I used to get irritated when I would see an attorney’s letterhead describing the service as “attorney and counselor at law.” Isn’t that redundant. It seemed to be the height of self-importance or egocentricity. “Why would you need to describe yourself as both an attorney and then as a counselor at law?” I would ask myself.

Now more than ever perhaps both appellations are appropriate. An attorney is defined as a person who practices law, a counselor, a lawyer, or even sometimes an ambulance chaser. A counselor is defined as someone who gives counsel, or an advisor. Now more than ever, I believe the role of advisor or counselor is needed.

On the radio or TV these days we are bombarded with blaring commercials who guarantee us that this or that company has the appropriate legal forms for you to provide the documentaion you need to start a business, incorporate, file an LLC, prepare a will or a trust, file for bankruptcy, or obtain a trademark.

I believe these companies may have very good documents. After all the company was started by “top attorneys.” And the law will back you up, they declare.

But what if you don’t know the difference between incorporation and starting a new business or filing an LLC? What if you don’t know the difference between a will or a trust, or a patent or a trademark? And more important, what if you don’t know what you don’t know?

That’s when you need the other appellation for attorney. That’s when you need the counselor or legal advisor. Your choice between a corporation and an LLC taxed as a small business corporation may make all the difference in the world when it comes to your business success. Your legal advisor, your attorney and counselor at law, may make all the difference to you.

So now I am reconsidering the combined use of the words attorney and counselor at law. Maybe you do need both. Often “the laborer is worthy of his hire.”

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 4th, 2010 at 5:29 pm and is filed under Estate Planning Tips, Last Will and Testament, Living Trust, Power of Attorney. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.