noun
legislator; lawmaker
Refers to a person who makes or enacts laws, typically a member of a legislative body.
彼は優れた立法者として知られている。
He is known as an outstanding legislator.
立法者は国民の代表として法律を制定する。
Legislators enact laws as representatives of the people.
法律家 is a general term for a legal expert (lawyer, jurist), not necessarily someone who makes laws.
Compound of 立法 (りっぽう, 'legislation') + 者 (しゃ, 'person'). The reading is standard on'yomi.