Explore the main types of lawyers in Canada, what they do, and find out which path matches your skills and goals
Choosing the law school you will attend or the firm or organization you will work for is exciting, but so is deciding what type of lawyer you want to become. With so many options, it's important to learn about the different types so you can make an informed decision.
If you're a busy law student, a new lawyer exploring options, or someone who wants to change practice areas, this article on the types of lawyers in Canada is for you. We'll also link to directories from our sister publication Lexpert, which publishes best-lawyer rankings, as well as to Canadian Lawyer's Special Reports.
What are the different types of lawyers in Canada?
Here's a list of the different types of lawyers in Canada:
- Aboriginal lawyer
- Corporate lawyer
- Criminal lawyer
- Environmental lawyer
- Family lawyer
- Immigration lawyer
- Intellectual property (IP) lawyer
- Labour lawyer
- Litigation lawyer
- Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) lawyer
- Personal injury lawyer
- Real estate lawyer
- Tax lawyer
We'll discuss each of these types of lawyers in Canada below. You can also use our table of contents above to go straight to a specific type.
Building a niche practice is not easy, and becoming one of the best in that niche takes even more work. To give you a picture, check out this interview with one of the lawyers working for a top personal injury law firm in Canada:
Head over to our article on how to become a lawyer in Canada for more insights and steps that law students must take to become a full-fledged lawyer.
Aboriginal lawyer
Working with Aboriginals and Indigenous Peoples is the core work of an Aboriginal lawyer. This includes using and interpreting laws and treaties involving the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit, and litigating their claims before the courts.
The laws that they must be familiar with are:
- The Constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- The Indian Act
- Common law on Aboriginal and Indigenous laws
The practice of Aboriginal law revolves around the relationship between the Indigenous Peoples and the government. Specifically, it looks at the established rights of the Aboriginals and whether the government can control or intrude on these rights.
Corporate lawyer
Corporate lawyers face many challenges, not only in boardrooms but also in court and before federal and provincial regulators. While corporate commercial lawyers often work directly with corporations, such as in-house counsel, they can also focus on several specific practice areas within Canadian corporate law:
- corporate finance and securities
- corporate tax, including tax litigation
- bankruptcy, financial restructuring, and insolvency
- environmental, social, and governance (ESG)
One simple way to look at corporate work is that corporate lawyers are involved from the birth of a corporation (incorporation) and to its death (for example, liquidation), and at every stage in between.
Criminal lawyer
Criminal lawyers have many opportunities for employment. They can be in private practice acting for defendants, or they can join the prosecution and work for the government. Either way, criminal lawyers and law firms focus on strong advocacy and due process, whatever side they're on.
Aside from having a strong legal knowledge of the Criminal Code, criminal lawyers may deal with other statutes, including crimes prescribed by other laws, either federal or provincial:
- traffic laws with penal sanctions
- white-collar crimes under corporate law
- drug control statutes
- prosecuting young offenders
You can also check out our article on the pros and cons of practising criminal law to see if being a criminal lawyer fits you or not.
Environmental lawyer
Climate change and environment-related challenges are not going away any time soon. As a result, the skills of environmental lawyers will continue to be in demand for the years ahead.
This is another practice area that branches out to several others, giving you more opportunities for career growth and expansion. To become an environmental lawyer, law students may also have to know these related practice areas:
- energy law: especially since energy projects are now required to do consultations and environmental assessments before they can proceed
- laws on ESG: corporations need the help of environmental lawyers in planning and implementing ESG measures
- forestry law: regulation of timber harvesting and utilizing forest resources require lawyers, both for regulators and those who are being regulated
Family lawyer
The work of family lawyers is rarely easy, because they often deal with intense emotions and complicated domestic matters. Still, family law can be one of the most rewarding practice areas, especially when legal tools help resolve long‑running family problems.
Family lawyers also deal with several related practice areas, including:
- adoption laws
- child/spousal support and parenting arrangements
- cross-border family issues
- divorce, annulment, and separation
- succession law (e.g., wills, estates, trusts)
You can find more inspiring stories of the best family lawyers in Canada, specifically for succession issues in Canadian Lawyer's Special Report on the Best Law Firms for Wills, Trusts, and Estates.
Immigration lawyer
Refugee and immigration law has become more prominent, especially on border enforcement, student and employment entries, and citizenship applications. Immigration lawyers can work in several ways and in different organizations:
- representing immigrants to enter Canada and apply for citizenship
- helping the government in formulating and implementing immigration policies
- appearing in courts and regulators (e.g., Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada or IRCC)
Immigration lawyers are especially sought by newcomers, since many have limited knowledge on Canadian refugee, immigration, and cross-border laws. With frequent changes to immigration policy, immigration lawyers play an increasingly important role in Canadian society.
Intellectual property (IP) lawyer
In recent years, companies and creators have paid more attention to protecting their art, inventions, and other forms of IPs. Among the other types of lawyers in Canada, intellectual property lawyers are hired to help in:
- registering IPs, either in Canada or internationally
- creating and implementing plans to protect and enforce IP rights
- litigating or prosecuting cases of IP infringement
Aside from knowing how to deal with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO), IP lawyers are experts in the different federal laws that govern each type of IP, namely:
- Patent Act
- Industrial Design Act
- Trademarks Act
- Copyright Act
Although no federal law governs trade secrets and confidential information, IP lawyers can help companies protect these secrets through several legal mechanisms. In addition, IP law can branch out to other practice areas, including Canadian fashion law.
Labour lawyer
Every workplace, whether public or private, from small enterprises to large industries, is likely to consult with a labour and employment lawyer at some point. Aside from understanding Canadian laws on labour standards and labour relations, labour lawyers may focus on specific related practice areas, such as, such as:
- anti-discrimination and equality laws
- labour relations in the construction sector
- occupational health and safety (OHS)
- workers' compensation and other benefits
- workplace human rights
Labour lawyers are also at the forefront when things go wrong in the workplace. For instance, general counsel may also take on a labour‑law role when workplace investigations are triggered.
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) lawyer
When companies agree to merge or when one is acquired by another, M&A lawyers are usually involved. From drafting the M&A agreement to closing the deal, M&A lawyers are there to help the party-companies, in addition to other professionals involved.
Just like the other types of lawyers in Canada, M&A lawyers are not confined to corporate laws. They are also engaged in other practice areas. For example, M&A lawyers must consider labour and employment laws to help create a smooth integration, after reviewing the employment issues in these deals.
Personal injury lawyer
According to Canadian Lawyer's article on what lawyers make the most money in Canada, medical malpractice and personal injury lawyers earn the most in terms of salary range. However, lawyers in the field of taxation make the most based on average salary.
Here's a graph that shows the different types of lawyers in Canada and their respective salary ranges and average salary:
Real estate lawyer
The practice of real estate lawyers can be divided into several main areas:
- commercial leasing: drafting lease agreements between parties, specifically the landlord and tenant, and enforcing these agreements when necessary
- property development: advising clients on land use, zoning laws, financing agreements, either for residential, commercial, or mixed-use projects
Real estate lawyers often work alongside other practice areas. For example, they may need to address insurance issues, including title insurance.
Tax lawyer
Tax lawyers are always on demand during the tax season, even later if the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) audits or reassesses a taxpayer. To learn about how tax lawyers work, check out this interview with a tax lawyer working for one of the best tax law firms in Canada:
Visit our Special Report on the Top Specialist Tax Law Firms in Canada for more insights from leading tax lawyers across the country.
Bookmark our Legal Education page for more news, articles, and updates for Canadian legal professionals, including write-ups on the different types of lawyers in Canada.
