litigator

This term describes a legal professional specifically focused on the adversarial process of trial and courtroom advocacy. While all litigators are lawyers, not all lawyers are litigators; for instance, a solicitor or a corporate counsel may focus on contracts and advisory work without ever entering a courtroom. In a broader legal sense, the term can refer to any party involved in a lawsuit, regardless of whether they are a licensed attorney. This includes the plaintiffs or defendants who are actively engaged in the litigation process.