9 Comments on Whats The Difference Between An Attorney And A Lawyer?

Jessica on Tue, 1st Dec 2009 12:27 pm


Generally speaking, an attorney, or attorney-at-law, is a person who is a member of the legal profession. An attorney is qualified and licensed to represent a client in court. By most definitions, an attorney may act on the client’s behalf and plead or defend a case in legal proceedings. The English word attorney has French origins, where it meant “a person acting for another as an agent or deputy.”
A lawyer, by definition, is someone who is trained in the field of law and provides advice and aid on legal matters. Because a lawyer also conducts suits in court proceedings and represents clients in various legal instances, the term has expanded to overlap the definition of attorney. In the U.S., attorney and lawyer are normally considered synonyms.

Grey hat SEO on Tue, 1st Dec 2009 5:25 pm


Technically they’re the same, but the distinction has come to mean a lawyer is someone trained in the law who can give legal advice; and an attorney is a lawyer who is legally empowered to represent someone or act on their behalf.
I’m not an expert, but I believe that’s why Miranda says you have the right to speak with an attorney, rather than with a lawyer.

Money Making Methods on Tue, 1st Dec 2009 8:27 pm


notta/zero/nothing

heart&so on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 2:04 am


An attorney cost more.

evilatto on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 3:55 am


None. The terms are interchangable.

Sam on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 9:01 am


They’re the same: a lawyer is an attorney-at-law or attorney-in-fact.

Pay-Per-View on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 9:03 am


there is no difference.

Ginger on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 12:22 pm


Just different names for the same thing in the US.

Your Way To Success on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 2:17 pm


Nothing…. they are Attorneys at Law

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