There are many pathways for aspiring lawyers in Australia. Choosing an area of focus can be difficult, especially if you haven’t had any exploratory classes about specific fields. Additionally, there are multiple positions one can join within the legal structure, to practice law at different capacities. Find out more about different law professions and the types of laws they oversee.
What types of lawyers are there in Australia?
Talking about different types of lawyers can mean three things: lawyers working in different areas of expertise, lawyers working at different positions within the legal system or the environment in which the lawyer works. Depending on context, each of these avenues of inquiry can be useful to explore.
Types of lawyers in different areas of law
This categorisation concerns professional roles, that is, specific areas of law a lawyer can focus on. Common types of law focuses for lawyers in Australia include criminal, family, wills and estates, corporate, employment, migration, property and intellectual property, environmental and tax lawyers.
Types of lawyers within the legal system
Lawyers may practise law as solicitors or barristers. There are some other careers they can pursue, but these are the most common positions.
An area of law is a field of legal rules and practice. A type of lawyer describes a practitioner working within that field.
Criminal law = an area of law.
Criminal lawyer = a lawyer who works on criminal matters.
Types of lawyers in different environments
There are four main kinds of lawyers in this categorisation: private firms, government, in-house at businesses or at community organisations. Certain professional roles fit specific environments more naturally; for example, an intellectual property lawyer would fit better in private firms and in-house positions at businesses that create software than at a community centre.
Solicitors and barristers: what is the difference?
Lawyers frequently work as barristers and solicitors. Each role has different main responsibilities and tasks, though they sometimes overlap. Barristers and solicitors often work together.
Role of solicitors in the legal system
Their normal tasks include advising clients, negotiating, preparing legal documents and managing legal matters outside of the court room. Solicitors may have more broad scopes in the types of law they practise in. They don’t usually appear in court, but they can in certain instances. When they do, it’s to represent their client.
Overall, solicitors usually deal with:
- Advising a client on the legal process that suits their case
- Preparing documents to file with the courts and other government bodies and to bring to court or tribunal, if needed
- Researching, negotiation, documentation, compiling briefs for barristers
Barrister roles in the legal system
Barristers, often called ‘counsel’, are more specialised, usually focusing in advocacy, litigation and specialist legal opinions. They usually receive briefs from solicitors about a client’s case history so they have all the information they need to advocate for the client in court. They often serve as a well-versed and official liaison between courts and clients, solicitors or their employers.
Briefly, barristers’ jobs usually entail:
- Working independently, not being tied to a particular firm or company, in offices called “chambers”
- Working with solicitors, not usually the client directly, when specialist advice is needed to more complex court cases
- Serving as expert legal counsel in court or tribunals
| Aspect | Solicitor | Barrister |
|---|---|---|
| Typical client interaction | Often the client’s first contact and ongoing adviser; primary contact. | Often engaged through a solicitor; may meet clients during conferences and preparation. |
| Advocacy work | May represent clients in courts and tribunals and conduct negotiations. | Generally focuses on specialist advocacy and contested proceedings. |
| Document preparation | Prepares contracts, wills, correspondence and court documents. | May prepare legal opinions, written submissions and specialist litigation documents. |
| Work setting | May work in a firm, business, government body or legal assistance organisation. | Commonly practises independently, often using chambers. |
| Working relationship | Usually coordinates the matter and may brief counsel. Sometimes represents client in court. | Usually contributes specialist advice or representation to the matter. Usually attends court proceedings. Often receives briefs compiled by solicitors. |
In some states, lawyers can be a barrister and solicitor simultaneously. Exact rules governing lawyers, their roles in the legal system and court, and whether they can hold more than one position differs between each state and territory.
Common lawyer specialisations in Australia
There are many different directions a lawyer can choose to go in when it comes to a specialty to choose. Different types of law can entail choices between public or private law, or statute, criminal or administrative law. Here are some of the most popular law career options for lawyers in Australia.
Criminal lawyer
Criminal law involves alleged serious offenses. Criminal lawyers work in both defense, advising and representing an accused person, and prosecution on behalf of the state or community. Some cases may even go to the federal, Commonwealth level. Their work may involve examining evidence, preparing arguments and appearing in court.
Family lawyer
Family law involves legal issues about family relationships, such as divorce and the division of property and assets, custody and parenting arrangements. Clients are usually individuals. Family lawyers need to explain available options to clients, negotiate terms of agreement and prepare legal documents. Some matters require court appearances, while others are resolved through negotiation in their law offices.
Corporate or commercial lawyer
Companies require corporate and commercial lawyers frequently. Commercial law involves business contracts, transactions and meeting regulatory obligations. Corporate law focuses on business like mergers, acquisitions and restructuring. Clients can be small, independent businesses or large, international corporations, and anything in between. Much of the work includes drafting agreements that meet legal requirements, reviewing risks and negotiating terms.
Employment lawyer
Companies also need employment lawyers, though employees may also solicit their services. Employment lawyers can advise on both the employer and employee side about contracts, unfair dismissals and enterprise bargaining. Daily work tasks involve reviewing documents, negotiating outcomes and representing clients in civil disputes. They may also advise companies to prevent problems and ensure compliance.
Property lawyer
Property law concerns land and buildings, and can also include land use beyond built structures. Clients are often home buyers, sellers, landlords and developers. They can also advise government bodies about public lands.
Work usually involves conveyancing, which is the legal process of transferring ownership of a property. It also concerns creating lease agreements, advising on development transactions and handling property disputes.
For example, a property lawyer might be a solicitor in a private firm, or a barrister in a governmental capacity. They could also be a non-practicing lawyer working as an advisor at a community legal centre.
