Word usage in Ohio

[Ed McCullough]

Do people in Ohio commonly use the word  "barrister", or do they almost always say "lawyer" or "attorney"?

[SlideMeister]

Do people in Ohio commonly use the wordy "lawyer "barrister", or do they almost always say "lawyer" or "attorney"?

I worked as a private investigator, for a couple of Cleveland Law firms for the past 16 years (mostly in the hood) and they always say "lawyer," so I gotta go with that.

[smojoe]

West of the Susquehanna the word would be lawyer. Never heard barrister except on British t.v. shows.

[SlideMeister]

Seem to "remembah" th' term used in OZ as well (along with "Agent.")

[Scotty]

Do people in Ohio commonly use the word  "barrister", or do they almost always say "lawyer" or "attorney"?

Don't know about Ohio, but the most common usage is Lawyer or Attorney. I believe Barrister IS reserved for Canada/British based locales (British Isles, Bahamas, etc.), or occasionally within a Courtroom. 'Attorney of Record' would be the person representing a defendant, Prosecutor/District Attorney's Office representing those bringing the case.

scotty

[smojoe]

The word attorney is limited in use to the united states. No one else uses it. An agent is a para legal. Solicitors have a certificate to practice. So they would be a lawyer. A lawyer is exactly that. A Barrister is at the top of the scale. They have more extensive duties than lawyers and solicitors. Most judges were barristers. The differences are so vast that it's hard for the normal person to understand. It is literally pages of explaination.

spcl. note. You do NOT have to have a law degree to serve on the supreme court.
spcl. note. Scotty would have experience in this subject.


smo-j