June 11, 2025 | Personal Injury
The terms lawyer and attorney are often used interchangeably, and in most everyday conversations, that’s perfectly acceptable. However, when a distinction is made, it usually refers to a specific legal status.
A lawyer is someone who has graduated from law school and holds a law degree. An attorney, on the other hand, is a lawyer who has passed the bar exam and is licensed to practice law in a particular jurisdiction. In other words, all attorneys are lawyers, but not all lawyers are attorneys—at least not until they’re admitted to the bar.
While this is the most common distinction, some people may use these terms differently depending on context.
How to Become a Lawyer
In order to become a lawyer, you must:
Graduate from College or University
The first step in becoming a US lawyer is to obtain a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Since there is no undergraduate major in law, you can select any major you like.
Take the LSAT
After graduation you must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). The LSAT is an aptitude test that figures heavily into the law school admissions decision.
Graduate from an ABA-Accredited Law School
The American Bar Association (ABA) accredits 197 US law schools, and the number is still growing. Law school is considered graduate school in the United States.
How to Become an Attorney
In order to become an attorney, you must:
Become a Lawyer
First, you must graduate from college, take the LSAT, and graduate from law school.
Pass the Moral Character and Fitness Determination
You must complete a questionnaire that asks you very intrusive questions about your past. Drug use, criminal acts (even with no arrest), unpaid debts, and even divorce are all relevant. You could be denied the right to sit for the bar exam if your past includes behavior that raises doubts about your moral fitness to practice law.
Pass the Bar Exam
In Georgia, you must pass a two-day written bar exam. There are only two possible results: pass or fail. You cannot gain access to your raw score.
Pass the MPRE
The Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) is a standardized test on professional ethics that you must take and pass to qualify as an attorney. It is shorter and easier than the state bar exam.
Gain Admission to the State Bar
After passing the bar exam, the MPRE, and the moral character and fitness determination, the State Bar of Georgia will send you a letter notifying you of your licensure. At that point, you will be qualified to practice almost any form of law in Georgia (patent law is an exception).
Foreign Lawyers
The system for qualifying attorneys works differently in other countries. In almost every country outside the US, for example, it is possible to major in law as an undergraduate. Bar exam pass rates are typically lower. Many countries require a candidate to complete an internship before they are qualified to practice law.
Special Case: Attorney-in-Fact
An attorney-in-fact is the person appointed in a Power of Attorney (POA) to act on behalf of the person granting the authority. They can make financial, legal, or healthcare decisions, depending on the scope of the POA. This term is misleading to some, because an attorney-in-fact need not have studied law.
The Unauthorized Practice of Law in Georgia
It is illegal in Georgia, as well as other states, to hold yourself out to the public as an attorney when you don’t qualify.
Possible sanctions include:
- Criminal prosecution (misdemeanor charges)
- Injunctions
- Contempt of court if you violate an injunction
- Civil penalties or sanctions
Repeated or serious violations can lead to more serious penalties, including felony charges in extreme instances. Beware–even holding yourself out as a “lawyer” can get you into trouble if you don’t explain that you are not licensed to practice law.
Do You Need an Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney?
Personal injury attorneys handle many different kinds of cases, from car accidents to medical malpractice. They don’t charge by the “billable hour” as most attorneys do. They use a contingency fee system, which means you pay nothing unless you win your case.
If you have been victimized by someone’s negligence or other misconduct, you deserve compensation. Contact Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC for a free consultation with an Atlanta personal injury lawyer.
Contact our Personal Injury Lawyers at Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC for Legal Help With Your Case
If you suffered serious injuries after an accident in Atlanta, Georgia we are here for you. If you’d like to schedule a free case consultation with an experienced Atlanta personal injury attorney from Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC, please don’t hesitate to call (404) 869-8600, or you can visit our office:
Goldstein Hayes & Lina Accident Lawyers
3060 Peachtree Rd NW UNIT 1000,
Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 869-8600