Demetria Graves | June 2, 2025
Legal practitioners use the titles “lawyer” and “attorney.” This usage is often confusing to clients who wonder if there are any differences between these terms. In common usage, both titles are used interchangeably.
However, there is a subtle difference between the two. A lawyer is someone who has graduated from an accredited law school. On the other hand, an attorney has a legal education and is licensed to practice law.
How Legal Practitioners Use “Lawyer” And “Attorney”
While the titles “lawyer” and “attorney” are distinct, legal practitioners often have different preferences about what titles they choose to use. It is not wrong for a practitioner to use either term, but a person could face legal penalties if they hold themselves out as practicing law even if they are not licensed.
For many practitioners, “lawyer” seems more informal than “attorney” or its more formal cousin, “attorney at law.” Other titles lawyers may adopt include “counselor,” “counselor at law,” “barrister,” or “solicitor.” The last two terms are rare in the U.S. but are commonly used in England and Canada.
Becoming An Attorney
California law imposes strict requirements for them to join the legal profession. Specifically, applicants must meet the following qualifications to join the California bar:
- Graduate from an accredited law school or an unaccredited school that meets the bar’s requirements
- Pass the California bar exam
- Meet the character and fitness requirements, including a background check
People with law licenses do not need to complete any kind of apprenticeship to call themselves attorneys. Thus, newly admitted graduates could call themselves attorneys even if they have not handled a case yet.
While attorneys in California have a law school education, there is one notable alternative path to becoming licensed to practice law: the California Law Office Study Program.
What An Attorney Can Do
Once admitted to the bar, an attorney can perform the following acts:
- Provide legal advice and counsel
- Represent clients’ interests with other parties and in court
- Negotiate on behalf of clients
- Draft legal documents
In many cases, attorneys perform all of these tasks. For example, in a typical divorce case, the attorney will meet with the client and analyze their situation. They will apply legal principles to the client’s case and provide objective advice about their rights and the strategies they can use to protect them.
In a contested divorce, the attorney will prepare divorce papers and represent the client in court during hearings and at trial. If the parties agree to resolve their case, the attorney can negotiate the terms for child custody, alimony, and property division.
What a Lawyer Can Do
Despite not being licensed to practice law, lawyers can still use their law school education and legal knowledge in the following ways: legal consulting, teaching law, or working in fields such as compliance, mediation, or public relations. However, they cannot provide legal advice, represent clients in court, or charge fees for legal services.
Hiring a lawyer has its advantages, but an attorney offers a broader range of legal services. Your attorney will act at your direction. They can advocate for you in court or handle negotiations for you when you decide to settle. Most importantly, they have an ethical duty to put your interests first at all times while handling your case.
Contact a Pasadena Family Law Attorney at The Graves Law Firm for a Consultation
For more information, please contact our experienced family law attorneys at The Graves Law Firm for a consultation today. We’ll be happy to assist you.
The Graves Law Firm Pasadena
1055 E Colorado Blvd #500a, Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 365-1037
Open 24 hrs.