Matter Types and Practice Areas
eSolicitors covers 25+ major practice areas with over 200 matter sub-types and more than 30,000 distinct legal service offerings across different complexity levels, jurisdictions, and matter scenarios.
The categories below are a reference guide. The platform supports thousands of additional service combinations — lawyers are encouraged to create highly specific service listings that reflect their exact specialisations, not just the broad categories listed here.
Clients search by matter type when looking for a lawyer, and the AI Scoping Consultation identifies the relevant category automatically from the transcript.
All Practice Areas
Family Law
Divorce and Separation, Child Arrangements, Adoption, Domestic Abuse, Financial Settlement (Ancillary Relief), Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements, Cohabitation Agreement, Civil Partnership Dissolution + more
Property and Conveyancing
Buying a Property, Selling a Property, Remortgage, Transfer of Equity, Leasehold Issues and Service Charges, Commercial Property Purchase or Lease, Boundary Dispute, Right of Way and Easement + more
Wills, Trusts and Estates
Writing a Will, Probate and Estate Administration, Lasting Power of Attorney, Trust Creation and Administration, Inheritance Disputes (Contentious Probate), Estate Planning, Deed of Variation + more
Personal Injury
Road Traffic Accident, Workplace Injury, Slip and Fall, Industrial Disease, Defective Products, Fatal Accident Claim, Clinical Negligence (Personal Injury) + more
Immigration and Visa
Work Visa (Skilled Worker, Global Talent), Family Visa (Spouse, Parent, Child), Student Visa, Asylum Claim, British Citizenship Application, Deportation and Removal Appeal, Indefinite Leave to Remain + more
Criminal Defence
Motoring Offence, Assault and Violence, Fraud and Financial Crime, Drug Offence, Theft and Burglary, Sexual Offence, White Collar Crime, Police Station Advice + more
Business and Corporate
Starting a Business (Incorporation and Structure), Shareholder Agreement, Contract Drafting and Review, Partnership and Director Dispute, Business Sale or Acquisition, Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate Governance + more
Employment and Workplace
Unfair Dismissal, Redundancy and Settlement Agreement, Workplace Discrimination, Employment Contract Review, TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings), Whistleblowing, Restrictive Covenants, Employment Tribunal + more
Intellectual Property
Trademark Registration and Enforcement, Copyright Infringement, Patent Application, Brand Protection Strategy, Licensing Agreement, IP Portfolio Management, Design Rights, Trade Secrets + more
Technology and Data
GDPR and Data Protection Compliance, Data Breach Response, Technology and SaaS Contracts, Website Terms and Conditions, Software Licensing, AI and Emerging Technology, Cybersecurity Legal Advice + more
Debt and Bankruptcy
Personal Bankruptcy and IVA, Corporate Insolvency and Administration, Debt Recovery (Creditor), Business Winding Up, Creditor Claims, Voluntary Arrangements + more
Housing and Landlord-Tenant
Eviction and Possession Proceedings, Tenancy Dispute (Deposit, Repairs), Disrepair and Hazard Claims, Rent Arrears, HMO Licensing and Compliance, Lease Extension + more
Tax
HMRC Investigation and Enquiry, Tax Planning (Personal and Corporate), VAT Registration and Dispute, Capital Gains Tax, Inheritance Tax Planning, International Tax Advice + more
Consumer Rights
Refund and Return Dispute, Mis-selling Claim, Defective Goods, Contract Dispute, Online Fraud and Scam Recovery, Package Holiday Claims + more
Court of Protection and LPA
Power of Attorney (Health and Welfare, Property and Finance), Deputyship Order Application, Mental Capacity Assessment, Statutory Will Application, Court of Protection Proceedings + more
Commercial Disputes
Contract Breach, Commercial Debt Recovery, Partnership and Shareholder Dispute, Injunction Application, Mediation and Arbitration, Professional Negligence (Commercial) + more
Charity and Non-Profit
Charity Registration and Governance, Constitutional Issues, Employment in Charities, Fundraising and Gift Aid Compliance, Trustee Obligations + more
Medical Negligence
Surgical Error, Misdiagnosis, Birth Injury, Dental Negligence, GP and Hospital Negligence, Cosmetic Procedure Claim + more
Education Law
School Exclusion Challenge, Special Educational Needs (EHCP), University Disciplinary Dispute, Teacher Employment and Discipline, Admissions Appeal + more
Sports and Entertainment
Athlete and Performer Contract, Media and Broadcasting Deal, Image Rights, Disciplinary Hearing Defence, Sponsorship Agreement + more
Planning and Environment
Planning Permission Application, Planning Appeal, Environmental Impact, Compulsory Purchase Order, Listed Building Consent, Development Rights + more
Financial Services
FCA Regulatory Complaint, Investment and Pension Dispute, Banking and Lending Dispute, Insurance Claim, FSCS Claim, Financial Mis-selling + more
International Law
Cross-Border Commercial Dispute, International Contract Drafting, Foreign Court Order Enforcement, International Arbitration (LCIA, ICC, UNCITRAL), Extradition + more
Public Law and Judicial Review
Judicial Review Application, Human Rights Claim, Freedom of Information Request, Local Authority Challenge, Inquests + more
Other and General Legal
General Legal Advice, Initial Legal Assessment, Dispute Resolution, Legal Consultation Only + more
The sub-matter types above are a representative sample. The platform supports many thousands of additional service variations depending on jurisdiction, complexity, and specific client circumstances. When creating service listings, you are encouraged to describe your exact specialisation as precisely as possible rather than selecting a broad category.
How Practice Areas Work on the Platform
When you set up your profile: Select the practice areas you cover. You can select multiple areas. Clients searching for a lawyer in a specific area will see your profile.
When you create a service listing: Choose the specific sub-matter type (for example, "Divorce and Separation" within Family Law). The platform uses this for client-side search and AI matching.
During an AI Scoping Consultation: The AI identifies the practice area and sub-matter type from the transcript and populates these fields in the scope report automatically.
For AI matching: The matching wizard analyses your practice area specialisations and sub-matter expertise as key factors in recommending you to clients with relevant needs. Specific sub-category expertise carries the highest weight.
Jurisdiction by Practice Area
Some practice areas are jurisdiction-specific. Key distinctions:
| Practice Area | England & Wales | Scotland | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conveyancing | Law of Property Act 1925 | Scots property law (offers, missives) | State real estate law |
| Family Law | Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 | Family Law (Scotland) Act 1985 | State divorce law |
| Criminal Defence | Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 | Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 | State and federal criminal law |
| Employment | Employment Rights Act 1996 | Same (employment law not devolved) | FLSA, NLRA, state employment law |
| Immigration | UK Immigration Rules (Home Office) | Same | USCIS, Immigration and Nationality Act |
When you build a scope, you select the advising jurisdiction for that specific matter, which is recorded in the scope document.
All matter types are available across UK, US, and International jurisdictions unless specifically excluded by regulation. See Accepted Countries and Jurisdictions for the full list.
Explore eSolicitors and see how clients are searching for your specialisation right now.