legation staff; attaché
Refers to a staff member of a legation, a diplomatic mission of lower rank than an embassy. The term is somewhat historical; modern usage often prefers 大使館員 for embassy staff.
He was posted overseas as a legation staff member.
The work of a legation attaché covers a wide range of duties.
大使館員 refers to embassy staff, which is a higher-ranking diplomatic mission than a legation. 公使館員 is less common today and specific to legations.
公使 is the minister or head of a legation, while 公使館員 is a staff member working under the minister.
Formed from 公使館, “legation,” and 員, “staff member,” denoting a member of a legation’s staff.