Difference between Lawyer and Advocate
Lawyers and advocates are both legal professionals, but they play different roles in the judicial system.
The main difference between a lawyer and an advocate is that a lawyer gives legal advice to clients and represents them in lower courts, while an advocate represents clients in higher courts and specializes in a specific area of law.
Before we move to the differences, let’s understand what are Lawyer and Advocate:
- Lawyer: Lawyers are licensed by the state to give legal advice and represent clients in court or before administrative agencies, but they are not allowed to appear in court on behalf of clients who have been charged with crimes or who face serious fines, unless they have been given special permission by the court.
- Advocate: An advocate is like a lawyer, but their work goes beyond just advising clients. They go into the courtroom and argue in front of a judge, helping clients win cases by presenting evidence and arguing for their interests.
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Now, let’s move to Lawyer vs Advocate:
Major differences between Lawyer and Advocate
| Lawyer | Advocate |
|---|---|
| A lawyer is a person who has been legally trained to provide legal services to clients. | An advocate is someone who represents clients in court. |
| Lawyers can specialize or do general practice law. | Advocates tend to specialize in one area of law. |
| Lawyers generally work with clients in non-court settings such as offices or homes. | Advocates can represent individuals or organizations in court or other settings. |
| A lawyer can only practice law in private sector only but not in public sector because lawyers do not have power of attorney to represent people in courts of law or other legal proceedings like advocates do. | An advocate is more skilled than a lawyer because he/she can practice law in both private and public sectors. |
| Charges and compensation for a lawyer is low since he/she may not have the necessary skill and knowledge to litigate in the court of law. | Advocates charge much higher than lawyers for their services as they are more skilled. |
That’s it.
Note that sometimes, the question might also be asked as “distinguish between Lawyer and Advocate”.
Also see:
- Difference between Warranty and Guarantee
- Difference between Paperback and Hardcover
- Difference between Hill and Mountain
Final words
Understanding the roles of both lawyers and advocates helps to navigate the legal world more effectively.
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