a prisoner who has taught himself or herself law while serving time, is knowledgeable about technical legal matters, and gives legal advice, especially to fellow prisoners.
Origin
1965-70; Americanism
Examples from the web for jailhouse lawyer
It now appears that the motion was prepared by a jailhouse lawyer to whom defendant had complained about his attorney.
Tells about his time in prison as a model prisoner and a jailhouse lawyer.
Though he doesn't have a law degree, he earned a reputation there as a jailhouse lawyer.
Slang definitions & phrases for jailhouse lawyer
jailhouse lawyer
noun phrase
A prisoner who, authoritative or not, is disposed to lengthy discussion of his legal rights and those of other inmates; guardhouse lawyer: an avid reader of good literature and a ''jailhouse lawyer''(1940s+)