What is a niche practice of law?

[Anonymous]

DD will be applying to law school for admission in the fall of 2019. We know no attorneys personally. Throughout our research, the term "niche law" keeps surfacing as a near foolproof way to have a successful career. So, is the term comparable to a "specialty" within law such as tax, real estate, or banking OR is there something more to it? And is it actually the path to a flourishing career so far indicated to us?

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

It basically means a specialty that most lawyers and big law firms don't do--so not general IP, real estate, commercial transactions, etc., but something narrower and more focused. And there are no guarantees, because it's hard sometimes to predict what area of law will grow or decline--there are areas of the law today that didn't really even exist twenty years ago. And if you overspecialize, you might have a hard time drumming up enough business. I know a lawyer who specializes in disputed ownership of art (his clients are primarily art museums); other attorneys specialize in transactions involving online currency, or personal injury cases involving motorcycles, or family law for LGBTQ people.

[Anonymous]

Land use for developers- that’s niche.

[Anonymous]

Why does she want to go to law school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD will be applying to law school for admission in the fall of 2019. We know no attorneys personally. Throughout our research, the term "niche law" keeps surfacing as a near foolproof way to have a successful career. So, is the term comparable to a "specialty" within law such as tax, real estate, or banking OR is there something more to it? And is it actually the path to a flourishing career so far indicated to us?

Thanks.

It's much more narrow than tax, real estate, etc. Very narrow. And it's only a fool-proof way to have a successful career if it's necessary work for which people will pay. If my niche were representing plaintiffs in class action lawsuits against zoos, I might not get very far. Also successful does not always equal lucrative, such as death penalty lawyers.

[Anonymous]

Hard to say what will be “niche” and of course depends on what her interests actually are. Niche practices tend to evolve bc they are complex and no one wants to learn them.

I have a niche practice and do work no one else in my department does. It’s great bc you are essential, your judgment is trusted, and you are left alone to do your thing. It’s hard bc you can’t go on vacation.

Examples of niche practices in my world: Tax, ERISA, campaign finance.

[Anonymous]

A niche practice can be a double edged sword. My practice can get busy or not based on business/political changes totally outside my control. Because I am so specialized, it can be harder to shift to other things when my area is slower.

I certainly wouldn't go into law school with the idea that a niche practice is the way to go. She couldn't possibly know that now and a lot of things are happenstance and out of your control. I certainly never would have expected to work in this area as a 0L, or even after graduation, but it is where I got the opportunity.

[Anonymous]

Why isn’t she talking about this with an advisor, law admissions staff member, trusted professor, etc.? Why hasn’t she looked into connecting with an attorney alum of her college?

I worked at a law school for many years. Be advised that parental over-involvement is not looked upon favorably.

[Anonymous]

No, this is not a foolproof way to a successful career. Some niches (and larger practice areas) exist in only certain geographic locations. Some pay better than others.

Tax and ERISA are not niches! Representing oil pipeline owners (not oil companies, not oil shipping companies), only companies who own oil pipelines, is an example of a niche. Most students won't even know these practice areas exist.

It's like saying (terrible example) "Mexican restaurants are the best restaurants." It's much too broad to be helpful.

[Anonymous]

I have a freind who is an attorney specializing in YouTube law.

[Anonymous]

federal electric rate regulation (but I agree with comments above that it's not a foolproof way to a successful career and to question why she wants to go into it)

[Anonymous]

As people have said, it's only going to work if:

a) the niche is something the lawyer can actually be an expert at (you can position yourself as focusing on Polish/US intellectual property law but if you're not fluent in Polish and you don't have a science background who would hire you?)

b) there are people interested in hiring lawyers for the type of work you want to do. If there are other people who can do similar work (accountants, social workers) or if people can do it themselves, it won't work.

c) the people who want to hire you can afford to pay a lawyer (for example, you could have a niche practice representing homeless people whose belongings were seized from the sidewalk by the city, but your clients won't be able to pay you anything. You can do this work for a nonprofit but it won't be lucrative)

d) you are good at promoting yourself and building a brand.

here's a good article: http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/building_niche_law_practice

[Anonymous]

To 15:21, I'd add--it will only work if your niche doesn't get erased by changes in the law or society. New niches can arise based on technological, demographic, or other changes, but they can also vanish.