What's the Difference Between a Lawyer and an Attorney?
The difference between a lawyer and an attorney is a common question. 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.
Let's take a look.
A lawyer is someone who has been educated in the law and has completed law school. They can provide legal advice to others, but they cannot represent clients in court because they have not passed the bar exam.
An attorney, which is abbreviated from an “attorney-at-law”, is a lawyer who passed the state bar exam and can legally represent clients, practice law in court, take part in other legal proceedings, and offer legal advice directly pertaining to their client’s situation. They can also work as consultants for companies and individuals, just like regular lawyers.
It is helpful to remember that all attorneys are lawyers, but not all lawyers are attorneys. The major difference is that attorneys can represent clients in court and other legal proceedings, while lawyers cannot.
.
