Many lawyers specialize in one or two fields of law and that focus has benefits. Continuing education and law firm management is less demanding, marketing and advertising is less time consuming and expensive. They also tend to get more referrals from lawyers in other practice areas who don’t see them as a competitor.
But there is still plenty of competition.
My father had a general practice, and did well, but I think he would have done even better if he had chosen one or two practice areas and stuck to his knitting.
If you wrestle with the specialization question, know that there is another way to specialize. You can specialize in the clients you work with instead of (or in addition to) your field of law.
For example, you could work only (or primarily) with professionals, business owners or leaders in an industry or market, or in an ethnic or social community.
By specializing this way, you get to know more about their industry or market and understand their problems and goals better than other lawyers. You speak their language, so to speak, and develop relationships with the leaders in that market.
In time, you become known as an authority in that market, and other authorities seek you out.
When that happens, building your practice is a lot easier and a lot more remunerative.
How to choose a specialty and get the most out of it
