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Attorney

Attorney

Grammar

This term is a noun.

Etimology of Attorney

(You may find attorney at the world legal encyclopedia and the etimology of more terms).

early 14c. (mid-13c. in Anglo-Latin), “one appointed by another to act in his place,” from Old French atorné “(one) appointed,” past participle of aturner “to decree, assign, appoint,” from atorner “to assign,” literally “to turn to” (see attorn). The sense is of “one appointed to represent another’s interests.” In English law, a private attorney (attorney in fact) was one appointed to act for another in business or legal affairs (usually for pay); an attorney at law or public attorney was a qualified legal agent in the courts of Common Law who prepared the cases for a barrister, who pleaded them (the equivalent of a solicitor in Chancery). So much a term of contempt in England that it was abolished by the Judicature Act of 1873 and merged with 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] In U.S., barrister is not used and the general designation became properly attorney and counselor at law; when presenting a case in court, simply counselor. The double -t- is a mistaken 15c. attempt to restore a non-existent Latin original, perhaps by influence of legal Latin form attornare.

Meaning of Attorney in Spanish

Description/ translation of attorney into Spanish: término que según el contexto puede significar: defensor (por ejemplo: “a defendant is represented by an attorney”) o fiscal (“district attorney, circuit attorney”) (sin. counsel); deputy district/ circuit attorney: teniente fiscal[1]

Note: for more information on related terms and on the area of law where attorney belongs (criminal procedure law), in Spanish, see here.

Notes and References

  1. Translation of Attorney published by Antonio Peñaranda

Resources

See Also

  • Law Dictionaries.
  • Legal Issues; Patenting Genes.

    Attorney-Client Privilege; Attorney Misconduct; Continuing Legal Education; Legal Education; Legal Representation; Right to Counsel.

  • Further Reading

    U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. Washington, DC: Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, 2000.

    Attorney in Law Enforcement

    Main Entry: Law Enforcement in the Legal Dictionary. This section provides, in the context of Law Enforcement, a partial definition of attorney.

    Resources

    See Also

    • Law Enforcement Officer
    • Police Officer
    • Law Enforcement Agency

    Further Reading

    English Legal System: Attorney

    In the context of the English law, A Dictionary of Law provides the following legal concept of Attorney :

    A person who is appointed by another and has authority to act on behalf of another.

    See also power of attorney.

    (noun) First Meaning: a person appointed to act for or represent another. Second Meaning: US lawyer

    U.s. Attorney Meaning in the U.S. Court System

    A lawyer appointed by the President of the United States in each judicial district to prosecute and defend cases for the federal government. The U.S. attorney employs a staff of assistant U.S. attorneys (AUSAs) who appear as the government’s attorneys in individual cases.

    Meaning of Attorney

    Resources

    See Also

  • Counsel
  • Attorney
  • Client
  • Comments

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