What Are the Differences Between an Attorney and a Lawyer?

 The legal sector offers a wide range of rewarding and demanding job options. An attorney and a lawyer are two typical roles in this industry. There are a number of significant distinctions between these roles, despite some similarities.

The distinctions between an attorney and a lawyer are covered in this article, along with other legal careers you might find interesting.

Differences Between an Attorney and a Lawyer

What is an attorney?

A person who has completed law school and passed the bar test in the state where they practice law is known as an attorney. An attorney may serve in this capacity as their clients' legal representative in court. An attorney's other responsibilities include interpreting state and federal laws, using their legal expertise to assist clients, and maintaining meticulous documentation of their communications with clients and other legal experts.

What is a lawyer?

A lawyer is a person who has studied law and finished law school. Because they have not taken the bar exam, they are unable to represent clients in court, but they are able to advise others on legal matters. While getting ready for the bar exam, some lawyers work for other lawyers to obtain experience in a legal company. Others decide not to become lawyers and instead serve as government advisors or consultants without taking the bar test.

What is the difference between a lawyer and an attorney?

It's useful to keep in mind that while all lawyers are lawyers, not all lawyers are lawyers. Lawyers cannot represent clients in court or other legal procedures, whereas attorneys can. This is the main distinction.

Education and licensure

How these two professions use their degree is the main difference between them. A lawyer may or may not have taken the bar test, but an attorney has taken and passed it. The state bar association administers the bar exam, which consists of questions that assess knowledge of both general legal principles and state-specific statutes. It takes a lot of time to prepare for the exam, which usually lasts two or three days.

 
Attorneys and lawyers have both completed law school. Law school coursework emphasizes state and federal laws, precedents, and the application of reasoning and analysis to the needs of specific clients.

The majority of law school graduates will receive a Juris Doctor (JD) degree. A lot of lawyers and attorneys have this degree. The Master of Laws (LLM) degree is an additional choice; it is a highly regarded qualification that confers credibility on a worldwide level. The university that offers an LLM program determines its curriculum. While some contain specific courses in subfields like intellectual property, tax law, international environmental law, or human rights law, others concentrate on international and comparative law.

Specialization

Lawyers and attorneys alike decide to focus on a certain area of the law while in law school. A practitioner in any position can offer legal assistance and guidance in their chosen field. The following are some of the most popular fields: 

• The law of real estate
• Family law
• Criminal law
• Law pertaining to intellectual property
• The general law
• Business and corporate law
• Tax legislation
• Law pertaining to bankruptcy
• The law on civil rights
• Environmental legislation
• Law pertaining to immigration, 
• labor, and employment
• Law pertaining to personal injuries

Lawyers and attorneys undergo further training and education in their area of emphasis to get more expertise and knowledge, even if law school offers a comprehensive overview of all the fields of the law. Generally speaking, lawyers only advise and assist clients whose cases fall within their area of expertise.

Job titles

Lawyers and attorneys can choose from a variety of career choices.
Legal consultants and legal regulatory specialists are two career choices for attorneys. Attorneys can work for government agencies, businesses, or nonprofits. Some might also decide to work in education.
A lawyer's specialty, location, experience level, and career objectives all affect their options for a career.

Jobs for lawyers

These are a few possible legal professions.

1. Legal officer

National average salary: $78,192 per year

Primary duties: A legal officer handles both internal and external affairs and concerns while keeping an eye on all legal matters within an organization. Providing legal advice, conducting research, creating and processing legal papers, and spotting possible dangers to the company are among the primary responsibilities.

2. Lawyer

National average salary: $93,223 per year

Primary duties: Attorneys advise people on legal matters, including private citizens, corporate entities, and governmental organizations. Along with preparing legal documents, they may also interpret laws, rules, and verdicts.

3. Legal counsel lawyer

National average salary: $105,339 per year

Primary duties: A legal counsel attorney offers direction and counsel to a business or organization. They support the organization's members with all legal-related issues and act as the internal legal compliance resource.

Jobs for attorneys

1. Staff attorney

National average salary: $70,478 per year

Primary duties: As an employee of a particular organization, a staff attorney is in charge of overseeing the legal services that the business requires. Among the responsibilities are doing legal research and analysis, administering contracts and employment agreements, offering professional development training, and defending the legal rights of a business.

2. Litigation attorney

National average salary: $116,954 per year

Primary duties: A litigation attorney defends their clients in arbitrations, administrative law proceedings, mediations, and court disputes. In addition to analyzing previous cases, preparing paperwork, visiting with new clients, and attending to intricate legal issues, they also spend their time getting ready to present cases in court.

3. Patent attorney

National average salary: $171,346 per year

A patent attorney assists creators in securing and negotiating the legal rights to their creations. In addition to frequently drafting patent applications, they advise their clients on what constitutes their intellectual property. They might also defend their customers in patent infringement lawsuits.

Frequently asked questions

What are the salaries for attorneys and lawyers?

The average annual compensation for a lawyer is $96,557, while the national average is $97,879 per year. You may make more or less depending on your years of experience, employer, location, and skills, even though the average salaries vary slightly. Click on the links provided to view Indeed's most recent salary data.

What is the job outlook for attorneys and lawyers?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the United States provides information about lawyers. Employment prospects for attorneys are expected to increase by 10% between 2021 and 2031, according to the BLS. Compared to many occupations in the country, its growth rate is faster. There might be roughly 48,700 job opportunities per year as a result of this development.

What are some skills for lawyers and attorneys?

Some soft skills and technical knowledge for these roles include:

• Understanding of business and the law
• Knowledge of legal research and drafting
• Knowledge of conflict resolution
• Knowledge of ethics
• Leadership skills
• Time management skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Written and oral communication skills

What's the difference between attorneys, lawyers and counsels?

If a lawyer is not practicing in a court, they do not need to pass the bar exam, but they must study and pass it in order to practice law. A person who works for a firm or organization and is qualified to give legal advice is known as a counsel.