Intellectual property lawyer
Intellectual property are things like inventions, brands and creative work. Clients are often artists or companies with proprietary technology or designs. Matters can involve trade marks, copyrights, commercial agreements and advice on ownership and protection. They often help in disputes over the use of protected materials.
Immigration or migration lawyer
Migration lawyers specialise in helping individuals and businesses navigate the Australian immigration system.
Clients may need advice about student or work visas, permanent residency, citizenship or refugee claims.
They can advise and help prepare documents for individuals looking to enter the country as well as businesses sponsoring workers.
Lawyers must keep up-to-date with ever-changing rules and be able to explain them to clients in each personal circumstance. They can conduct essential lawyer functions like preparing and submitting documents, and assisting with appeals if applications are challenged by the government.
Wills and estates lawyer
Wills and estates can overlap with property and family law, in some instances. Estate lawyers help clients plan for what should happen with their assets after death, including drafting wills. Lawyers can also assist with estate administration before or after a death, and handle disputes. They can also advise on how to submit an Advance Health Directive.
Tax lawyer
Companies may have tax lawyers on retainer or in-house to help with business structures, transactions and filing and disputes with the Australian Taxation Office. Individuals can also hire tax lawyers to help with making sure all taxes are paid properly, and that all tax breaks are received.
Environmental lawyer
Companies, individuals and public bodies must adhere to environmental protection and land use statutes. They can advise with planning, making official development applications and in ensuring the plans or existing structures adhere to regulatory requirements. Environmental lawyers can work for people planning to buy or build on property as well as local councils. They may ensure land is zoned properly and meets current regulations, and may also work as prosecution against individuals or organisations that break the rules.
Government or administrative lawyer
Administrative law is an important facet of legal studies involving government decision-making and their effects on people, businesses and communities. Administrative lawyers may advise public bodies or help clients appeal government decisions. In both instances, their duties may include interpreting legislation, preparing tribunal cases and reviewing legal documents and applications.
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| Specialisation | Typical work |
|---|---|
| Criminal | Defence or prosecution work involving alleged offences. |
| Family | Parenting arrangements, separation and family property matters. |
| Corporate or commercial | Business contracts, company transactions and regulatory advice. |
| Employment | Workplace contracts, rights and employment disputes. |
| Property | Property sales, purchases, leases and development transactions. |
| Intellectual property | Protection and commercial use of brands, inventions and creative work. |
| Immigration or migration | Visa, citizenship and other immigration matters. |
| Wills and estates | Will drafting, estate administration and inheritance disputes. |
| Tax | Tax obligations, transaction advice and taxation disputes. |
| Environmental | Environmental regulation, planning and land-use matters. |
| Government or administrative | Public-sector advice and review of government decisions. |
Where do different lawyers work?
Specialisation is one dimension of a legal career. The type of workplace a lawyer works in greatly influences the types of clients and problems they encounter. Most specialisations can work in several different types of work settings.
Private firms are hired by clients for specific purposes. Firms can be general practice or focused on a particular field, such as intellectual property. Generally, there will be a variety of clients for all sorts of matters, depending on the firm’s services.
A barrister will work independently, taking on solicitors and the firms they represent (if any) as clients. Their time may be divided between research, writing advice for clients, reviewing briefs and providing specialist advice in conferences and hearings.
This environment is a legal team that works for a specific company or organisation, not a firm. They manage all of the company’s legal needs, like corporate law, tax law, employment matters, property and intellectual property, environmental, reviewing contracts, and advising on compliance.
Government lawyers can work in a range of positions across levels of government and practice areas. Some provide legal advice to specific departments, while others work on disputes or public-law questions. They can also act as persecutors in criminal law. The work depends on the specific government agency and their responsibilities, as well as the lawyer’s role.
There are many public bodies that are not specifically government entities that are concerned mostly with regulation and compliance. Lawyers here may interpret legislation, advise on regulatory obligations or help resolve disputes.
Law advice is expensive. Community and legal assistance centres provide free or low-cost legal help, especially in the form of advice, casework and document preparation and review. Some lawyers or centres serve a geographic community while others focus on a particular legal field or client demographic.
All these different work environments mean that, for example, three lawyers in the same area of law can have three very different work experiences. A tax lawyer working in a firm has a vastly different client base and daily experience than one at a community centre, and also from one at an in-house corporate legal team.
Do all lawyers go to court?
No. Many different types of lawyers, especially barristers, do regularly go to court. On the other hand, solicitors will only go to court occasionally, if at all. In a legal team, there may be several behind-the-scenes solicitors, and one who attends court room proceedings if required for litigation and advocacy.
Compare the career of an in-house commercial solicitor working on contracts and a criminal barrister specialising in a common criminal charge. The two will have vastly different amounts of court time over their careers; the solicitor might not ever go to a tribunal.
This is an important factor to consider for prospective law students. Questions to ask yourself about legal careers Australia include:
- How much time do I want to spend with clients?
- Do I want a role that is mainly advisory, transactional or dispute-focused?
- Do I want to do a lot of advocacy?
- Do I want to serve specific organisations or communities, or do I want to work in a corporation or firm?
Taking a variety of exploratory classes and electives in university can help you understand what it actually feels like to be in these different positions.
References
- “Career Options in Law.” College of Law, 26 July 2024, www.collaw.edu.au/community/resources/career-options-in-law. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.
- “Lawyer, Solicitor, Attorney and Barrister: What’s the Difference?” Victoria University, Australia, www.vu.edu.au/about-vu/news-events/vu-blog/lawyer-solicitor-attorney-and-barrister-whats-the-difference. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.
- “Types of Law in Australia (and How to Choose Yours).” College of Law, www.collaw.edu.au/practical-legal-training/types-of-law-in-australia-and-how-to-choose-yours. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.
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