legal representation
- noun
- /ˈliːɡəl ˌrɛprɪzɛnˈteɪʃən/
- Formal
- The judge ordered the state to provide legal representation to the defendant who could not afford a lawyer.
- provide legal representation
- afford legal representation
- pay for legal representation
And when you can't stand for yourself, you need legal representation and somebody else's legs.
- And when you can't stand for yourself, you need legal representation and somebody else's legs.
Examples
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If you feel that you need legal representation that's perfectly within your rights...
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Children, at the age of reason, should be provided with legal representation and a contract drawn up.
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"Please give details of legal representation."
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I will take your case and find you legal representation.
Fiction book (1999) -
At the trial, your insurance company provides Mike with legal representation and your family with none.
Blog text (5) -
Without adequate legal representation, Joe was given a stiff sentence.
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Her clients are predominantly immigrants and are rarely able to afford legal representation.
Academic text (1999) -
The failed legislative proposals for appointed counsel suggested paying for legal representation out of the Subsequent Injury Fund.
Academic text (2011) -
Employees often cannot afford legal representation, and they often prefer the privacy arbitration offers.
Academic text (1999) -
Under martial law, political dissidents were tried, convicted, and sentenced by military courts, often without legal representation.
Academic text (2002)
How Legal
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'legal' (pertaining to law) modifies 'representation' (the act of representing), yielding representation in a legal context (e.g., by a lawyer). This adjective+noun composition is common and cross-linguistically regular, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Legal representation comes from the simple image of someone standing in for you in a law situation: legal means 'law' and representation means a person who 'speaks for' or 'acts for' you. So legal representation today means a lawyer will speak or act for you in court and other legal matters.