What Makes an Attorney and a Lawyer Different?
While the terms are often used interchangeably, there is a difference between an attorney and a lawyer. The two terms refer to legal professionals. Most people mistakenly believe that an attorney and a lawyer are the same things. However, this is not entirely true. There are some differences between these two legal professionals who have been educated in the field of law. Although the terms have different meanings, the terms are often used interchangeably. Read on to find out the difference between attorney vs. lawyer. DEFINITION OF AN ATTORNEY An attorney is a shortening of “attorney at law.” To become an attorney, one must graduate from law school, have passed the bar exam in their state of practice, and be a member of the State Bar Association in that state. To put it simply, an attorney is someone who practices law. A St. Louis attorney can: Represent their clients in court Interpret state and federal laws to meet clients’ needs Provide legal advice directly related to their