Difference Between Lawyer and Advocate – Lawyer vs Advocate
By BYJU'S Exam Prep
Updated on: November 14th, 2023
The difference between Lawyer and Advocate is that the former is a general term used to represent a person holding an LLB degree (Bachelor of Law), while the latter is an individual who is a specialist in representing clients in courts and is more qualified than a lawyer. Advocate and lawyer are two terms that are often used interchangeably. Both of them have a lot in common, and yet, there are some fundamental differences between the two.
Difference Between Lawyer and Advocate PDF
A lawyer is a person who has attended law school and can give legal advice to his/her clients. On the other hand, an advocate is a more qualified and experienced person who can represent his/her clients in court. In this article, we will learn the basic differences between Lawyer and Advocate based on multiple factors and their meanings.
Table of content
Difference Between Lawyer and Advocate
The difference between lawyer and advocate is crucial to understand as many people often confuse the two and use these terms interchangeably. After completing this course, one can appear for the All India Bar Examination annually by the Bar Council of India. And if you pass it, you can practice law in any court in India and become an advocate.
Lawyer vs Advocate
Difference Between Advocate and Lawyer |
|
Lawyer |
Advocate |
Any person with knowledge of the law or who has studied law for 5 years is called a lawyer. |
The title ‘Advocate’ can only be used by people who have obtained a license from the Bar Council of India after clearing the Bar exam. |
The primary duty of a lawyer is to give their clients legal advice. They can also research and prepare legal documents such as contracts and briefs. |
The primary job of an Advocate is to represent clients in court. |
Lawyers are less experienced since they have just graduated from law school and haven’t practiced independently. |
Advocates are experienced professionals with several years of experience representing clients in courts. |
They charge less than advocates since they are less experienced and do not represent clients in court. |
They can charge hefty compensation for representing a case in court as they are much more experienced and has more knowledge. |
Advocate and Lawyer
An advocate is a skilled individual illustrating the client in a court of law, whereas a lawyer is used to nominate anyone in the legal domain. The definition and responsibilities of Lawyer and Advocate are mentioned below.
Who is an Advocate?
An advocate is someone who has received legal training to act on behalf of their client, who can either be an individual or an entity like a company, bank, etc. Advocates have more knowledge, they can give legal advice to their clients and represent them in court by pleading on their behalf.
- This legal training includes professional certification from a law program in a recognized institution and the license to practice law in India.
- An advocate earns this license by clearing the Bar Council exam conducted by the Bar Council of India.
Who is a Lawyer?
A lawyer is a legal professional who has studied law. He or she is an attorney, counsellor, advisor, solicitor, or barrister. The person with the requisite qualification to practice law after undergoing the prescribed course of study can be called a lawyer.
- The role of lawyers is to give legal advice to their clients, but they cannot represent them in a court of law.
- Lawyers are the people who have complete knowledge of the laws that govern the country.
- They study and research the law to give justice to their clients.
- The primary function of lawyers is to advise their clients about their legal rights and responsibilities.
- In addition, they can also prepare legal drafts and documents for individual clients and companies.
- The Indian Judicial or legal system is a common law system.
- It has the same basic structure as England.
- Legal education in India is conducted through a 5-year course (integrated BA-LLB or BBA-LLB).
Conclusion:
Key Difference Between Lawyer and Advocate
The difference between Lawyer and Advocate is that a lawyer can offer suggestions but is incompetent at portraying a client in Court. In comparison, an advocate can offer legal direction and express a client in Court.