Radców

Radców is the genitive plural form of the Polish noun radca, meaning adviser or counselor. The term appears in two broad contexts: historical usage and contemporary usage.

In historical Poland and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, radcowie were official counsellors to the king or to high state organs. They served within the royal chancery and at court, providing legal, political, and administrative advice. Some held formal offices, such as radca dworu (court counsellor) or radca królewski. The rank and duties of radcowie varied across eras and institutions, and membership was not uniform.

In modern Poland, radca prawny (often shortened to radca) is a professional title for a licensed legal adviser who provides legal services and may represent clients in court in civil, administrative, and certain criminal matters. The profession is regulated by a separate professional body, and practitioners may be distinguished from advocates (adwokaci). The word radca also survives in general usage to mean any advisor or consultant, including corporate or organizational advisers, though in formal professional contexts the explicit designation is used.

The term radców thus reflects both a historical class of royal and state counsellors and a contemporary set of legal or advisory professionals, with the exact meaning depending on period and context.