I’ve come across the terms ‘lawyer’ and ‘attorney’ frequently, but I’m not entirely clear on their differences. Can someone explain how these terms differ and in what contexts each is used? Are there specific legal qualifications o
A “lawyer” is a general term for someone trained in law, while an “attorney” specifically refers to someone authorized to represent clients in legal matters. The distinction often depends on jurisdiction, but attorneys typically hold legal qualifications and licenses to practice law in a particular area or court.
Both terms refer to legal professionals, but “attorney” often implies they represent clients in court.
A lawyer is someone who is qualified to practice law. Solicitors, barristers, and chartered legal executives are all lawyers, whereas a “Attorney” is someone who takes on the role of another and acts on their behalf, either because they have been granted a specific power to do so (a “Power of Attorney”) or because the law recognises their authority to do so.