A lawyer is a professional who has studied the law and is licensed to advise people about legal matters, represent them in court, and help them navigate the complex rules that govern society. Lawyers go to law school for three years after college, then pass a difficult exam called the bar exam before they can practice law.

Lawyers do many different kinds of work. Some help people write contracts or start businesses. Others defend people accused of crimes or help victims seek justice. Some lawyers specialize in particular areas: a patent lawyer helps inventors protect their ideas, while a family lawyer helps people with adoptions or divorces. When people have disputes they can't solve themselves, lawyers help them understand their rights and options.

In courtroom dramas, you often see trial lawyers dramatically questioning witnesses, but most lawyers spend far more time researching, writing documents, and advising clients than arguing in court. Lawyers need to think logically, communicate clearly, and understand how laws apply to real situations.

People sometimes use lawyer as a verb, meaning to argue technical points excessively, as in “Stop lawyering and just play the game!” A related word is attorney, which means essentially the same thing, though attorney is a bit more formal.