noun
local lawyer; community lawyer; town lawyer
Colloquial term for a lawyer who runs a small local practice, often handling everyday legal matters for individuals and small businesses in a specific town or neighborhood. Contrasts with large-firm or corporate lawyers.
彼は大手事務所を辞めて、地元で町弁になった。
He left the big firm and became a local lawyer in his hometown.
町弁は離婚や相続など、身近な法律問題を扱うこと
Local lawyers often handle everyday legal issues like divorce and inheritance.
Abbreviation of 町 (まち, town) + 弁護士 (べんごし, lawyer). The 弁 part is a common shortening in legal contexts (cf. 弁護士 → 弁).