A lawyer is someone who practices law.

An attorney is someone authorized to act for another person -- a person is only an attorney in relation to someone else.

The difference between "lawyer" and "attorney," then, is like the difference between "man" and "husband.." A man can be somebody's husband; a lawyer can be somebody's attorney.

I am a lawyer; if you hire me, I will be your attorney.

Why do some lawyers call themselves "attorneys" or "attorneys and counselors at law" instead of lawyers? For the same reason they tack "Esq." after their names -- they think it sounds more impressive.

Either that, or they are charging by the syllable.

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Mark.