# Do lawyers have to be licensed for specialties?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-lawyers-have-to-be-licensed-for-specialties/1014526>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 19, 2025, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-lawyers-have-to-be-licensed-for-specialties/1014526 "2025-02-19T18:53:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 3

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**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-lawyers-have-to-be-licensed-for-specialties/1014526/3 "2025-02-19T19:09:32Z")

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> [@Can a commercial lawyer effectively represent criminal defendants in court (Better Call Saul)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-commercial-lawyer-effectively-represent-criminal-defendants-in-court-better-call-saul/944971/):
>
> This is a general question although it references a fictional character. In the TV Show “Better Call Saul”, the character Kim Wexler does some pro bono work as a public defender, even though her day job is as a litigation lawyer in a commercial law firm. This seems incredible to me because the roles are so different that I can’t see how she could possibly be competent to advise and represent people in criminal cases. In a US context, is this realistic?

Stranger

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