THE LAW AND YOU: What is the Difference Between an Attorney, Lawyer, Barrister, and Esquire? By ADRIEN ALPENDRE, Esq. Perhaps no other profession has as many variations in titles than that of lawyer. The titles attorney, lawyer, barrister and Esquire are frequently used, sometimes interchangeably, in the field of law. However, by definition, each has a unique meaning. 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. of A., attorney and lawyer are normally considered synonyms. The term lawyer has Middle English roots. In the U.K, even more job titles are used in the field of law; there are barristers and solicitors, among others. A barrister generally performs trial work, especially in the higher courts, and does not deal directly with clients. A solicitor, on the other hand, speaks with clients, prepares documents and may appear as an advocate in a lower court. Any person who has passed the required three years of Law School (four years in the U.K.) and has been admitted to the local Bar Association is entitled to had Esquire (Esq.) to his/her name when signing, irrespective of whether or not he/she is practicing the legal profession.
Posted on: Mon, 23 Sep 2013 13:21:27 +0000
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