attorney
n. countablen. a person who has the legal power to act for another person, especially in business or law. In the US, this is the standard word for a lawyer.
n. a person legally appointed or empowered to act on behalf of another. In American English, the term is the standard designation for a practitioner of law who represents clients in court.
You should speak to your attorney before signing the contract.
The defendant requested a meeting with his attorney to discuss the new evidence presented by the prosecution.
While the power of attorney allows an individual to manage another's financial affairs, it does not grant the same broad legal representation rights as a licensed attorney at law.
From Middle English attourne, from Old French atorné, past participle of atorner, atourner, aturner (“to attorn”), in the sense of "one appointed or constituted".
Often used in the fixed phrase 'power of attorney' to describe legal authorization. In American English, it is more formal than 'lawyer'.