Bn77  +  611355 Mon, 15 Dec 08 02:42 PM could the word "attorney" denote both "lawyer" and "prosecutor"? if so, could you check that I am understanding the following words? 1. attorney=lawyer 2. defense attorney=lawyer 2. district attorney=prosecuting attorney=local prosecutor Bn77 Joined on Sun, Jun 3 2007 Junior Member 66

	AlpheccaStars  +  611360 Mon, 15 Dec 08 02:54 PM It depends on the county, and in the USA, the state. In some states the district attorney is an elected official. He or she is responsible for representing the state. For example the department will assign defense attorneys to clients who cannot afford to pay for one. They will represent the state in criminal cases (prosecuting), and in other legal matters. AlpheccaStars Joined on Sun, Oct 12 2008 Senior Member 3,508 The pen is mightier than the sword. Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873) Countries, United States

	Grammar Geek  +  611362 Mon, 15 Dec 08 03:00 PM You seem to be associatng the word "lawyer" with a particular type of legal practice, which is not the case in the US. Attorney and lawyer are synonymous. You can have a tax attorney, a criminal defense attorney/lawyer, a patent attorney/lawyer, etc. My knowledge of the district attorney is pretty much limited to watching the TV show "Law and Order," so I can't add to what Alphecca has already said. Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,506 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random!