trial lawyer
Jury case presenter
A trial lawyer is an attorney who specializes in courtroom litigation—arguing cases before judges and juries rather than focusing on contracts, negotiations, or other legal work that stays out of court.
The term often carries connotations of aggressive advocacy: She hired a trial lawyer known for winning tough cases.
In American usage, trial lawyer frequently refers specifically to plaintiff's attorneys in personal injury or class action suits.
Legal decision-making body
- judgeOne who decides
- witnessOne who attests
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
- objectionExpression of disapproval
evidence · sidebar · bench · gavel · bailiff · court reporter · chambers · voir dire
Question opposing witness
- interrogateQuestion formally and persistently
- questionRequest for information
- probeThorough examination or tool
- grillCooking surface over fire
challenge · impeach · redirect · leading question · hostile witness · expert witness · depose · testimony
Civil court proceeding
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
- defendantParty facing charges
- depositionFormal testimony under oath
- discoveryAct of finding something
subpoena · pleadings · injunction · damages · settlement · class action · brief · docket
One who guards another
- championTop competitor, or advocate
- advocatePublic cause supporter
- counselorOne who advises
- representativeOne who acts for another
pleader · spokesperson · proponent · protector · litigator · legal representative
Formal clearing of charges
- convictionFirmly held belief
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
- deliberationCareful weighing of choices
unanimous · hung jury · foreperson · not guilty · guilty · appeal · retrial · jury instructions
jury
Legal decision-making body
objection · evidence · sidebar · bench · gavel · bailiff · court reporter · chambers · voir dire · opening statement
cross-examine
Question opposing witness
- interrogateQuestion formally and persistently
- questionRequest for information
- probeThorough examination or tool
grill · challenge · impeach · redirect · leading question · hostile witness · expert witness · depose · testimony · credibility
lawsuit
Civil court proceeding
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
- defendantParty facing charges
- depositionFormal testimony under oath
discovery · subpoena · pleadings · injunction · damages · settlement · class action · brief · docket · interrogatories
defender
One who guards another
representative · pleader · spokesperson · proponent · protector · litigator · legal representative
acquittal
Formal clearing of charges
- convictionFirmly held belief
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
deliberation · unanimous · hung jury · foreperson · not guilty · guilty · appeal · retrial · jury instructions · reasonable doubt
- lawyersdefense counsel, counselor, public defender, prosecutor, counsel
- Legal Careersparalegal, solicitor, counsel, litigator, advocate
- legal professionalssolicitor, counsel, judge, paralegal, jurist
- persuaderspersuader, orator, orators, public speaker, speechmaker
- legal serviceslaw firm, legal advice, legal counsel, counsel, solicitor
- Women in LawRuth Bader Ginsburg, Sandra Day O'Connor, Sonia Sotomayor, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Amal Clooney
trial lawyercorporate lawyer
Legal counsel for companies
solicitor · contract lawyer · real estate attorney · tax attorney · estate planner
trial lawyerjudge
One who decides
arbitrator · mediator · magistrate · neutral · adjudicator
trial lawyerlaw professor
Academic teaching jurisprudence
trial, lawyer, trials, attorney, lawyers, barrister, lawyering, litigate, lawyerly