Difference between Attorney and Lawyer

Difference between Attorney and Lawyer

Many people think that an attorney and a lawyer are one of the same. This is not exactly true. While both are legal professionals who have been educated in the field of law, there are some differences between the two. Regularly, the terms often are used interchangeably, despite the differences in meaning.

Every Law graduate is a lawyer. The word lawyer has Middle English origins, and refers to someone who is educated and trained in law. Lawyers are people who have gone to law school and often may have taken and passed the bar exam. 

Attorney has French origins, and stems from a word meaning to act on the behalf of others. The term attorney is an abbreviated form of the formal title ‘attorney at law’. An attorney is someone who is not only trained and educated in law, but also practices it in court. A basic definition of an attorney is someone who acts as a practitioner in a court of law. 

                   

Lawyers have generally less experience as compared to advocates or solicitors. They may be yet to gain the necessary experience to specialise in specific areas of law. They can give legal advice to their clients, but may not be able to represent clients in court. A lawyer can advance into higher positions with experience, upon which their earning potential may also increase.

 •Qualifications Required to become Lawyer and Attorney

The basic qualification to become a lawyer is an LLB degree. LLB is a 3-year undergraduate program. Candidates who have cleared the 12th standard board exam with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks are eligible to pursue an undergraduate degree from a recognised university.

Both lawyers and attorneys have graduated from law school. Coursework in law school focuses on federal and state laws, past cases and how to apply logic and analysis to individual client needs.In most cases, students who graduate from law school will earn a Juris Doctor (JD) degree. This is the degree that many lawyers and attorneys hold

Attorney: Roles and Responsibilities

The key role for an attorney is practicing law in court. However, there are many more roles and responsibilities that an attorney takes on. Following are general roles and responsibilities for an attorney.

         

       •  Act as legal representation for their clients in law

• Interpret federal and state laws to better meet the needs of their clients
• Offer legal advice relating directly to their client’s situation
• Act as a consultant for businesses or individuals.

• Attend ALL pretrial hearings and hearings to represent clients in a court of law
• Collect retainers from clients and execute contracts
• Provide legal support and guidance
• Advise clients on the best behavior while charges are pending, including confiding in family and friends and social media use
• Meet with clients at the remand or an office to critically discuss the pending charges and strategize on how best to defend
• Finding ethical solutions to legal matters
• Communicate with clients to understand their legal concerns and needs to hep provide them with essential pieces of advice
• Strategize on how to resolve the clients’ cases in a favorable and cost-effective manner