what is the difference between a lawyer and an attorney
What is the difference between a lawyer and an attorney?
A lot of people use the terms “lawyer” and “attorney” interchangeably when they talk about legal professionals, but in reality, there is a subtle difference between these two terms.
Definition of a Lawyer:
A lawyer is a person who has studied law and been trained in the field of law. Lawyers can provide legal advice to clients, represent them in court settings, draft legal documents, and negotiate on their behalf. Lawyers may also give counsel to their clients, inform them about their legal rights and obligations, and help them navigate through legal proceedings.
Definition of an Attorney:
An attorney, on the other hand, is an individual who is legally authorized to represent another person, and represent them in legal proceedings. Attorneys are specialized lawyers who have passed the bar exam in their state and been admitted to practice law. Attorneys can practice law in all its aspects and specialize in different areas of law, such as criminal law, corporate law, family law, immigration law, and so forth.
Attorneys have the right to file legal documents, attend court proceedings, make legal arguments to judges, and they can also represent clients in arbitration and mediation proceedings. In other words, an attorney is a qualified and licensed lawyer who provides legal services to clients.
In summary, the main difference between a lawyer and an attorney is that not all lawyers are attorneys. While both lawyers and attorneys have studied law and are qualified to give legal advice to clients, an attorney has passed the bar exam in their state and been admitted to practice law. Attorneys have a more extensive right to represent clients in legal settings and can engage in a broader range of legal activities than lawyers.