attorney

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'attorney' is correct and widely used in written English.
You can use it to refer to a lawyer, especially in a legal context. For example: "My attorney advised that I take the plea deal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Hill's attorney, Brian Kammer, issued a statement after the stay: "All the doctors who have examined Mr Hill are unanimous in their diagnosis of mental retardation, so there is no question that his execution would have been in violation of the US supreme court's 2002 ruling in Atkins v Virginia.

The Guardian

Jason Downs, an attorney for the Gray family, told the Post: "We disagree with any implication that Freddie Gray severed his own spinal cord".

The Guardian

The announcement also has united Sweet Briar graduates from around the world in hopes of reversing the decision and the local county attorney has attempted to blunt the closure through the courts.

The Guardian

(The man, the Guardian understands, wishes to be anonymous; his current attorney declined to confirm Solowiej's account).

The Guardian

Bartmes, another Chicago attorney, said that in September 2013 she got a call from a mother worried that her 15-year-old son had been picked up by police before dawn.

The Guardian

The former US attorney for the southern district of New York also revealed that Blatter and the Fifa executive committee attempted to refer him to the organisation's disciplinary committee in September after he publicly called for the report to be published in full.

The Guardian - Sport

His attorney, Anders Folk, argued that since the IDs weren't used criminally, Novak should receive a lesser punishment.

The Guardian

The existence of the evidence, gathered at the crime scene, was never disclosed either to the boys' defence teams or to the district attorney prosecuting the case.

The Guardian

"These cartels have spent years and tens of millions of dollars trying to create a secret underworld of passages so they can move large quantities of drugs," Laura Duffy, the United States attorney for the San Diego region told reporters.

The Guardian

On Thursday, a Barclays spokesman said: "Barclays works closely with its regulators in all jurisdictions and will continue to cooperate with the New York attorney general.

The Guardian - Business

For example, Mellis was advised that in their case, the "power of attorney" they signed, to give the lawyer in Cyprus the power to act on their behalf, was not valid as two of the four buyers were not present and have never been to Cyprus.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing for a global audience, be mindful of regional differences in legal terminology; "attorney" is most common in the US, while "solicitor" and "barrister" are more common in the UK.

Common error

Don't use "attorney" when you mean "attorney general". The attorney general is the chief legal officer of a state or nation, while an "attorney" is a general term for a lawyer.

Linguistic Context

The noun "attorney" primarily functions as a subject or object in sentences, referring to a person qualified to represent clients in legal matters. Ludwig AI confirms its standard grammatical use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "attorney" is a very common and grammatically correct noun referring to a lawyer, predominantly used in the United States. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is widespread and accepted. While "attorney" is generally appropriate, consider alternatives such as "legal counsel" or "lawyer" depending on the context. Be mindful of regional variations and the specific role of the legal professional you are referencing. Ensure that you do not confuse "attorney" with "attorney general". Most of the examples extracted by Ludwig are from News & Media and Formal & Business.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lawyer

A more general term for someone trained in law.

legal representative

A broad term for someone authorized to act on behalf of another in legal matters.

legal counsel

More formal and emphasizes the advisory role.

counselor

Someone who gives advice, often in a legal context.

solicitor

Commonly used in the UK, referring to a lawyer who advises clients and prepares cases.

barrister

A lawyer qualified to plead cases in court.

defense lawyer

Lawyer specializing in the defense of individuals and companies charged with criminal activity.

advocate

Someone who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy, but can also refer to a lawyer.

esquire

A courtesy title for a lawyer.

prosecutor

A legal official who institutes legal proceedings against someone.

FAQs

How is the term "attorney" typically used in a sentence?

The term "attorney" is used to refer to a lawyer representing a client. For example: "My "attorney" advised me on the contract terms."

What is a suitable substitute for "attorney" in legal contexts?

In legal contexts, alternatives like "legal counsel", "lawyer", or "legal representative" can be used.

Is there a difference between an "attorney" and a "solicitor"?

The term "attorney" is primarily used in the United States. In the UK, a "solicitor" is a lawyer who advises clients and prepares cases, while a barrister represents clients in court.

When should I use "legal counsel" instead of "attorney"?

Use "legal counsel" when you want to emphasize the advisory role of the lawyer, or when a more formal tone is appropriate. "Attorney" is a more general term.