Attorney
A legal practitioner who commonly works directly with clients and law firms.
Definition
Many South Africans use attorney and lawyer interchangeably, but attorney is a formal branch of legal practice under the Legal Practice Act.
Key takeaways
A legal practitioner who commonly works directly with clients and law firms.
Legal Services
Find Attorney
This glossary provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice.
Related resources
Resources and guides
Lawyer Consultation Preparation Guide
Preparation resource for briefing a lawyer, organising questions, comparing firms, and using consultation time well.
Legal ServicesLawyer Discovery ResourceLaw Firm Near Me Discovery Resource
Turn a single nearby law-firm search into a practical appointment brief with issue classification, documents, questions, fee checks, and next-step records.
Legal ServicesLawyer Discovery ResourceLawyers Near Me Discovery Resource
Turn a broad lawyers-near-me search into a structured shortlist by practice area, location, urgency, documents, consultation questions, and fee checks.
Legal ServicesLawyer Discovery ResourceLawyer Near Me Discovery Resource
Prepare a local lawyer search by defining the legal issue, urgency, location needs, document pack, consultation questions, fee checks, and next-step comparison criteria.
Legal ServicesLawyer Discovery ResourceLawyer Office Near Me Discovery Resource
Use location search responsibly by matching the office to the legal issue, availability, documents, fee clarity, accessibility, and whether a remote consultation is enough.
Legal ServicesLawyer Discovery ResourceLawyer Near Me Open Now Discovery Resource
Use an open-now lawyer search responsibly by separating urgency, legal issue fit, availability, after-hours limits, documents, fee scope, and safer alternatives where the issue is an emergency.
Legal ServicesFAQs
Attorney FAQs
What does Attorney mean?
A legal practitioner who commonly works directly with clients and law firms.
Is an attorney a lawyer?
Yes. Attorney is a specific professional category within legal practice. The Legal Practice Council distinguishes admission and enrolment as an attorney from admission and enrolment as an advocate; the broader word lawyer does not establish either status.
How do I check an attorney?
Search the Legal Practice Council’s public practitioner register using the person’s full name. Match the record to the practitioner and contact the relevant LPC provincial office if identity or current status is unclear. A directory profile alone does not establish admission, current practising status or suitability for your matter.
Sources
Find legal help
Lawyers and firms
Need help with legal services?
Use this term as context, then compare relevant lawyers or law firms for your next step.