The man in the navy pinstriped suit left the courtroom and was accosted in the corridor by a woman with windblown hair. "Are you a lawyer?" she asked, breathing heavily. "No, I'm an attorney," he replied, adjusting the knot in his tie.

Now there's a distinction without a difference. Today we think of "lawyer" and "attorney" being synonymous. There are other related words: counsel, counselor, counselor-at-law, attorney-at-law. Today it's all the same. Some legal practitioners, wanting to touch all the bases, refer to themselves as "attorney and counselor-at-law." Just like a lawyer to add unnecessary words. Prolixity rules!

The word "attorney" seems to have more cachet these days than "lawyer." It sounds more formal somehow, more learned in a way, not to mention that it has three syllables instead of just two!

The word LAWYER, of course, is kind of like SAWYER and so, in that sense, sounds more common. He just deals with laws instead of saws.

But the word ATTORNEY derives from the Old French word... aturner...meaning something akin to being appointed to represent another's interests. That is to say, the word has history and, thus, significance, unlike a simple lawyer.

Funny how, due to their professional (mis)behavior, lawyers/attorneys have come to be regarded with distain, even hatred. Lawyer jokes are humorous because, as with any good humor, there's a grain of truth in them. (God save us from a lawyer's etcetera. French proverb)

Interestingly, attorneys were held in such contempt in England back in the 19th Century that the very word--attorney--was abolished by the Judicature Act of 1873 and merged with the word solicitor.

"Johnson observed that he did not care to speak ill of any man behind his back, but he believed the gentleman was an attorney." --Boswell

So be careful out there and, if you're fortunate, you won't need to seek assistance in a court of law. We all know, of course, that if it weren't for lawyers, we wouldn't need attorneys.

Comments:

I didn't know that once upon a time, we had attorneys over here - I love learning something new! I had a surprise the other evening, actually, I had been watching a documentary about Global Warming, when the narrator mentioned that the River Thames would freeze over, quite regularly during the 18th century! - I thought it was quite unique when it had frozen in the winter of 1962!! Great post

comment by augusta on May 15, 2008 5:15 AM ()

Skating on the Thames...what a concept!

reply by looserobes on May 15, 2008 6:39 AM ()

The high profile cases like the Simpson one tend to be so disgusting that it gives lawyers a bad name. Lawyers litigate that's what they do.

comment by elderjane on May 15, 2008 4:25 AM ()

Everything about the Simpson case was bad...weak judge, overly aggressive lawyers, stupid jury...you name it! After all these years it still ticks me off, esp. when I envision a smirking OJ Simpson lining up a putt on some lush golf course.

reply by looserobes on May 15, 2008 6:44 AM ()

I must admit all my dealings with lawyers over the years--not that many--have usually worked out good for me so I'm not a lawyer basher!