LAWYER. A generic term applicable to all persons who have made a special study of the law and who arc entitled to the privilege of advising and representing clients. It includes advocate (q.v.). attorney (q.v.), counselor (q•v.), barrister (q.v.), proctor (Tv.). solicitor (q.v.). and even the judicial (dulcet'. who collectively make up the beach (q.v.) and bar (q.v./• primitive communities the lawyer is also a priest, Th., is but one set of rules of human conduct, and these arc at once religious temts annul civil codes. As the State develops, mu nicipal law becomes separated from religion. the usual division of labor takes place, and law yers wino are only laymen form a class distinct and apart from those who are avowedly priests. In some stages of political development. and in some countries to-day. the •anonist plays almost as large a part in legal affairs as the secular legit or civilian.
At Home. the era of civil lawyers begins about three hundred years before Christ with Coruncanius, the first plebeian pontifrx From his time pradentrs, persons learned in the law of the State. were a recognized class, acting as professional eounsel and public expositors of legal principles. In some respects their work and influence differed widely from those of the 'English lawyer. Tn the first place, they were called on IT the magistrates for opinions in litigated eases. Oftentimes these magistrates. such as praetors and cu•ule :Miles, had no legal learning, and hence were forced to seek advice from others. But it was also customary for those who had enjoyed a legal training and ex perienee to call in the assistance of other prudentes. in this way it happened that the Roman lawyer exercised an influenee over judicial decisions which has never belonged to the Eng lish bar. See CIVIL LAW: The first (Olivia] recognition of lawyers as a professional class in England appears in the reign of Edward 1.. when the Statute of West
minster I declares the penalty for certain misconduct by •serjeant•eounters.' Its evolu tion had undoubtedly been slow, hut the statute just referred to is evidenee that `serieant-advo had gained a foothold in English courts prior to T275. Apparently the King was the to employ professional counsel, for their earliest title is serjeants or servants of the King. Having asserted this privilege for himself. he conceded it to others. For a time private litigants are forced to obtain a special license from the King as it condition of employing coun sel to appear for them in court. Later the King license- the counsel, and litigants are free to employ any of such favored students of the law. The bar now becomes an integral part of the judicial system, having rights, duties, and functions as distinet and almost as important as those of the bench. From this time on. the opinion of the legal profession "is among the most powerful of the forces that shape the law" of England. Sec LEGAL EDUCATION.
According to Lilo census of 1900, the profes sional lawyers of the United States numbered 113.450. thus constituting one in every three hundred and fifty of our male population. Two thirds of our Presidents have been lawyers. A like proportion has obtained annaig our United States Senators. while more than half of our Representatives in Congress, as well as of our State legislators, have been members of the legal profession. Consult : Maine, neienl hair New York. 1878) Aluirhead. Boman Law (Edinburgh, 1886): Pollock and „Maitland, History of Eng Lne (Cambridge. 1895).