Is there any Difference Between an Advocate and a Lawyer 

Who is a lawyer?

A legal student or a law graduate who is seeking or has earned a law degree is a lawyer, whether it be a three-year LLB program or a five-year one.

Is it possible for a lawyer with only a law degree to represent a client in a court of law? No, it isn’t true. A legal degree alone does not imply that a person is qualified to represent a client in Court. One must get enrolled to be able to represent a case in the Court. He is an advocate, and this is the difference between an advocate and a lawyer.

Who is an advocate?

When a lawyer enrolls in a bar council, he is referred to as an advocate. It indicates that when a person acts as an advocate for himself, he has registered with the bar council. In Court, he has the right to represent his clients. This is the primary difference between an advocate and a lawyer.

Difference between an advocate and a lawyer

After reviewing the definitions of lawyer and advocate, you should have got a basic understanding of the differences between an advocate and a lawyer. The following points that highlight the difference between an advocate and a lawyer might help you understand the difference between an advocate and a lawyer:

1. The first difference between an advocate and a lawyer is that a lawyer is a term that refers to a student who is pursuing or has completed their legal education, whereas an advocate is a person who has completed their legal education and registered with the bar council.
2. The second difference between an advocate and a lawyer is that a lawyer must register with the bar council in order to represent his client in Court, but an advocate has already registered with the bar council and is ready to represent his clients in Court for arguments.
3. The third difference between an advocate and a lawyer is that lawyers have less experience in the subject since they are newer to it, whereas advocates have greater experience.
4. The fourth difference between an advocate and a lawyer is that a lawyer can provide legal advice to his clients but cannot represent them in Court, whereas advocates have extensive legal knowledge and expertise. They are better equipped to provide legal guidance, and they may also file a plaint or written statement in a court of law on behalf of a client.
5. The difference between an advocate and a lawyer is that a lawyer costs less since they can only give legal advice to their clients, but an advocate charges considerably more because of his legal expertise and experience. He can also litigate the matter on behalf of his client, for which he will charge.
6. The last difference between an advocate and a lawyer is that a lawyer cannot be referred to as an advocate, whereas an advocate can be referred to as a lawyer.

The above-mentioned points highlight the difference between an advocate and a lawyer.

How can a lawyer become an advocate?

A lawyer is a person who has completed their legal education, but he does not have the authority to represent his clients in Court. This is the major difference between an advocate and a lawyer. In order to become an advocate, a lawyer must meet certain requirements.

Assume you’ve finished your bachelor’s degree and are now a lawyer. Following the completion of your degree, you must take the BCI test, which is administered by the Bar Council of India. To be included in the BAR Council’s roster of lawyers, the lawyer must pass this exam. Following that, the bar council will issue you a license to practice law in the Court.

A lawyer becomes an advocate and has the authority to represent his clients in a court of law as a result of this procedure.

An advocate is now referred to by three different words. These are the terms:

● Advocate
● Senior advocate
● Advocate on record

Advocate

An advocate is a person who holds a legal degree and is registered with the Indian Bar Council. The bar council has given him permission to appear in Court and defend his client.

Senior advocate

A senior advocate is a lawyer with a law degree who is qualified to represent his clients in a court of law. The Supreme Court or the High Court may designate an advocate as a senior advocate.

The following are the requirements for becoming a senior advocate:

• He should have reached 45 years of age.

• He must have a minimum of ten years of experience as an advocate.

• The individual must appear in a variety of situations.

• The Court may also see how many instances he won.

This Supreme Court or High Court may designate an advocate as a senior advocate after considering all of these factors. So, in essence, a senior advocate’s classification is based on an advocate’s expertise and experience. However, the difference between an advocate and a lawyer is that there is no senior lawyer. 

Advocate on record (AOR)

Only the advocate on record can submit a matter before the Supreme Court, according to the Supreme Court of India. Any other advocate, on the other hand, can write and argue the case but not file it before the Supreme Court.

An advocate must pass the Supreme Court AOR test to become an AOR. The difference between an advocate and a lawyer is that there is no lawyer on record. 

Conclusion

This blog highlights the difference between an advocate and a lawyer. Legal consultation must be taken by a lawyer or an advocate in case of any legal dispute. However, it is only the advocate who can represent his client before the Court, and this is the difference between an advocate and a lawyer. It is advised that an advocate must be consulted for any legal dispute.