jailhouse lawyer

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noun

a prisoner who has taught himself or herself law while serving time, is knowledgeable about technical legal matters, and gives legal advice, especially to fellow prisoners.

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Origin of jailhouse lawyer

1965–70; Americanism

Words nearby jailhouse lawyer

jailbreak, jail delivery, jailer, jail fever, jailhouse, jailhouse lawyer, Jain, Jainism, Jaipur, Jajapura, Jakarta

How to use jailhouse lawyer in a sentence

A former college psychology student, Longoria fancied himself a jailhouse lawyer.
The Murder Chicago Didn’t Want to Solve|by Mick Dumke|February 25, 2021|ProPublica
He first rose to prominence as a lawyer in Queens, who settled a boiling racial dispute over public housing in Forest Hills.
Mario Cuomo: An OK Governor, but a Far Better Person|Michael Tomasky|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Sabrine is a trained lawyer, likely a helpful quality when your task is to push politicians.
A Sunni-Shia Love Story Imperiled by al Qaeda|Ruth Michaelson|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As the director of Freedom Now, I hold Intigam Aliyev in high esteem and have long respected his work as a human-rights lawyer.
Behind Bars for the Holidays: 11 Political Prisoners We Want to See Free In 2015|Movements.Org|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST

His court-appointed lawyer was drinking a quart of liquor per day.
How the U.S. Justice System Screws Prisoners with Disabilities|Elizabeth Picciuto|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“At worst, Eric picked up a garbage can, was told by police to put it down, and did,” his lawyer, Martin Stoler, insisted.
Protesters Slimed This Good Samaritan Cop|Michael Daly|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The sharpened faculties have something of a lawyer's quickness in detecting a flaw in the indictment.
Children's Ways|James Sully
Sebastian Brandt died; counsellor of Strassburg, a lawyer, and author of a curious poem.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
But a lawyer who needed the wherewithal finally condescended to risk the task, and into it he plunged.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
"Fortunate," the Reverend repeated, thoughtfully, and looking up found the lawyer's eyes upon him.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
If a client goes to a lawyer for advice the first thing the lawyer asks him to do is to make a clean breast of it.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton