Some legal fields are fast tracks, while others are steady paths. But both offer valuable opportunities. Here are some hot practice areas to consider.
By Donna Campbell
Imagine a well-dressed rabbit hopping from one legal field to another — litigation, cybersecurity, health, labor, intellectual property — chasing the latest opportunities in law.
As a law student, you may need that same agility as the legal landscape shifts.
But not all legal fields are subject to rapid change. Some, like criminal defense, tax law and elder law, are steady and always in motion — represented by a determined turtle making its way forward. These evergreen practice areas provide long-term career stability, ensuring that no matter how the legal market evolves, there’s always a demand for skilled lawyers.
Whether you see yourself as the quick-footed rabbit chasing emerging trends or the steadily moving turtle mastering a timeless practice, the key is to start exploring early. The right legal path is out there. It’s just a matter of finding your best stride.
In-demand practice areas
Several legal fields are really taking off right now. Think health law, energy law, labor & employment law, elder law, intellectual property, and even cannabis law. For law students, this means more opportunities to break into high-demand fields.
A report on legal trends from Clio, a legal software solutions company, confirms the growth of these practice areas and adds data privacy and cybersecurity to the mix.
Also in agreement about the high-demand fields is Ave Staffing, a legal recruiting firm. In its report on legal trends, litigation tops the list due to a rise in complex commercial disputes, regulatory cases and intellectual property issues.
Jamy Sullivan, executive director of legal practice at talent solutions and business consulting firm, Robert Half, said lawyers with expertise in technology, data analytics and litigation will have an advantage in the job market.
“Litigation, as well as labor and employment law, continue to be on the rise,” she said. “Professionals with backgrounds in compliance and risk management are well-positioned to navigate the evolving regulatory landscape in finance, technology and pharmaceuticals.”
Sullivan said several high-demand practice areas increasingly emphasize ethics and compliance, especially in relation to artificial intelligence.
“Law firms and companies are investing in how to integrate legal technologies to expand into new specializations to take on new clients,” she said. “The buzzword is compliance with respect to AI governance.”
The latest report by Robert Half said almost all leading law firms are planning to add staff or at least maintain their current staffing levels.
“Our latest survey indicated that 71% of legal leaders are planning to hire for new, permanent positions,” Sullivan said.
Valerie Fontaine is one of the founders of SeltzerFontaine, a legal recruiting firm based in Los Angeles. She said natural disasters in California have increased demand for insurance defense litigators.
“The need for insurance defense litigators is hot right now due to the wildfires and flooding,” she said. “Companies are asking legal recruiters to help fill the order for lawyers, and we are coming up short, which is new and not something I’ve ever seen in my 40 years of recruiting.”
Fontaine said litigation across many sectors continues to be an in-demand practice area, especially in California.
“Compliance, as it relates to enforcement, is fueling litigation,” she said.
Fontaine said recent law grads have an edge over seasoned lawyers in the tech-driven fields.
“New lawyers are more in tune with the latest technological advancements, which puts them ahead of the curve,” she said. “When new technology takes off, there’s always legal work that comes with it.”
She said she is seeing a lot of opportunities in areas such as AI and cybersecurity since the legal side of these fields is still evolving.
“AI is growing fast,” she said. “There aren’t really any AI legal experts yet. That makes it a great space for lawyers to jump in.”
Fontaine pointed out that intellectual property also plays a huge role in tech-related fields.
“There’s a big need for IP protection, and plenty of litigation is bound to follow,” she said.
With technology advancing at lightning speed, she said she expects legal hiring trends to shift just as quickly.
Evergreen practice areas
Fontaine said some legal fields are considered evergreen because they stay in demand no matter how the industry ebbs and flows, making them great options for new lawyers. Labor law, for example, tends to be steady regardless of economic ups and downs.
“Right now, labor and employment law is huge, especially in California,” she said. “California has its own unique set of employment laws, and companies know that if they can comply there, they’re likely covered everywhere else. Because of this, corporations are always looking for lawyers who understand California’s labor laws.”
Litigation is another evergreen area, Fontaine said, since lawsuits don’t stop just because the economy shifts.
“What’s great about labor and employment law is that it includes both litigation and advisory work,” she said. “So if someone doesn’t want to be in court all the time, there’s still plenty of variety in this field.”
She also mentioned elder law and health law as hot, evergreen practice areas, thanks to the aging U.S. population.
“Everyday people need legal help too,” she said. “With America’s population getting older, elder law and health law are going to be booming. The graying of America touches so many different areas of law. As federal policy changes, there will be a need for interpretation and enforcement, and this adds to litigation due to push back from insurance agencies and consumers.”
Tax law is an area that always needs lawyers, Fontaine said. And yes, criminal law will always be evergreen as well.
Emerging practice areas
Travis Whitsitt is an editor with Vault Law. He spent seven years practicing law on the defense side of patent litigation.
His blog on vault.com, “Embracing Emerging Practice Areas: Legal Specializations to Watch in 2025,” said the growth of private space travel and satellite tech are raising legal issues around space property rights, orbital collision liability and international treaties.
Whitsitt said governments and private companies, such as SpaceX, are investing heavily in the space sector, making it a promising field.
Fontaine pointed out a practice area that is often overlooked: wealth management.
“Practitioners are aging out, and junior lawyers are not being encouraged to go into this practice area,” she said. “We are in the midst of the largest generational wealth transfer in the U.S. that will continue for the next 15 to 20 years as baby boomers retire.”
Fontaine said another area to consider when you’re starting out is estate planning.
“Whether it’s a mom and pop or sophisticated entity, this is a need across the board,” she said.
Other areas where changes are happening include business, mergers & acquisitions, real estate and cannabis, Fontaine said.
“As with any fledgling company in a new business sector, cannabis clients need a full range of standard legal services, such as setting up and structuring a business, negotiating agreements, completing license applications and handling real estate issues,” she said. “They also need advice relating to agriculture, zoning and tax law. Because the industry involves medical products, some marijuana clients may require additional specialized administrative and regulatory assistance.”
Rena Barnett Matthews is an attorney and legal career coach. She said blockchain and cryptocurrency law is a rapidly expanding niche.
“Lawyers with expertise in digital assets in the financial sector are increasingly being sought after by fintech companies and startups,” Matthews said.
Hop on the path early
Jim Walsh, assistant dean of career services at Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law, said students can design their own career paths by choosing to participate in clinics, externships and practicums that focus on their chosen specialties.
“Civil litigation, transactional work, data privacy, cybersecurity and health law are in-demand specialties,” Walsh said. “And all things that evolve around artificial intelligence are emerging practice areas.”
Walsh said even students who don’t come from hard-science backgrounds are interested in intellectual property litigation. They want to focus on copyright and trademark infringements, and in the aftermath of an election year, the focus typically shifts to public interest or policy work in fields such as immigration, voting rights and election law.
Walsh said it’s wise for students to focus on the practice area that most interests them but still be open to other specialties.
“We coach students to have a primary practice area to aim for during law school but to also have a backup plan in mind,” he said. “Through curriculum, clinics and externships, student can start early in narrowing down which practice area best fits their career path.”
Walsh said it’s vital to begin networking early in your chosen field.
“Build genuine relationships by attending industry events, engaging with alumni and following up,” he said. “Networking isn’t just about jobs; it’s about growing in your practice area.”
Vault’s Whitsitt said adapting your career path to align with upcoming trends requires strategic planning.
He recommends doing pro bono work to gain experience in an emerging field, such as working for a nonprofit with data privacy issues; this position could segue into a cybersecurity role or other position in technology.
Whitsitt stressed the importance of staying informed about your area of interest by following key developments.
Fontaine agreed.
“Law students and lawyers need to keep an eye on current events to stay ahead of what is happening in technology and regulatory matters across the legal spectrum,” Fontaine said. “Practice areas overlap, and nimble practitioners can adapt more quickly to changes in their respective fields.”
This article appeared in the 2025 Spring issue of The National Jurist. Inside the article, check out the Legal Specialties Guide for insight into various fields of law and learn about the major hubs for hot specialties.
