Representative vs. Attorney — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 18, 2024
A "representative" acts on behalf of another person or group, while an "attorney" is a licensed legal professional who represents clients in legal matters.
Difference Between Representative and Attorney
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A "representative" is a broad term referring to someone who acts or speaks on behalf of another person or organization. Representatives can operate in various contexts, such as business, politics, or customer service, providing a voice for those they represent. An "attorney," on the other hand, specifically refers to a legal professional authorized to practice law. Attorneys provide legal advice, prepare legal documents, and represent clients in court.
Representatives may not require formal qualifications or licenses, depending on their role, whereas attorneys must complete law school and pass a bar exam to obtain a license to practice law. This distinction highlights the specialized nature of legal representation compared to general representation.
In the context of decision-making, representatives often make decisions based on the preferences or interests of those they represent, while attorneys provide legal counsel and advocate for their clients' legal rights and interests. This emphasizes the different scopes of responsibility and expertise between the two roles.
While both roles involve acting on behalf of others, a representative operates in broader contexts without necessarily requiring legal expertise, whereas an attorney focuses on legal matters with specific qualifications and responsibilities.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Acts on behalf of another person or group
Licensed legal professional
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Contexts
Business, politics, customer service
Legal matters
Qualifications
Varies by role
Law degree and bar exam
Responsibilities
Promote, negotiate, communicate
Advise, represent in court, prepare documents
Decision-Making
Based on interests of those represented
Based on legal rights and interests
Compare with Definitions
Representative
An individual elected or appointed to represent others.
She was elected as the student representative.
Attorney
A lawyer who represents clients in legal matters.
Her attorney prepared the defense case for the trial.
Representative
Someone who stands in for a group in a meeting or negotiation.
The union representative negotiated better working conditions.
Attorney
A legal professional authorized to practice law.
The attorney provided legal advice on the contract.
Representative
An agent who performs duties on behalf of a company.
The company's representative attended the conference.
Attorney
A legal advocate in court proceedings.
The attorney argued the case before the judge.
Representative
A delegate who speaks for a larger group.
The community representative voiced residents' concerns.
Attorney
An individual licensed to act on behalf of others in legal issues.
He hired an attorney to handle his estate planning.
Representative
One that serves as an example or type for others of the same classification.
Attorney
A practitioner qualified to give legal advice.
The attorney drafted the business agreement.
Representative
One that serves as a delegate or agent for another.
Attorney
A person who is legally qualified and licensed to represent a person in a legal matter, such as a transaction or lawsuit.
Representative
A member of a governmental body, usually legislative, chosen by popular vote.
Attorney
(US) A lawyer; one who advises or represents others in legal matters as a profession.
Representative
A member of the US House of Representatives or of the lower house of a state legislature.
Attorney
One such who practised in the courts of the common law.
Representative
Representing, depicting, or portraying or able to do so.
Attorney
A solicitor.
Representative
Authorized to act as an official delegate or agent.
Attorney
An agent or representative authorized to act on someone else's behalf.
Representative
Of or characteristic of government by representation.
Attorney
An honorific given to lawyers and notaries public, or those holders by profession who also do other jobs. Usually capitalized or abbreviated as Atty.
Representative
Like or typical of others of the same class.
Attorney
Clusia spp.
Representative
Typical; having the same properties or interest as a larger group.
Attorney
A prosecutor
Representative
Representing, showing a likeness.
Are you sure this paper is representative of your child's writing?
The representative faculty of the human imagination
Attorney
To work as a legal attorney.
Representative
A delegate.
Attorney
To provide with a legal attorney.
Representative
Someone who represents others as a member of a legislative or governing body.
She served four terms as representative of her local at the national union convention.
Attorney
A substitute; a proxy; an agent.
And will have no attorney but myself.
Representative
One who speaks for or acts on behalf of another in a particular (especially official) capacity.
I will send a representative to work out the details of the contract.
