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trial lawyer

trial lawyer

36 3.6
A person who represents people in court during trials
  • noun
  • /ˈtraɪəl ˈlɔɪər/
translation icon : abogado litigante
  • She is one of the top ranked trial lawyers in the United States.
  • become a trial lawyer
  • attorneys and trial lawyers
  • a leading trial lawyer

And not just any lawyer, a trial lawyer.

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Examples

  • Students will be introduced to Clarence Darrow, probably the most impressive trial lawyer of the twentieth century.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Living and learning, says Haynes, is the key to being a good trial lawyer.

    Academic text (2009)
  • A trial lawyer who can see this all the way.

  • Now get that temper under control, and you may yet be a good trial lawyer.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • With only a month to go before opening arguments, the trial lawyer's mind does tend to focus.

    Academic text (1999)
  • And as any trial lawyer will tell you, you cannot argue at the same time you're asking questions.

  • Ambassador Fortier is a trial lawyer who has pleaded cases before all court jurisdictions in Canada.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Ultimately, as a trial lawyer, what I want are jurors who are going to keep an open mind that haven't prejudged the case.

  • That's when East Texas trial lawyer Scottie Baldwin sued an asbestos maker for a client's lung disease.

    Academic text (2001)
  • A skilled trial lawyer fought tirelessly to secure justice for her client in the courtroom.

Synonyms

lawyer
vstrial lawyer
1.0

A person who gives legal advice and represents people in court

is a specialist role within this wider profession focused on courtroom work
attorney
vstrial lawyer
  • US
4.6

A lawyer who gives legal advice and represents people in court

specializes particularly in courtroom representation for contested cases
counsel
vstrial lawyer
  • Formal
713 4.3

A lawyer who speaks for someone in court

concentrates specifically on representing clients in court trials rather than general advice
counselor
vstrial lawyer
  • Formal
211 4.1

A lawyer who gives legal advice and represents people in court

is more narrowly focused on representing clients specifically in courtroom cases
advocate
vstrial lawyer
  • UK
146 5.8

A lawyer who speaks for a client in court

is centered on courtroom advocacy with particular emphasis on trial work
solicitor
vstrial lawyer
  • UK
51 7.0

A lawyer who gives legal advice, prepares legal papers, and represents people in lower courts

is more focused on representing clients in formal courtroom contests at higher levels
litigator
vstrial lawyer
  • Specialized
20 6.8

A lawyer who represents people in court cases

emphasizes courtroom representation in individual case trials rather than general disputes
barrister
vstrial lawyer
  • UK
16 7.5

A lawyer who speaks for people in higher courts in Britain and Canada

is similar in courtroom focus but applies in broader legal systems
trial attorney
vstrial lawyer
  • Specialized
8 4.7

A lawyer who speaks for clients in court cases before a judge or jury

is the same role but named with a different common phrase
atty
vstrial lawyer
  • Jargon
8 9.8

An informal short word for a lawyer who gives legal advice and represents people in court

names a specialist courtroom representative rather than acting as an informal label
pleader
vstrial lawyer
  • Archaic
1 7.8

A lawyer who speaks in court for someone

is similar but highlights broader trial preparation and strategy roles
counselor-at-law
vstrial lawyer
  • Formal
7.3

A lawyer who represents clients in court and speaks for them

focuses more narrowly on courtroom trial work rather than general legal tasks

How Specialized

litigator
  • Specialized
20 6.8
trial lawyer
36 3.6
lawyer
1.0

Surface Forms

trial lawyer singular
trial lawyers plural

Morphology

trial + lawyer

The meaning 'a lawyer who represents clients in court trials' is directly derivable from combining 'trial' (court procedure) and 'lawyer' (legal practitioner); the noun-noun compound transparently signals a lawyer associated with trials. This compositional pattern is common across languages and in English, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily understand it.

Etymology

Trial lawyer comes from the simple picture of the two words trial and lawyer, a lawyer standing before a judge and jury during a trial. So, it means a lawyer who works mainly in court and represents people at trials.