Beyond the Basics: Areas of Law

Ever wonder who ensures your dream home doesn’t turn into a legal nightmare? Enter conveyancing lawyers—the real MVPs of property transactions.

Conveyancing is all about the legal transfer of property ownership from one person to another—think of them as the architects behind the scenes of real estate deals. These lawyers handle contracts, ensure all paperwork is in order, and make sure nobody accidentally sells you a haunted house (we hope).

If you’re someone who enjoys precision, organisation and the idea of helping people achieve life milestones (like buying their first home), conveyancing is a field worth considering. The stakes are high because property is often the largest investment a person makes.

After all, every house, apartment, and office building you see out there needs a conveyancing lawyer to make sure the transaction goes smoothly. So, if you love real estate and meticulous paperwork (yes, some people do!), conveyancing could be your jam.

Think about your favorite song, movie or invention. Now think about how brands like Apple, Nike or even your favorite YouTuber secure their unique identity. Intellectual Property (IP) law is how they do it.

This field ensures that creators, innovators, and businesses have exclusive rights to their work, whether it’s a logo, a groundbreaking app, or even a song.

IP lawyers work across a broad spectrum, including:

• Copyrights: Protecting works of art, literature, music, and films.
• Trademarks: Securing brand names, logos, and slogans.
• Patents: Safeguarding inventions and technological advancements.

This area of law is particularly exciting because it intersects with innovation, creativity, and business. Whether you're helping an artist fight piracy or assisting a tech startup in securing a patent for their product, you’ll always be at the cutting edge of creativity and commerce.

Bonus: If you secretly dream of rubbing elbows with inventors or celebrity creators, this field might just let you live that life. Who wouldn’t want to say, “I legally protected the next big blockbuster!”?

Imagine being the person who fights for justice for marginalised communities or advocates for freedom of speech. Human rights law deals with the fundamental rights and freedoms that should belong to everyone.

Human rights lawyers often work on cases involving:

• Discrimination based on race, gender, or religion.
• Refugee and asylum seeker rights.
• Ensuring fair treatment of vulnerable groups.

While the field is undoubtedly challenging, it’s also one of the most fulfilling areas of law. You might work with NGOs, international bodies like the United Nations, or even as an independent advocate for those who don’t have a voice.

If you’ve ever felt driven to make the world a better place, human rights law allows you to combine your passion for justice with your legal skills to create meaningful change.

Ever heard of a surgical tool left inside a patient or a prescription mix-up? While these sound like plotlines from a medical drama, they do happen in real life—and that’s where medical negligence law addresses cases where patients have been harmed due to a healthcare professional’s failure to meet the required standard of care.

Examples of medical negligence include:

• Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis.
• Surgical errors, like operating on the wrong body part.
• Prescribing the wrong medication or dosage.

As a medical negligence lawyer, your role is to seek justice for patients who have suffered due to such errors. You’ll often work closely with medical experts to understand the intricacies of a case, translating complex medical information into actionable legal arguments.

This area of law requires compassion, attention to detail, and a firm resolve to ensure that healthcare providers are held accountable when necessary. For those with an interest in health and justice, this field is incredibly rewarding.

Death is one of life’s certainties, but that doesn’t mean the process of managing someone’s estate should be chaotic. Lawyers specialising in trusts, wills, and probate help individuals plan their legacies and ensure their wishes are honored after they pass.

Key responsibilities in this area include:

• Drafting wills that clearly outline how assets should be distributed.
• Setting up trusts to protect assets or provide for loved ones.
• Managing the probate process, where a deceased person’s estate is legally distributed.

This field isn’t just about paperwork—it’s about empathy. You’ll often work with families during emotionally charged times, helping them navigate complex legal processes while respecting the wishes of their loved ones.

If you’re detail-oriented and enjoy helping people plan for the future, this area of law offers both stability and the opportunity to make a difference in your clients’ lives.