Legal Definitions - public attorney

A public attorney is a lawyer who is employed by a government entity or a public agency, rather than working for private clients or a for-profit law firm. Their primary responsibility is to serve the public interest, uphold the law, and ensure justice within the scope of their governmental duties.

• Imagine a lawyer working for the Attorney General's office of a state. This attorney might be responsible for investigating consumer fraud cases, bringing lawsuits against companies that engage in deceptive practices, or defending the state in legal challenges to its laws.

  Explanation: This lawyer is a public attorney because they are employed by a state government office (the Attorney General's office) and their work involves protecting the public from fraud and defending state interests, rather than representing private individuals or businesses.

• Consider a lawyer who works for a city's Department of Social Services. This attorney might handle cases involving child protection, ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable children, or representing the department in court to establish guardianship for minors.

  Explanation: This lawyer is a public attorney because they are employed by a municipal government department (Social Services) and their legal work directly supports the public interest by protecting children and administering social welfare programs.

• Suppose a lawyer is employed by the U.S. Department of Justice and specializes in antitrust law. Their role might involve investigating large corporations for anti-competitive behavior, such as price-fixing or monopolies, and then prosecuting those companies to ensure fair competition in the marketplace.

  Explanation: This lawyer is a public attorney because they work for a federal government agency (the Department of Justice) and their legal efforts are aimed at maintaining a fair economic environment for the benefit of the general public, not a specific private client.