Lawyer vs Attorney, Types of Attorneys, and California Lawsuits After 2 Years

“Lawyer” and “attorney” are two basic legal terms that sound confusing, especially when these words are often used interchangeably. Plus, different types of attorneys also exist. Another thing is, there is a time limit to file a lawsuit in court. Understanding all these basic terms and types of attorneys can help you navigate the situation effectively if it arises. So let us answer your three main questions about the same that we often get asked by all our clients.

 1. What is the difference between a lawyer and an attorney

The main difference between a lawyer and an attorney lies in what kind of work they can manage to do and handle.

Lawyer: A lawyer is someone who has a law degree and has completed law school. They are well-prepared to give you legal advice for your case, conduct research, and work in law-related fields. They might not be licensed to represent you in court, though. Thus, lawyers are limited to working outside the court.

Attorney: The attorney on the other side is a professional who has passed bar exams and has acquired a license to practice law. It enables them to represent complex cases in courts and provide legal support by fighting for their clients’ needs.

So, The Shahbaz Firm concluding the differences, all attorneys are lawyers in Los Angeles, but not all lawyers can be attorneys, as it requires a special license to practice apart from a law degree.

 2. What are the two types of attorneys?

Though attorneys can be categorized into different types based on their specialization, they all fall into two broad categories.

• Civil attorneys: Those who can handle disputes between individuals, businesses, and organizations that require court intervention. This includes cases like personal injury lawyers, family law attorneys, employment attorneys, etc.
• Criminal attorneys: Criminal attorneys are more specialized in handling criminal cases where someone is accused of breaking laws and peace in society. Criminal attorneys can be divided into two parts furthermore: defense attorneys and prosecutors. Defense attorneys represent the accused to prove that they are not guilty, while prosecutors represent the state.

 3. Can you sue someone after 2 years in California?

Whether or not you can file a suit against someone two years after the actual case depends on the type of case you want to file a suit for and some other factors. For example:

• For personal injury cases, you get a 2-year time period from the actual date of the accident or injury to file a lawsuit against a liable party.
• Property damage cases: Here in the US, in California, if there’s any case regarding property damage, you might get up to 3 years to file a case for your loss.
• Medical malpractice: If found injured due to medical malpractice, you typically have 1 year to sue a liable person, but not more than 3 years.

In Los Angeles, If you try to sue after a certain period of time, like 1 or 2 years, your case might get rejected by the court even if your claims are valid.

Conclusion

In conclusion, due to the nature of their work, lawyers differ from one another. The Shahbaz Firm Lawyers can handle all the law-related work except fighting for their clients in court, while attorneys have all the power of lawyers plus the license to represent a court case as well. There are mainly two types of attorneys: one is civil attorneys handling normal cases, and the other is criminal attorneys, who are more specialized in law-breaking cases and high-profile criminal issues.