How to introduce yourself as a lawyer in English
First impressions matter. A clear introduction helps the other person understand who you are, where you work and what kind of legal work you do. You can adapt this guide for networking events, conferences, interviews and client meetings.
Lesson handout
A simple structure
| Step | Useful language | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Greet the person | Hi, nice to meet you. / Hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you. | Hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you. |
| 2. Give your name | I’m … / My name’s … / Please call me … | I’m Ana Silva. Please call me Ana. |
| 3. Give an overview | I’m a lawyer based in … / I’m an in-house lawyer at … | I’m an in-house lawyer based in Lisbon. |
| 4. State your position | I’m a senior associate at … / I’m the legal director at … | I’m a senior associate at Taylor & Co. |
| 5. Explain your specialism | I specialise in … / My main focus is … | I specialise in employment law. |
| 6. Describe your experience | I’ve been practising for … / I’ve worked in this area since … | I’ve been practising for eight years. |
| 7. Describe clients and work | I mainly work with … / My work involves … | My work involves drafting and negotiating commercial agreements. |
| 8. Return the question | What about you? / And you? | What about you—what area do you work in? |
Names for legal professionals
| Term | Meaning in the lesson |
|---|---|
| lawyer | A general term for a person working in law. In England and Wales, it does not refer to one specific legal profession and is not a protected professional title in the same way as solicitor and barrister. In theory, someone with a law degree who works in the legal field may describe themselves as a lawyer, provided that this is not misleading and they do not claim qualifications or authorisation that they do not have. |
| solicitor | A person who has completed the required training and qualifications in England and Wales and has been admitted as a solicitor. Solicitor is a protected professional title. It is a criminal offence for someone to call themselves or act as a solicitor if they are not on the roll of solicitors. Solicitors are commonly associated with advising clients, managing legal matters and drafting legal documents. |
| barrister | A person who has completed the required professional training and has been called to the Bar of England and Wales. Barrister is a protected professional title. A person who is not a barrister must not describe themselves as one. Barristers are commonly associated with specialist advocacy, providing legal opinions and appearing in court. |
| in-house lawyer | A lawyer employed within a company, public body or other organisation rather than working for an external law firm. In-house lawyer describes where the person works and is not a separately protected professional title. The person may, for example, be a qualified solicitor, barrister or foreign-qualified lawyer. |
| litigator | A lawyer whose work involves disputes and court proceedings. Litigator describes the type of work performed and is not a separately protected professional title. However, the conduct of litigation is a reserved legal activity in England and Wales, so a person must have the appropriate authorisation to carry it out. |
| deal lawyer / transactional lawyer | A lawyer whose work involves advising clients on business transactions, such as mergers and acquisitions, investments, financing arrangements and commercial contracts. Deal or transactional lawyers typically negotiate and draft agreements, conduct due diligence and help clients complete transactions. These terms describe the type of legal work performed and are not separately protected professional titles. |
| counsel | A legal adviser or lawyer. The term is particularly common in the United States, where it may refer to a lawyer acting in a case or working in a position such as legal counsel, in-house counsel or general counsel. It is also used in England and Wales, where counsel often refers to a barrister instructed in a case. |
| attorney / attorney-at-law | Terms used mainly in the United States for a lawyer who is licensed to practise law. In everyday American English, attorney, attorney-at-law and lawyer are often used interchangeably. Admission and licensing requirements are determined by the relevant US jurisdiction. |
Law firm Positions
| Law-firm position | Typical meaning |
|---|---|
| Managing partner | Leads the firm’s strategy and management |
| Equity partner | Owns a share of the firm and receives a share of its profits |
| Salaried / non-equity partner | A senior lawyer with major responsibilities but usually no equity share |
| Senior associate | An experienced lawyer who may lead matters and mentor junior lawyers |
| Junior associate | An entry-level qualified lawyer who normally works under supervision |
| Trainee | A person completing the practical training required to qualify as a lawyer |
In-house Positions
| In-house position | Typical meaning |
|---|---|
| Chief legal officer | A C-suite executive who oversees legal matters, corporate strategy and business risk |
| General counsel | The senior lawyer who heads the organisation’s legal department |
| Legal director | Manages internal legal matters, sometimes for a particular division or subsidiary |
| Senior legal counsel | An experienced in-house lawyer who handles complex legal matters |
| Legal counsel / in-house lawyer | General terms for a lawyer employed within an organisation |
Experience: avoid this common mistake
Do not say: I work in this area since 2018. Use:
- Present perfect + Since + starting point: I have worked in this area since 2018.
- Present perfect + For + period: I have been practising for eight years.
Describe what you do
After My work involves, use a noun or an -ing form:
- My work involves drafting contracts.
- I advise clients on regulatory compliance.
- I assist companies with data-protection matters.
- I liaise with external counsel.
Model introduction
Hello, I’m Sofia Martin, a senior associate at Rivera Legal in Madrid. I specialise in commercial law and have been practising for seven years. I mainly advise international companies on distribution agreements and regulatory compliance. My work involves drafting and negotiating contracts and helping clients manage legal risk. What about you?
Your turn
Complete this framework and then practise saying it aloud:
Hello, I’m _____. I’m a _____ at _____ in _____. I specialise in _____. I’ve been practising for _____. I mainly work with _____. My work involves _____. What about you?
Check other helpful blog posts:
➡️How to introduce yourself as a Japanese lawyer
➡️ How to introduce your law firm
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