Speaking of low-life lawyers: Funny point re: journa...umm..newsm...ahh, those people who write for papers and magazines. Those who practice the law have a similar issue. Take your pick: lawyer, counselor-at-law, or attorney (barrister for those in Commonwealth nations). Here's how we handle it in Philly: to one another, we're just "lawyers". To the public, we're usually "attorneys" but sometimes "counselors-at-law". In the court system, we are usually referred to as "counselors" (i.e. by the Judge or his/her staff; like "Counselor, wake up please."). "Esquire" is purely an honorific, even though we all put it after our names. Technically, we're doctors, but you'll call your chiropractor a "doctor" before you bestow it up on your lawyer.

Most lawyers probably prefer "attorney" because it seems more noble, or at least less common (hmmm, I suppose those mean the same thing...moving on). "Counselor" just sounds too haughty, except in the above-mentioned situation where it's the norm. Still, as bad as the public perceives us, when you look to Hollywood or t.v. we get it pretty good. I mean, how many t.v. shows have there been about lawyers? I'd dare say probably more than any other profession save the police. But the lawyer shows and police shows are usually related (granted, it's criminal lawyers, not personal injury lawyers that get on the Tube). So, perhaps the public is simultaneously fascinated and repulsed by some professions.