community. Attorneys often become knowledgeable in a multitude of areas in order to represent their client's interests, which can be very rewarding and exciting for individuals looking to learn new things. This could include learning how an automobile airbag system works, learning how a commercial airplane flies, learning how a candy bar is made and packaged, learning how a professional football team determines how much to pay a star player, or learning how votes are counted in a presidential or local election. A career as an attorney can be very rewarding and exciting for individuals looking to learn new things and to not be stuck doing the same job day after day.

The law offers something for all types of people. You can have a successful and enjoyable career as an attorney if you are outgoing or shy, physically active or physically-challenged, a wonderful writer or not, or a great public speaker or someone who prefers not to speak to large groups. Law truly is a profession for all.