By RAY ADLER
Ask Adler
Do you have a favorite law-related TV show? Maybe you like to read John Grisham’s books about lawyers. It is interesting to see how lawyers, and the rule of law, are portrayed in the media, both good and bad. No matter your opinion of lawyers, the law itself plays a vital part in our society. There’s got to be a reason there are so many lawyer jokes, right?
As lawyers, we are fascinated by the law. How should it work? What is its purpose? How does it actually work? Part of a lawyer’s job is to apply law to the facts of a client’s situation. This is not always simple, which is why the client needs a lawyer. Lawyers give both legal advice and practical counsel, helping the client make informed decisions. Lawyers also serve as an advocate on behalf of a client, a vital role.
As part of the legal profession, we are excited to regularly share our thoughts on the law and how it impacts our community through this column. We plan to provide an overview of common legal needs and issues we all encounter in daily life. We hope to provide information that is practical and helpful.
Of course, because we are lawyers, we have to offer a disclaimer: The facts of every case are unique and the information we provide is not legal advice, but for general educational purposes. If you have a legal issue, we encourage you to reach out to an attorney to discuss the specifics of your case. Hamilton County is fortunate to have many good lawyers.
As we start this column, we present question number 1: Is there a difference between a lawyer and an attorney?
According to a trusted legal dictionary (Black’s Law Dictionary), an attorney is “1. Strictly, one who is designated to transact business for another; a legal agent. 2. A person who practices law; Lawyer.” A lawyer is “One who is licensed to practice law.”
This is one of those scenarios where the adage (a/k/a T-shirt slogan) “don’t confuse your Google search with my law degree” may be appropriate. A Google search will certainly confuse on this issue. For example, a search returned several results that said the exact opposite of the Black’s Law definition (e.g., that an attorney has taken and passed the bar exam while a lawyer may or may not have). The internet credits Abraham Lincoln with the saying: Don’t trust everything you read on the internet. That’s probably a good “law” for life.
So, what’s the answer? The classic lawyer/attorney answer is “it depends.” For all practical purposes, it appears to be a distinction without much of a difference. That’s one lawyer’s opinion. If you ask another lawyer, you might (okay, likely will) get a different opinion. The terms are largely used interchangeably in today’s world.
Our hope is that these articles will cause you to think deeper about the purpose of the law. We get great questions from friends and we welcome questions from readers. Maybe we can answer a question you’ve always wanted to “Ask Adler.”
Educational material and not legal advice, written by the team at Adler attorneys. Email andrea@noblesvilleattorney.com with questions or comments.