Black’s Law Dictionary 8th Edition, pages 392-393:
attorney. 1. Strictly, one who is designated to transact business for another; a legal agent. — Also termed at-torney-in-fact; private attorney. 2. A person who practices law; LAWYER. — Also termed (in sense 2) attor-ney-at-law; public attorney. Cf. COUNSEL. — Abbr. att’y. Pl. attorneys.[Cases: Attorney and Client 63. C.J.S. Attorney and Client §§ 165–166, 179–181, 234.]
associate attorney. 1. See ASSOCIATE(2).2.Patents. An attorney who is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, who has been appointed by a principal attorney, and who is authorized to prosecute a patent application through the filing of a power of attorney.
[Cases: Patents 97. C.J.S. Patents §§ 135–138, 145, 178.]
attorney ad litem (ad lI-tem or -t<<schwa>>m). A court-appointed lawyer who represents a child during the course of a legal action, such as a divorce, termination, or child-abuse case. • The attorney owes to the child the duties of loyalty, confidentiality, and competent representation. A child’s right to legal representation in a juvenile proceeding was mandated in In re Gault, 387 U.S. 1, 87 S.Ct. 1428 (1967). The appointment of an attorney ad litem is a limited one — only for a specific lawsuit. — Also termed child’s attorney; attorney for the child. Cf. guardian ad litem under GUARDIAN.
attorney not of record. 1. A lawyer who is not recognized as a party’s legal representative. Cf. attorney of record (1).2.Patents & trademarks. An attorney whose name is not included in a power of attorney on file with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a patent or trademark application. • An attorney not of record may nevertheless prosecute a patent application if registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and appointed by the principal attorney. 37 CFR § 1.34(a). Cf. attorney not recognized.
attorney not recognized.Patents. An attorney appointed by a patent applicant but not registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. • A power of attorney appointing an unregistered attorney is void. Cf. attorney not of record.
attorney of record. 1. The lawyer who appears for a party in a lawsuit and who is entitled to receive, on the party’s behalf, all pleadings and other formal documents from the court and from other parties. — Also termed counsel of record. See OF RECORD(1). [Cases: Appearance 3. C.J.S. Appearances §§ 9–12.] 2.Patents & trademarks. The attorney or agent whose name is included in the power of attorney filed by an applicant for a patent or a trademark registration. • For a patent application, the attorney of record must be a patent attorney or a patent agent. [Cases: Patents 97. C.J.S. Patents §§ 135–138, 145, 178.]
briefing attorney. 1. An attorney who specializes in brief-writing, particularly appellate briefs and legal memo-randa. 2.CLERK(5).
research attorney. 1. An attorney who specializes in providing legal support by researching, by writing memoranda, and by preparing drafts of documents. 2.CLERK(5). • In some jurisdictions, a research attorney is a midlevel law clerk, above a briefing attorney but below a staff attorney.
special attorney.See special counsel under COUNSEL.
staff attorney. 1. A lawyer who works for a court, usu. in a permanent position, on matters such as reviewing motions, screening docketing statements, preparing scheduling orders, and examining habeas corpus petitions. • Staff attorneys do not rule on motions or decide cases, but they review and research factual and legal points, and recommend proposed rulings to judges, as well as drafting the orders implementing those rulings. See CLERK(5). [Cases: Courts 55. C.J.S. Courts §§ 107–109.] 2. An in-house lawyer for an organization, esp. a nonprofit organization but sometimes a corporation. Cf. in-house counsel under COUNSEL.
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