(A) Advice given to another as to what he ought to do or not to do. 2. To counsel another to do an unlawful act, is to become accessory to it, if it be a felony, or principal, if it be treason, or a misdemeanor. By the term counsel is also understood counsellor at law. Vide To open; Opening. (B) an officer of court. One who undertakes to conduct suits and actions in court. The same as counsellor. (C) practice, crim. law. In the oath of the grand jurors, there is a provision requiring them to keep secret the commonwealth’s counsel, their fellows, and their own. In this sense this word is synonymous with knowledge; therefore, all the knowledge acquired by grand jurors, in consequence of their office, either from the officers of the commonwealth, from their fellow-jurors, or which they have obtained in any manner, in relation to cases which come officially before them, must be kept secret. See Grand Jury.
Law Dictionary – Alternative Legal Definition
1. In practice. An advocate, counsellor, or pleader. 3 Bl. Comm. 20; 1 Kent, Comm. 307. One who assists his client with advice, and pleads for him in open court. See COUNSELLOR. Counsellors who are associated with those regularly retained In a cause, either for the purpose of advising as to the points of law involved, or preparing the case on its legal side, or arguing questions of law to the court, or preparing or conducting the case on its appearance before an appellate tribunal, are said to be “of counsel.” 2. Knowledge. A grand jury is sworn to keep secret “the commonwealth’s counsel, their fellows, and their own.” 3. Advice given by one person to another in regard to a proposed line of conduct, claim, or contention. State v. Russell, 83 Wis. 330, 53 N. W. 441; Ann. Codes & St Or. 1901, S 1049. The words “counsel” and “advise” may be, and frequently are, used in criminal law to describe the offense of a person who, not actually doing the felonious act by his will contributed to it or procured it to be done. True v. Com., 90 Ky. 651. 14 S. W. 684; Omer v. Com., 95 Ky. 353, 25 S. W. 594. Junior counsel. The younger of the counsel employed on the same side of a case, or the one lower in standing or rank, or who is intrusted with the less important parts of the preparation or trial of the cause.