Attorney | The Canadian Encyclopedia

Article

Attorney

Attorney, someone appointed to represent another or to act in his place. Power of attorney is the legal document appointing this representative.

Attorney

Attorney, someone appointed to represent another or to act in his place. Power of attorney is the legal document appointing this representative. Before 1574 attorneys-at-law were persons permitted to practise in the superior courts of English common law as representatives of suitors who did not appear. After 1873 the term attorney was replaced by "Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Judicature."

In North America attorney and attorney-at-law have become synonymous with lawyer. The federal minister of justice is Attorney General for the Queen in Canada.