Lawyers and advocates are two professions often confused and sometimes used interchangeably. But while they are both involved in the legal profession, the two have distinct differences. A lawyer is a person who has studied the law and has the necessary qualifications to practice law, while an advocate is a person who fights for the rights of others. While lawyers can act as advocates, advocates are not necessarily lawyers. This article will discuss the differences between lawyer and advocate and how each profession plays a vital role in the legal system.
Lawyer
The profession of lawyer has gained widespread notoriety. Someone with a J.D. or LLB degree is known as an attorney. They are not worried about appearing in Court on behalf of their clients but can guide on legal matters. In contrast to the public support and advice advocates can give on policy and the private sphere, the legal system only allows advocates to do so when actively pursuing legal action.
Advocate
Advocates usually only use the term to give advice. One part of being a lawyer is advocating for someone in court. They got all of their legal training at this school. The advocate’s client can use the legal system. An advocate’s other job is to openly support or give advice about a policy or a personal concern.
What is the difference between Lawyer and Advocate?
Often used interchangeably, “lawyer” and “advocate” mean the same thing. Yet, they are not the same. Lawyers encompass not only solicitors and attorneys but also advocates. When comparing an Advocate to a Lawyer, some key distinctions include:
- A person who practices law is called a lawyer. Put, “lawyer” refers to anyone with a college degree in law. An advocate is a subset of lawyers authorized to testify in Court on their client’s behalf.
- It’s already difficult enough for the average person to understand the law, especially if they need to learn about it. Hence, when they finally realize they need legal representation, they often feel overwhelmed by all the options.
- An advocate is a subset of lawyers authorized to represent clients in court. The original meaning of “advocate” was “one who speaks in favor of another,” which is exactly what a lawyer does while representing a client in a legal proceeding.
In light of this, it has been established that while an advocate may also be a lawyer, a lawyer may not also be an advocate. One step ahead of a lawyer is an advocate because an advocate is seen as a higher authority figure in the legal profession.
How a Lawyer Becomes an Advocate?
While a lawyer has the training to defend clients in Court, he does not necessarily have the power to do so. As you can see, this is the key distinction between an advocate and a lawyer office power. Anyone who would like to practice law must first fulfill certain prerequisites.
Let’s pretend you’ve gotten through college and are now an attorney. You must register for the Bar Council of India’s (BCI) examination upon graduation. The lawyer must do well on this test to be listed in the BAR Council’s directory of attorneys. The bar council gives you a license to work as a lawyer in front of the Court.
As a result of this process, a lawyer can represent his clients in a legal proceeding as an advocate. The blog post discusses the difference between Lawyer and Advocate. The difference between an advocate and a lawyer lies in the ability of the former to represent his client in Court. An advocate should be consulted regarding any legal matter.
