I didn't know that one could be an X lawyer. I was told by a lawyer that the term means one has graduated from an accredited law school. Attorney, means that one has first graduated as a lawyer and then passed a bar examination and been admitted to practice law within the jurisdiction of the authorizing examiner.
But then again, that's a bunch of legalese and probably subject to interpretation based on case, and common law. :-)
And, to confirm, as a fellow Chicagoan, Jeff is always clear and right. That practice was established by Studs.