A defamation lawyer may be needed if libel, slander, and other scandalous words are spoken. A defamation lawyer may defend or prosecute the accused. Typically a defamation lawyer is called when a newspaper, television, or other person writes or says slanderous words. An example would be actors and actresses who hire a defamation lawyer when a newspaper prints something slanderous or libel about them.

The defamation lawyer can also help in equality cases. In this case a person who works for a company may hear libel words about them from the management. They can then hire a defamation lawyer to take this person to court for what they have said. The public does not often hear about defamation cases unless they involve well known individuals, but they do exist.