Mecenas
Mecenas is a conventional courtesy title in modern Polish used to address individuals performing legal professions or authorized to represent others in court. This title is exclusive to Poland.
In the 16th century, lawyers were called "procuratores mercenarii," meaning "paid legal representatives," distinguishing them from "non-professional" representatives referred to as "procuratores." The term "Mecenas" likely evolved from "procuratores mercenarii," with the first part and the "r" sound in the second word being eliminated. It was already in use in the 18th century and became widespread in the 19th century.{{Cite journal |last=Orzechowski |first=Kazimierz |year=1996 |title=„Mecenas” – dzieje pojęcia i kilka refleksji o adwokaturze Szlacheckiej Rzeczypospolitej |url=https://bazhum.muzhp.pl/media/files/Palestra/Palestra-r1996-t40-n3_4(459_460)/Palestra-r1996-t40-n3_4(459_460)-s74-78/Palestra-r1996-t40-n3_4(459_460)-s74-78.pdf |journal=Palestra |volume=40/3-4(459-460) |pages=74-78 |via=Museum of Polish History}}
The title of "Mecenas" is purely a courtesy title and is not legally protected.{{Cite web |title="Mecenas", czyli kto? |url=https://prawodlakazdego.pl/artykuly/mecenas-czyli-kto |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=prawodlakazdego.pl}} It is most often applied to the most common legal professions: advocates (adwokat), legal counselors (radca prawny), and also to trainees (aplikanci) in the respective lawyer and legal counselor programs. Nowadays, it is also used for professionals in newer legal fields, such as tax advisors (a profession created in 1996), patent attorneys (established in 2001), restructuring advisors (created in 2016 with amendments to the Civil Procedure Code, Art. 87), and legal advisors in the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Poland (created in 2005). Additionally, it is used in legislative work to refer to legislators.{{Cite web |title=Zapis przebiegu posiedzenia komisji 02-04-2019 |url=http://www.sejm.gov.pl/sejm8.nsf/biuletyn.xsp?documentId=768CF3D6ED0DF452C12583D2004AECC1 |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=www.sejm.gov.pl}}
The title may also be used for law graduates, even without completing the training program, though this practice is rarer. In 2014, the Press Office of the National Bar Council of Advocates urged that the title "Mecenas" be reserved only for advocates and legal counselors,{{Cite web |title=Tytuł mecenas zarezerwowany jest dla adwokatów i radców prawnych |url=https://www.adwokatura.pl/z-zycia-nra/tytul-mecenas-zarezerwowany-jest-dla-adwokatow-i-radcow-prawnych/ |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=National Bar Council of Advocates - Warsaw |language=pl}} but this had no effect on the practices of the media and legal community.{{Cite web |title=Doradcy podatkowi przed sądami administracyjnymi |url=https://pap-mediaroom.pl/biznes-i-finanse/doradcy-podatkowi-przed-sadami-administracyjnymi |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=PAP MediaRoom portal. |language=pl}}{{Cite web |last=Chmielewski |first=Rafal |date=2018-06-26 |title=Wywiad z mec. Wojciechem Pietrasiewiczem, doradcą podatkowym, o biznesie kancelarii podatkowej |url=https://wdrodzedokancelarii.pl/mec-wojciech-pietrasiewicz-doradca-podatkowy/ |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=W drodze do kancelarii |language=pl}}