legal e's

Meanings

1. 1nounpluralinformalAmericanlaw

   Immigration lawyers, especially those who handle visa and deportation cases in the United States.

   Grammar: Used as a plural noun; it takes a plural verb, as in 'The legal e's are busy.'

   Patterns

   • the legal e's
   • hire the legal e's
   • the legal e's handle something

   After the new rules were announced, the legal e's in the city were flooded with calls.

   She asked a friend who works with the legal e's to explain the visa process.

   The legal e's warned that the deadline was only two weeks away.

2. 2nounpluralinformalAmericanlaw

   Lawyers who specialize in immigration matters, seen as a group within the legal profession.

   Grammar: Often used with 'the' to talk about the group as a whole.

   Patterns

   • among the legal e's
   • the legal e's say something

   Among the legal e's, opinions on the ruling were divided.

   The legal e's say the paperwork takes months to process.

Common combinations

immigration lawyer

He hired an immigration lawyer to review his application.

deportation case

Her deportation case was taken up by a well-known attorney.

visa application

The visa application must be filed before the end of the month.

legal profession

She has worked in the legal profession for over twenty years.

Synonyms and how they differ

immigration lawyers

The standard, neutral term; use this in formal writing instead of the informal 'legal e's'.

attorneys

A general word for lawyers in American English; it does not specifically mean immigration lawyers.

Word family

legal adjective

Relating to the law or allowed by law.

legalese noun

Complicated language full of legal terms, hard for ordinary people to understand.

legally adverb

In a way that is allowed by law.

Commonly confused: legal e's or legalese? legal e's or legal ease?

Practice

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