A law firm is a private business made up of lawyers who perform legal services for a roster of clients and trial cases. Legal services vary from consulting advice on legal practices to representation in criminal cases.

Law firms can be organized in a variety of ways. For example, a sole proprietor is when one attorney is fully responsible for profit, loss, and liability. Another example is a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), a popular organization by which attorney are part-owners of the firm (partners) without any one partner taking full responsibility for the loss, liability, or negligence of any other partner. An LLP is taxed and enjoys liability protection like a corporation.

In addition to Partners, LLPs are also made up of associates, who are lawyers in the firm hoping to become partners, as well as administrative staff members and paralegals.

Law firms vary in size and specialty. Some law firms are internationally located and handle all kinds of cases from business disputes to criminal charges. Other law firms are small, one-branch businesses or large firms specializing in a particular kind of legal matter.