Litigator

/ˈlɪtɪɡeɪtər/ noun

Definition

A lawyer who specializes in taking cases to court and arguing them before a judge or jury, rather than negotiating settlements.

Etymology

From Latin 'litigare' (to quarrel, sue) + '-ator' (one who does). The '-ator' suffix became common in legal and professional vocabulary in English from Latin sources.

Kelly Says

Litigators are a relatively recent specialization—centuries ago, one lawyer handled everything from wills to courtroom battles, but today's complex legal system requires specialists who live and breathe courtroom strategy and procedure.

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