Counsel
605309
221002360
2008-06-22T16:35:39Z
81.156.31.131
{{wiktionary|counsel}}
{{Unreferenced|date=April 2008}}
A '''counsel''' or a '''counsellor''' gives advice, more particularly in [[law| legal]] matters.
The legal system in England uses the term ''counsel'' as an approximate synonym for a ''[[Barristers in England and Wales|barrister-at-law]]'' ', and may apply it to mean either a single person who [[pleading| plead]]s a cause, or collectively, the body of [[barrister]]s engaged in a [[Legal case|case]].
The difference between "Barrister" and "Counsel" is subtle. "Barrister" is a professional title awarded by one of the four [[Inns of Court]], and is used in a barrister's private, academic or professional capacity. "Counsel" is used to refer to a barrister who is instructed on a particular case. It is customary to use the third person when addressing a barrister instructed on a case: "Counsel is asked to advise" rather than "You are asked to advise".
The legal term ''counsellor'', or, more fully, ''counsellor-at-law'', became practically obsolete in England, but continued in use locally in [[Ireland]] as an equivalent to ''[[barrister]]'', where a ''Senior Counsel'' (S.C.) is equivalent to the English [[Queen's Counsel]] (Q.C.}
In the [[United States of America]], the term ''counselor-at-law'' designates, specifically, an [[attorney]] admitted to practice in all [[courts| courts of law]]; but as the United States legal system makes no formal division of the [[legal profession]] into two classes, as in England, most US citizens use the term loosely in the same sense as ''[[lawyer]]'', meaning one who versed in (or practising) [[law]].
In the United States and [[Canada]], many large and midsize law firms have lawyers with the job title of "counsel", "special counsel" or "[[of counsel]]". These lawyers are employees of the firm like associates, although some firms have an independent contractor relationship with them. But unlike associates, and more like partners, they generally have their own clients, manage their own files, and supervise associates. For more information, see the [[Law firm]] article.
==See also==
*[[Attorney at law]]
*[[Of counsel]]
*[[Cumis counsel]]
*[[Counsel journal]]
*[[Ineffective assistance of counsel]]
*[[Counsell]]
[[Category:Lawyers by type]]
[[Category:Legal occupations]]
[[Category:Occupations]]