What is the difference between a lawyer and an attorney?

The terms “lawyer” and “attorney” are often used interchangeably, but they have slightly different meanings. Generally, a lawyer is someone who has attended law school and earned a Juris Doctor (JD) degree. After law school, a lawyer may become licensed to practice law, which makes them an attorney. In North Carolina, lawyers must pass the state’s Bar Exam before they can become attorneys. Attorneys are authorized to practice law in their jurisdiction, and they can provide legal advice, present cases in court, and help people with legal contracts and other documents. Lawyers, on the other hand, are not necessarily authorized to practice law, and they often provide legal research and other support services for attorneys. In North Carolina, both lawyers and attorneys must be licensed with the North Carolina State Bar in order to practice law, but attorneys have additional privileges. For example, only attorneys can represent people in court, while lawyers cannot. Attorneys also have the authority to provide legal advice and prepare documents, such as wills or real estate paperwork. To sum up, a lawyer is someone who has graduated from law school, while an attorney is someone who has earned their JD and passed the state’s bar exam. In North Carolina, both roles have to be licensed with the State Bar for them to be able to practice law, but attorneys have more privileges than lawyers.

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What is the difference between a lawyer and an attorney?

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