Master of All, or Why Specialization Is So Important in a Lawyer's Work

Lawyers are often compared to doctors, and rightly so: both professions rely on specialization. There are family lawyers, corporate lawyers, arbitration dispute lawyers, intellectual property lawyers, and many others.

Below, we explain why specialization matters and why having one or more areas of expertise is better than being a “master of all.”

1. Consultation

A narrow-profile specialist understands the client’s field and their problems, including the client’s business processes. Such a lawyer is prepared to answer even the most unexpected questions during a consultation.

For a multidisciplinary specialist, the client’s profile may be less clear, and the problem is not always fully understood during the first consultation. In such cases, the lawyer may need additional time to study the matter or consult with colleagues.

An important note: it does not matter whether you work with a narrow-profile specialist or a broad-profile specialist. A lawyer should never guarantee the outcome to a client.

Following this principle distinguishes diligent lawyers, regardless of their specialization, from scammers posing as lawyers.

2. “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 different kicks. I fear the man who has practiced one kick 1,000 times.”

A lawyer with a narrow specialization handles certain types of cases repeatedly, year after year. This specialist has deep knowledge of current judicial practice and the nuances of proving the client’s position, which can significantly influence the outcome of the case.

A broad-profile lawyer usually knows the general legal provisions set out in the relevant code, but may have little or no knowledge of current judicial practice in a specific category of disputes within a particular region. Such a lawyer may lack a deep understanding of the matter and a proven strategy for handling the case, which reduces the chances of success in court.

Do you need a legal consultation? Is a court dispute ahead?

Contact Pravo & Slovo: we have specialists with both narrow and broad expertise, which allows us to provide our clients with legal assistance at a high professional standard.