Pettifogger Law and Legal Definition
Pettifogger is a lawyer lacking in education, ability, sound judgment, or common sense. A lawyer who clouds an issue with insignificant details.
Pettifogger also refers to a lawyer who engages in petty quibbling and cavilling, or who employs dubious or underhanded legal practices. Pettifogger is a petty or underhanded lawyer or an attorney who sustains a professional livelihood on disreputable or dishonorable business. A lawyer of inferior status who conducts unimportant cases, especially one who is unscrupulous or resorts to trickery.
The word has also taken on a common usage definition referring to anyone prone to quibbling over details.
