jailhouse lawyer

American  

[jeyl-hous law-yer, loi-er] / ˈdʒeɪlˌhaʊs ˈlɔ jər, ˈlɔɪ ər /

noun

1. a prisoner who has studied law on their own while serving time, is knowledgeable about technical legal matters, and gives legal advice, especially to fellow prisoners.

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Etymology

Origin of jailhouse lawyer

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30;

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

jailhouse lawyer

“I didn’t know they were supposed to do a declaration until I got with a jailhouse lawyer and he told me what they were supposed to do,” Spikes said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 21, 2023

Wilson while in prison has graduated from the University of Oregon, volunteered in the prison hospice and served as a jailhouse lawyer for other inmates and a mentor to juvenile offenders.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 24, 2020

A jailhouse lawyer at Otisville had sent them a list of men who needed help obtaining parole, and they assigned volunteers to work with several of them.

From The New Yorker ● Nov. 25, 2019

Cleary, impressed by Rayborn’s habeas corpus filings on behalf of other prisoners, helped him get grant money to be paid as a jailhouse lawyer.

From New York Times ● Oct. 16, 2018

This summer, Tiffany is a research assistant for Shon Hopwood, a professor whose unusual story — he became a jailhouse lawyer after serving time for bank robbery — has made him a media darling.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 13, 2018