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Meaning & use

lawyer

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈlɔːjə/
US/ˈlɔjər/

Meaning

  1. nouncountable

    Someone trained and licensed to give advice about the law, prepare legal documents, and speak for clients in disputes or in court.

    Grammar: Takes a / an in the singular: she is a lawyer, and they hired two lawyers.

    Patterns

    • a lawyer for someone
    • a lawyer who specializes in something
    • hire a lawyer

    My lawyer read through the contract before I signed it.

    She works as a lawyer for a company that makes medical devices.

    If the landlord refuses to return your deposit, you should speak to a lawyer.

Word forms

plurallawyers

Common combinations

hire a lawyer
After the accident, they decided to hire a lawyer.
defense lawyer
The defense lawyer argued that her client was nowhere near the scene.
criminal lawyer
A criminal lawyer visited him at the police station.
lawyer up
As soon as the investigation began, the executive decided to lawyer up.
consult a lawyer
You should consult a lawyer before starting a business partnership.
practice as a lawyer
He practiced as a lawyer for twenty years before becoming a judge.

Synonyms and how they differ

attorney
Attorney is the common formal term in the United States, whereas lawyer is the everyday, general word.
solicitor
Solicitor is a British term for a lawyer who advises clients directly and usually does not speak in higher courts.
barrister
Barrister is a British term for a lawyer who argues cases in the higher courts, often hired through a solicitor.
counsel
Counsel is a formal word for a lawyer who is giving advice or arguing in a particular case, such as counsel for the defense.

Word family

law noun
the system of rules a country or community enforces
lawful adjective
allowed by law
lawsuit noun
a case brought to a court by one party against another
lawyerly adjective
typical of a lawyer, especially careful or hair-splitting in argument

Commonly confused: lawyer or liar? lawyer or paralegal?

lawyer vs liar

A liar is someone who tells untruths, and the word is spelled and sounded quite differently. A lawyer practices law.

lawyer vs paralegal

A paralegal assists a lawyer with research and paperwork but is not fully qualified to practice law.

Practice

A man wants help understanding a complicated rental agreement before he signs it. Whom should he consult?

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