Have you wondered what the difference between a lawyer and an attorney is? There are lots of terms in which require explanation.

          An attorney is an agent who conducts business under authority, which is controlled and limited by a written document called power of attorney. In other words, an attorney is a person empowered to represent another person, or act on their behalf.

          A Lawyer is somebody who can give legal advice and has been trained in the law. Basically, lawyer and attorney are synonymous terms. Lawyers act as both advocates and advisors. As advocates, they represent one of the parties in a trial by presenting evidence and arguing in court to support their client. As advisors, lawyers counsel their clients concerning their legal rights and obligations.

          A Barrister presents the case in court. Most senior and distinguished barristers are designated King's or Queen’s Counsel.

          Lawyers may specialize in a number of different areas, such as bankruptcy, real estate, international law, or environmental law. Some lawyers specialize in intellectual property, helping to protect clients' copyrights, product designs, and computer programs. Some lawyers advise insurance companies about the legality of insurance transactions. They write insurance policies and protect companies from frivolous claims.

          Criminal lawyers represent individuals who have been charged with crimes. Attorneys dealing with civil law assist clients with litigation, wills, trusts, contracts, mortgages, and leases. Public interest lawyers handle cases which may have an impact extending well beyond the individual client. These issues involve patents, government regulations, public interest litigations, or collective-bargaining agreements with unions.