What Is Private Practice Law?

Private practice lawyers are law school graduates who practice law without immediately engaging in the employ of a law firm. After a long downturn, which lasted until the 1990s, there has been a gradual upswing in private practice.

Types of Private Practice Law

Private practice lawyers may be sole proprietors or may work with one or more partners. Sole proprietors, the largest practicing group of lawyers, are those who have chosen to "throw out their shingle" and begin private practice. Each is licensed or admitted to his state's bar association.

History

Since the 18th century, most lawyers have been private practice sole proprietors. As the American economy moved toward higher-stakes economics, such as assembly-line industries that grew following from World War I and World War II, lawyers began to gravitate toward corporate work, where the money was. Private practice began to quickly dwindle until the 1990s, when the democratization of law began to draw lawyers into private practice once again.

Specializations

The Bureau of Labor Statistics cites that most lawyers engage in private practice, specializing in either criminal or civil law, and in both public-interest law and private cases. Private practice criminal lawyers argue individual cases in court. Civil private attorneys manage trust and will litigation, real estate and tax issues. Those conducting work in the public interest sector work privately with law administration issues.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Lawyers
• Law Library: Sole Practitioners - Training for the Public Profession of Law