In law enforcement, computer forensics professionals may work for local police departments, state police departments, or the Federal Bureau of Investigation. They may go to the scene of incidents, gather evidence, investigate the evidence, and write reports. They may also provide testimony for criminal cases in court. Individuals who specialize in the forensic study of computers may also be called “cyber investigators”, “cyber cops”, or “digital detectives”.

Computer forensics experts investigate crimes such as identity theft, credit card fraud, intellectual property theft, threats/harassment, pedophilia, and unauthorized computer system intrusion. These computer crimes or “cyber crimes” constitute a significant risk to individuals, companies, and governments. Cyber crimes result in tens of millions of dollars of dollars in losses each year.

Computer forensics examiners need a wide range of technical skills and knowledge. They must have expertise in network security, protocols, software, computer file formats, routing, cryptology, reverse software engineering, password cracking, and diagnostic techniques. In addition to technical skills, professionals in this field must have good oral and written communication skills, understand and comply with investigation procedures, work under tight deadlines, have problem solving abilities and be creative and persistent in the pursuit of evidence.

Experts in this field may also be involved in crimes that were not directly committed via computer. There may be information stored on a computer or storage device that is important for the case. For example, e-mail evidence can be used in cases against robbery and homicide suspects. Computer forensics experts are needed in these cases, as there are very specific procedures that must be followed for digital information to be presented as valid evidence.

Finding a good lawyer is essential, but if that lawyer doesn’t specialize in the specific area in which you need them, it doesn’t put you in the best situation. You don’t want to hire a lawyer who specializes in divorce to help you with a personal injury suit, and vice versa. Thus it’s imperative that you find not only a good lawyer, but one who really knows specific information about your problem. Here is a brief overview of some of the most popular types of lawyers and what they do:

Criminal Lawyer

A criminal lawyer is the highest profile lawyer for good reason. Criminal lawyers handle statutory and common law crimes and the punishment of criminal offences. They deal with every aspect of criminal law, with the state defender, or prosecutor, defending the state’s interest and the defense attorney representing the defender. They defend against and prosecute crimes against the person (assault, murder, rape, etc.), crimes against property (arson, theft, larceny etc.), crimes against justice (bribery, perjury etc.) and other myriad lesser criminal offenses.

Divorce Lawyer

Divorce lawyers focus on any and all matters concerning divorce. This applies to any proceedings, including prenuptial agreements, division of property, alimony or spousal payments, child support, and more. Most individuals going through a divorce generally hire a divorce lawyer to take care of all legal matters. Much of the time a good divorce lawyer can make all the difference in how messy or clean your divorce becomes.

Accident Lawyers or Personal Injury Lawyers

Accident lawyers, also known as personal injury lawyers, specialize in legal claims relating to auto accidents and vehicle claims, dangerous or defective products, medical and health care malpractice, workplace injuries (worker’s compensation), wrongful death, and a slew of other accidental incidents that warrant legal procedures.

Immigration Lawyers

Immigration lawyers handle any matters pertaining to immigration, including citizenship and naturalization proceedings, permanent residence, green cards, work visas, asylum, deportation hearings, family-based immigration waivers, and any other legal issues surrounding immigrants to the US.

Financial and Business Lawyers

Financial lawyers deal with a wide range of business and personal investments, savings products and services. These include mortgages, banking, brokerage services, commodities, claims, mutual funds, stocks and bonds, and other securities. They are in charge of taking care of all legal requirements and formalities surrounding any financial issue. They are also helpful for starting and operating businesses, including: LLC’s, corporations, and partnerships.