<P> The term was also used in England and Wales for lawyers who practised in the common law courts . They were officers of the courts and were under judicial supervision . Solicitors, those lawyers who practised in the courts of equity, were considered to be more respectable than attorneys and by the mid-19th century many attorneys were calling themselves solicitors . In 1873, the Supreme Court of Judicature Act abolished the term "attorney", and attorneys were redesignated solicitors . Attorneys did not generally actually appear as advocates in the higher courts, a role reserved (as it still usually is) for barristers . </P> <P> In England and Wales, references in any enactment to attorneys must be construed as references to solicitors of the Senior Courts . </P> <P> In both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, various pre-partition statutes dealing with the whole of Ireland and governing court structures, procedures, and court officers remain in force, such as the Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Ireland) 1877 . </P> <P> References in any statutory provision in force in Northern Ireland to attorneys must be construed as references to solicitors of the Court of Judicature . </P>

Is there a difference between esq and attorney at law