Akuperma,
You are partially correct and partially incorrect.
Originally professional litigators were unknown (although contract writing was an honorable profession – this was one of the original meanings of “sofer”). It was also considered wrong to give legal advice to a non-relative or even a relative in the case of a talmid chacham (Ketubot 85b-86a) as this would be to another person’s detriment. Being that in the anarchic situation that followed in the wake of the Roman persecutions many people were afraid to sue strongmen people were allowed to sell their claims to other strongmen. Eventually the rabbanim reluctantly allowed people to be represented by litigators. This was due to the fact that many people lacked halachic knowledge or were tongue-tied when speaking before dayanim. Today litigators, known as “toanim” or “toanim rabbani’im”, and appear in battei din of all streams.
As for general halachic advice, when everyone knew the level of knowledge of their fellows there was indeed no reason for a special certification (although originally Mosaic semicha was required to be a judge and apparently there was also some type of certification in Bavel as most Amoraim are referred to a “rav”). Later the increased impersonal and mobile nature of society as well as the desire to honor people who attained a certain degree of knowledge led to the bestowing of titles such as “moreinu”, “chaver” and “rav”. In the US there are also income tax distinctions that flow from a person being considered “clergy”.
Who cares? Those who follow, or at least respect, the designator of the title.