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abogado de oficio
/a.βoˈɣa.ðo ðe oˈfi.sjo/
court-appointed lawyer
Si no puedes pagar un abogado, el juez te asignará uno de oficio.
If you can't afford a lawyer, the judge will appoint one for you.
Law
formal
A lawyer appointed by the court to represent a defendant who cannot afford legal representation.
El detenido solicitó un abogado de oficio porque no tenía recursos económicos.
The detainee requested a court-appointed lawyer because he had no financial resources.
En muchos sistemas judiciales, el derecho a un abogado de oficio está garantizado por la constitución.
In many judicial systems, the right to a court-appointed lawyer is guaranteed by the constitution.
This term specifically refers to a lawyer provided by the state when the defendant cannot hire one privately. It is distinct from a 'public defender' in some legal systems.
Collocations
asignar un abogado de oficioto appoint a court-appointed lawyerderecho a abogado de oficioright to a court-appointed lawyersolicitar abogado de oficioto request a court-appointed lawyer
Synonyms
Pro Tip
Legal Context Tip
In Spain, 'abogado de oficio' is the term for a court-appointed lawyer, while in Latin America, 'defensor público' or 'abogado público' may be more common. Always check local terminology.
Gold Rule
Formal vs. Informal
Never use 'abogado de oficio' in casual conversation. It is strictly a legal term. For general purposes, use 'abogado' or specify 'abogado gratuito' (free lawyer).
Word Origin
The phrase combines 'abogado' (lawyer, from Latin 'advocatus') and 'oficio' (office, profession, from Latin 'officium'). It reflects the legal concept of a lawyer appointed by official duty rather than private retainer.
Usage Notes
This term is used in legal contexts across Spanish-speaking countries, though specific implementation (e.g., public defender systems) may vary by jurisdiction. It is not used in informal settings.
Word Breakdown
abogado
lawyer
rootde oficio
by official duty
prepositional phraseDiccionario Español-Inglés