The Difference Between an Attorney and a Lawyer

This isn’t specifically a bankruptcy-related posting, but something I’ve always found curious.

Interesting thought: Is there a difference between a lawyer and an attorney? According to wisegeek.com: “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. The term lawyer has Middle English roots.”

I hope that clarifies this monumental issue for my bankruptcy blog readers :)



No related posts.

About Mark Markus

Mark J. Markus has been practicing exclusively bankruptcy law in California since 1991. He is AV-Rated by martindale.com, A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau. CLICK HERE for more information, to schedule an appointment, or to CONTACT MARK.

Trackbacks

  1. [...] in the courts of whatever jurisdiction he is practicing, who handles bankruptcy related cases. (click here for an explanation of the differences–if any–between an attorney and [...]

Speak Your Mind