coun·sel 1 /'kau̇n-səl/ n pl counsel [Old French conseil advice, from Latin consilium discussion, advice, council, from consulere to consult]: lawyer: as
a: a lawyer participating in the management or trial of a case in court
...to have the assistance of counsel for his defense — U.S. Constitution amend. VI
a right to counsel
b: a lawyer appointed or engaged to advise or represent a client in legal matters (as negotiations or the drafting of documents) compare attorney
◇ A judge who has acted as counsel in a matter (as by advising an investigator) is disqualified from hearing the case.
of counsel
1: assisting another lawyer in a case
was attorney of counsel
2: employed on a part-time basis
a tax attorney will move also and become of counsel — National Law Journal
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.