Attorney
One who is legally appointed by another to transact any business for him; an attorney in fact.
Representative
(legal) An heir.
Attorney
To perform by proxy; to employ as a proxy.
Representative
Specifically, a member of the United States House of Representatives.
All representatives face re-election every two years.
Attorney
A professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice
Representative
A company agent who visits potential purchasers; a salesman.
Representative
Something standing for something else.
Representative
Something representing or standing for another; a symbol, an embodiment.
Representative
A member of a particular class.
Representative
A substitute or analogue.
Representative
Fitted to represent; exhibiting a similitude.
Representative
Bearing the character or power of another; acting for another or others; as, a council representative of the people.
Representative
Conducted by persons chosen to represent, or act as deputies for, the people; as, a representative government.
Representative
Serving or fitted to present the full characters of the type of a group; typical; as, a representative genus in a family.
Representative
Giving, or existing as, a transcript of what was originally presentative knowledge; as, representative faculties; representative knowledge. See Presentative, 3 and Represent, 8.
Representative
One who, or that which, represents (anything); that which exhibits a likeness or similitude.
A statute of Rumor, whispering an idiot in the ear, who was the representative of Credulity.
Difficulty must cumber this doctrine which supposes that the perfections of God are the representatives to us of whatever we perceive in the creatures.
Representative
An agent, deputy, or substitute, who supplies the place of another, or others, being invested with his or their authority.
Representative
One who represents, or stands in the place of, another.
Representative
A member of the lower or popular house in a State legislature, or in the national Congress.
Representative
That which presents the full character of the type of a group.
Representative
A person who represents others
Representative
An advocate who represents someone else's policy or purpose;
The meeting was attended by spokespersons for all the major organs of government
Representative
A member of the United States House of Representatives
Representative
An item of information that is representative of a type;
This patient provides a typical example of the syndrome
There is an example on page 10
Representative
Serving to represent or typify;
Representative moviegoers
A representative modern play
Representative
Standing for something else;
The bald eagle is representative of the United States
Representative
Being or characteristic of government by representation in which citizens exercise power through elected officers and representatives;
Representative government as defined by Abraham Lincoln is government of the people, by the people, for the people
Representative
A person who acts on behalf of another.
The sales representative presented the new product line.
Common Curiosities
What qualifications do attorneys need?
Attorneys must complete law school and pass a bar exam to obtain a license to practice law.
Do representatives need specific qualifications?
Qualifications for representatives vary by role and context; some positions may not require formal credentials.
Can a representative negotiate on behalf of others?
Yes, representatives often negotiate on behalf of those they represent in various contexts.
What is an attorney?
An attorney is a licensed legal professional who represents clients in legal matters, providing advice and advocacy.
What does an attorney do besides representing clients in court?
Attorneys provide legal advice, prepare legal documents, and offer counsel on legal matters.
Can a representative provide legal advice?
No, representatives without legal qualifications should not provide legal advice.
What is a representative?
A representative acts on behalf of another person or group in various contexts such as business, politics, or customer service.
Is a sales representative the same as an attorney?
No, a sales representative promotes products and services, while an attorney provides legal services and representation.
Do attorneys represent clients in court?
Yes, attorneys represent clients in court, advocating for their legal rights and interests.
What role does an attorney play in legal disputes?
An attorney advises clients, prepares legal documents, and represents them in court during legal disputes.
Can a representative be involved in legal matters?
Representatives can be involved in legal matters, but they do not provide legal advice or represent clients in court like attorneys do.
Is legal knowledge required to be a representative?
Legal knowledge is not necessarily required to be a representative, depending on the role.
What role does a representative play in a company?
A representative in a company may handle sales, customer service, or act as a liaison between different stakeholders.
Are all attorneys representatives?
While all attorneys represent clients in legal matters, not all representatives are attorneys.
Can someone be both a representative and an attorney?
Yes, an individual can hold both roles, acting as a representative in some contexts and as an attorney in legal matters.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
