In US usage the term “attorney” (from the expression “attorney-at-law”) is generally a synonym for “lawyer,” specifically denoting a “practicing lawyer” or “lawyer in practice” (abogado que ejerce la abogacía, abogado en ejercicio, abogado ejerciente or simply ejerciente).

But “attorney” may also designate any person who has been “granted power of attorney” (otorgado poder de representación) to act on behalf of a “grantor” (poderdante). In this case, the person granted or holding power of attorney (persona que ostenta poder de representación or respresentante) is known as an “attorney-in-fact” (apoderado). Power of attorney thus granted may be a “general power of attorney” (poder general) authorizing the attorney-in-fact to transact any business for the grantor, or a “special power of attorney” (poder especial), limiting that authority to a specific matter.

And, of course, an attorney-in-fact (apoderado) may actually be a practicing lawyer or attorney-at-law (abogado en ejercicio) or a nonlawyer who the grantor (poderdante) has entrusted to handle some or all of their affairs.