Whether you are pre-selecting a lawyer for your business or just in a hurry to find a lawyer for help with criminal charges, it is worth knowing the different types of law firms out there so that you can make a better choice for your needs. The legal firm itself is simply a collection of more than one lawyer ranging from small firms of about two to fifty lawyers to large firms of over two hundred lawyers.

The first type is the general practice. This is a good kind of firm for any general business because they perform the usual run of the mill services. A general practice one can help you form a business by incorporating and they can also review all contracts that you enter into. If your business happens to specialize in something like medical equipment you will need a specialty practice to handle your needs. Specialty or boutique ones have come about due to the complex nature of law in a modern litigious society. Whether it’s malpractice, personal injury, bankruptcy, drunk driving, drug crimes, corporate or criminal law you will probably need a specialty one to meet your requirements.

The large or mega ones are designed to provide the advantages of both the general and specialty practice. The large firms cost more money per hour, but this is because they have to keep so many different specialty and general practice lawyers on staff along with support staff for each one. If you require a wide array of services and you have the resources then a large office is necessary to stand toe to toe with your competitors. International law offices can also be necessary if you are involved in any export-import business. The US is limited in some ways internationally because lawyers are licensed by state and usually practice solely in that state. Most international firms reside in either England or New York, but others are based in Berlin, Paris, Toronto, Tokyo and Mumbai. As globalization of the world economy advances, there will be more and more international law firms created.