General practice attorneys handle a broad range of legal matters across multiple disciplines, making them particularly well-suited to individuals and small businesses whose needs don't fit neatly into a single specialty. At the federal level, some areas — immigration, bankruptcy, intellectual property, and federal criminal defense — follow a uniform national framework that applies regardless of location. But the majority of legal needs that bring people to a general practice attorney — wills and estate documents, real estate transactions, contract disputes, business formation, family matters, and local criminal charges — are governed by state law and often by the practices of specific local courts.

For clients in smaller markets, a general practice attorney who knows the local courts, local procedures, and local legal culture often provides more practical value than a distant specialist who has never appeared in that jurisdiction's courthouse. State bar admissions, professional conduct rules, and continuing education requirements are all state-specific, reinforcing that general practice is fundamentally a local endeavor.

Whether you need an attorney to handle multiple aspects of a legal situation or a starting point before a specialist referral, a general practice attorney in your state is the right place to begin. The state grid below links to general practice attorneys in every jurisdiction.