What is another word for a shady lawyer?

Asked by: Ms. Ocie Grimes II  |  Last update: January 11, 2026
Score: 5/5 (66 votes)

In the U.S., slang and derogatory terms include mouthpiece, shyster, shark, pettifogger (now rare) and ambulance-chaser.

What is a word for a shady lawyer?

A sneaky, underhanded lawyer is a pettifogger. If your neighbor hires an unscrupulous quack to sue you, you might call his attorney a pettifogger.

What is a derogatory term for a lawyer?

Mouthpiece is a slang term for a lawyer, especially a criminal defense lawyer. The term stems from the view of lawyers as being the spokesperson for their client. That being said, the term is not a positive one when applied to lawyers.

What is an unethical lawyer called?

unethical lawyer (noun as in shyster) Strong matches. cheater chiseler mouthpiece pettifogger scammer trickster. Weak matches. ambulance chaser crooked lawyer.

What do you call a fake lawyer?

crooked lawyer (noun as in shyster) Strong matches. cheater chiseler mouthpiece pettifogger scammer trickster.

BREAKING! NEW PROOF FOUND REFUTING BLAKE LIVELY'S CLAIMS! Months Long Collusion?!

21 related questions found

What is it called when a lawyer is bad?

Like any professional malpractice, legal malpractice occurs when a lawyer's performance falls below the standard of care expected of an attorney of similar ability and training. Proving a malpractice case requires showing more than that your lawyer didn't do what they should and that you lost your case.

How do you describe a bad lawyer?

Any behavior that compromises professionalism, such as rudeness, tardiness, or lack of respect for client confidentiality, should raise concerns about the lawyer's competence. Additionally, ethical misconduct or disciplinary actions by regulatory authorities may indicate a lack of integrity and competence.

What is a slang word for lawyer?

Another outdated slang term is “ mouthpiece”. “Ambulance chaser”. “Legal eagle”. Probably many others, those are the ones that come to mind.

What are negative words for lawyers?

Common stereotypes of lawyers include negative labels such as: liar, greedy, wealthy, impersonal, overaggressive, and arrogant. While we understand that those labels can be and have been attributed to other professions, the legal world is particularly attacked.

What is a shyster lawyer?

Shyster (/ˈʃaɪstər/; also spelled schiester, scheister, etc.) is a slang word for someone who acts in a disreputable, unethical, or unscrupulous way, especially in the practice of law, sometimes also politics or economics.

What is a mouthpiece slang?

a. : one that expresses or interprets another's views : spokesman. b. slang : a criminal lawyer.

What is the meaning of pettifogger?

pettifogger • \PET-ee-fog-ur\ • noun. 1 : a lawyer whose methods are petty, underhanded, or disreputable : shyster 2 : one given to quibbling over trifles. Examples: Charles Dickens's Uriah Heep was a complete pettifogger, an unctuous villain whose name became a byword for a falsely humble hypocrite.

What do you call a bad law?

Bad law may be considered to include unsound interpretation of legal principles, or a proposition of law that is erroneous, or an attempted statement of the law that is inaccurate, or non-law.

What is it called when a lawyer does not represent you properly?

Any time an attorney fails to meet the expected standards of his or her profession, their clients could take legal actions against them for what is called “legal malpractice.”

What is an unethical lawyer?

Attorney misconduct may include: conflict of interest, overbilling, false or misleading statements, knowingly pursuing frivolous and meritless lawsuits, concealing evidence, abandoning a client, failing to disclose all relevant facts, arguing a position while neglecting to disclose prior law which might counter the ...

What is another word for dirty lawyer?

Shyster is the term you are looking for, it is used to describe lawyers in exactly the same circumstance quack would be applied to a doctor. Alternative derogatory term would be "ambulance chaser".

What is a corrupt lawyer?

If a lawyer is stealing from clients, or taking bribes, or giving bribes, that's the absolute quickest route to disbarment. The second category is broader. Some lawyers are bad because, like in any profession, there are people who aren't competent.

How do you deal with a nasty lawyer?

Here are eight approaches to better handle the difficult lawyer.
  1. Point out Common Ground. ...
  2. Don't be Afraid to Ask Why. ...
  3. Separate the Person from the Problem. ...
  4. Focus on your Interests. ...
  5. Don't Fall for your Assumptions. ...
  6. Take a Calculated Approach. ...
  7. Control the Conversation by Reframing. ...
  8. Pick up the Phone.

What is a bad attorney?

Other signs of an incompetent lawyer include poor communication, missed deadlines, lack of knowledge about relevant laws, unpreparedness in court, and general disorganization in handling cases.

What is a negligent lawyer?

Negligence is the “failure to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in like circumstances.” When a lawyer fails to exercise the care that another lawyer can reasonably be expected to exercise for a client, then they have committed legal negligence.

What is the word for bad lawyer?

Synonyms for Bad lawyer
  • poor lawyer. n.
  • prejudicial lawyer. n.
  • worst lawyer. n.
  • corrupt lawyer. n.
  • demonic lawyer. n.
  • immoral lawyer. n.
  • rotten lawyer. n.
  • vicious lawyer. n.

What is the most common complaint against lawyers?

According to the ABA, the most common attorney discipline complaints filed with the bar association involve:
  • Neglect.
  • Lack of communication.
  • Misrepresentation or dishonesty.
  • Scope of representation.
  • Fee disputes.

What should you not say to a lawyer?

Eight Things You Shouldn't Say to Your Lawyer
  • Do Not Say Anything to Your Attorney That Is Not True. ...
  • Do Not Exaggerate Your Injuries When Talking to Your Lawyer. ...
  • Do Not Tell Your Lawyer to Act On Your Behalf and Take Other Action Without Their Awareness.