Legal counsel

Legal counsel (pronunciation: /ˈliːɡəl ˈkaʊnsəl/) is a term used to refer to a person or group of people who provide legal advice and representation to an individual, organization, or government entity. The term is often used interchangeably with lawyer or attorney, but it can also refer to a team of legal professionals within a corporation or government agency.

Etymology

The term "legal counsel" originates from the Latin word "consilium", which means advice or counsel. The term was first used in the legal context in the 14th century to refer to a person who gives advice in legal matters.

Related terms

Attorney: A person who is legally qualified and licensed to represent a person in a legal matter.
Lawyer: A person who practices or studies law; an attorney or a counselor.
Solicitor: A member of the legal profession qualified to deal with conveyancing, the drawing up of wills, and other legal matters.
Barrister: A type of lawyer in some common law jurisdictions that specializes in courtroom advocacy, drafting pleadings, and giving expert legal opinions.
Advocate: A person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy, also a professional title in some legal systems.
Legal advice: An opinion given by a lawyer to a client about a legal matter.
Legal representation: The act of representing a client in court or in other legal matters.