Definition

1. Noun:
   • A professional person authorized to practice law: A "lawyer" is an individual who has obtained the necessary legal qualifications and is licensed to advise clients on legal matters, represent them in court, and prepare legal documents.
   • One who conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice: This refers to the core activities of a lawyer, which include managing legal cases (litigation) and providing counsel on rights and obligations under the law.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • She hired a lawyer to help with the contract.
  • The lawyer presented compelling evidence to the jury.
  • You should consult a lawyer for advice on this matter.

Advanced Usage

• "To lawyer up" (informal, often used in legal or police contexts): To hire or request the presence of a lawyer, especially when being questioned by authorities.
  • As soon as the police started asking questions, he decided to lawyer up.

Variants and Related Words

• Attorney (n): A synonym often used interchangeably with "lawyer," particularly in the United States. It specifically denotes one who is appointed to act for another in legal matters.
  • She is a district attorney.
• Counsel (n): A formal term for a lawyer or a group of lawyers giving advice, especially one engaged in the conduct of a case in court.
  • The defendant's counsel made a strong closing argument.
• Barrister (n): (Used in some jurisdictions like the UK and Australia) A lawyer who specializes in courtroom advocacy and litigation.
• Solicitor (n): (Used in some jurisdictions like the UK and Australia) A lawyer who deals with most legal matters outside of court, such as preparing documents and giving advice, and may represent clients in lower courts.

Synonyms

• Attorney-at-law: A formal term for a lawyer.
• Legal practitioner: A general term for someone who practices law.
• Advocate: One who argues for a cause or represents another, especially in a court of law.

Related Phrasal Verbs / Phrases

• Practice law: The act of working as a lawyer.
  • He has been licensed to practice law for twenty years.

Related Idioms

• "A good lawyer knows the law; a great lawyer knows the judge": A saying implying that personal connections and courtroom savvy can be as important as legal knowledge.
• "Lawyer's wig": This is not an idiom but a common name for a type of fungus () due to its appearance.

Noun

1. a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice