Attorney
Contract Law

Overview

An attorney is someone is is formally appointed by a person to act for them in respect to a transaction or dispute. Attorneys act in the capacity of an agent, and thus have the ability to bind their principal within the scope of their agency.

Lawyers & Attorneys

The term is most frequently used as a legal representative qualified to act in one of the States the United States of America, and the term is most frequently used in the context of legal representation in that jurisdiction. The term is not used in the United Kingdom. Solicitors and barristers provide legal representation in the United Kingdom, although strictly speaking solicitors and barristers are attorneys.

Attorneys may have a more specified brief, such as patent attorneys and trade mark attorneys would would act in respect to patent and trade mark matters.

Powers of Attorney

Attorneys may also be appointed by a 'power of attorney' which is an instrument appointing a person to act in that capacity.

Attorney-General

An attorney is also used in the context of officers of the Crown, namely the Attorney-General, who is the first law officer of the Crown.