Frequently Asked Questions
A lawyer is a professional who has attended law school and obtained a Bachelor of Law (LLB) degree. A lawyer can handle all sorts of legal matters such as drafting wills, raising claims for patents to defending their clients in a court of law. He or she is qualified to handle all legal matters by virtue of having passed the law exam, however, he is not eligible to appear in court to fight a case.
An attorney is a legal professional who is licensed to practice law and provide legal services to clients. The term "attorney" is often used interchangeably with "lawyer" in many jurisdictions, although in some countries, the term "attorney" may have a specific meaning or refer to a subset of lawyers, such as attorneys who represent clients in court. They provide advice, guidance, and legal representation in various areas of law, such as civil litigation, criminal defence, corporate law, intellectual property, family law and more.
An advocate is a person who is an expert in law and legal matters and argues for the cause of his client especially in a court of law. The first step towards becoming an advocate is to complete the law degree (LLB) and then take an exam conducted by the All India Bar Association (AIB). Upon successfully clearing the bar exam, the person gets a “sanad” which is the eligibility criterion to practice law in India. Thus, in India, a law graduate who has earned a “sanad” is considered an advocate.
A lawyer is an individual who has studied law and passed the LLB exam, on the other hand, an advocate is a person who has passed both the LLB exam and the bar exam, thus earning the “sanad”.
A lawyer primarily gives advice to his clients on various legal matters. They can also draft legal documents like contracts, wills etc. An advocate appears in court to represent his client and fight the case.
Lawyers are mostly young graduates who have just stared their legal career and thus they usually do not have independent practices. Advocates are more qualified and experienced so they have their own practices.
Lawyers being less experienced charge lower fees for their services, on the other hand, advocates charge much higher fees.
To put in simple terms, all advocates are lawyers but all lawyers are not advocates. Similarly, all attorneys are lawyers, but not all lawyers are attorneys.
A lawyer primarily gives advice to his clients on various legal matters. They can also draft legal documents like contracts, wills etc. An advocate appears in court to represent his client and fight the case.
Lawyers are mostly young graduates who have just stared their legal career and thus they usually do not have independent practices. Advocates are more qualified and experienced so they have their own practices.
Lawyers being less experienced charge lower fees for their services, on the other hand, advocates charge much higher fees.
To put in simple terms, all advocates are lawyers but all lawyers are not advocates. Similarly, all attorneys are lawyers, but not all lawyers are attorneys.
Legal Advice: Lawyers provide legal advice and guidance to clients on various matters, such as contracts, business transactions, family law, criminal law, real estate, intellectual property, and more.
Representation: Advocates represent their clients in legal proceedings, such as negotiations, mediations, arbitrations, administrative hearings, and court trials. They advocate for their clients' interests and present arguments, evidence and legal reasoning to support their case.
Document Drafting and Review: Lawyers help in preparing legal documents, such as contracts, agreements, wills, trusts, and legal opinions.
Legal Research: Lawyers conduct thorough research on legal issues, statutes, regulations, and case precedents relevant to their clients' cases. They analyze the findings to develop effective legal strategies and arguments.
Dispute Resolution: Lawyers assist clients in resolving disputes through negotiation, mediation or alternative dispute resolution methods.
Client Representation and Confidentiality: Lawyers have a duty to act in their clients' best interests and maintain client confidentiality. They must advocate for their clients' rights while upholding ethical standards and professional responsibility.
Continuing Legal Education: Lawyers are required to stay updated on legal developments and maintain their professional competence through continuing legal education programs.
It's important to note that the specific roles and responsibilities of lawyers may vary depending on their area of specialization, such as criminal law, corporate law, family law, environmental law, immigration law, and many others. Additionally, the legal systems and regulations can differ between jurisdictions, so lawyers must be knowledgeable about the laws applicable in their respective areas of practice.
Representation: Advocates represent their clients in legal proceedings, such as negotiations, mediations, arbitrations, administrative hearings, and court trials. They advocate for their clients' interests and present arguments, evidence and legal reasoning to support their case.
Document Drafting and Review: Lawyers help in preparing legal documents, such as contracts, agreements, wills, trusts, and legal opinions.
Legal Research: Lawyers conduct thorough research on legal issues, statutes, regulations, and case precedents relevant to their clients' cases. They analyze the findings to develop effective legal strategies and arguments.
Dispute Resolution: Lawyers assist clients in resolving disputes through negotiation, mediation or alternative dispute resolution methods.
Client Representation and Confidentiality: Lawyers have a duty to act in their clients' best interests and maintain client confidentiality. They must advocate for their clients' rights while upholding ethical standards and professional responsibility.
Continuing Legal Education: Lawyers are required to stay updated on legal developments and maintain their professional competence through continuing legal education programs.
It's important to note that the specific roles and responsibilities of lawyers may vary depending on their area of specialization, such as criminal law, corporate law, family law, environmental law, immigration law, and many others. Additionally, the legal systems and regulations can differ between jurisdictions, so lawyers must be knowledgeable about the laws applicable in their respective areas of practice.