Advocate

This article is about the modern legal profession. For the promotion of a cause or point of view, see Advocacy. For other uses, see The Advocate.

"Advocat" redirects here. For the alcoholic beverage, see Advocaat. For the Scandinavian professional title for lawyers, see Advokat.

Advocate

19th-century painting of Advocates, by French artist Honoré Daumier
Occupation
Names	Barrister Magistrate
Activity sectors	Law
Description
Competencies	Good memory, advocacy and interpersonal skills, analytical mind, critical thinking, commercial sense
Fields of employment	Court, Tribunal
Related jobs	Barrister, judge, jurist

An advocate is a professional in the field of law. Different countries and legal systems use the term with somewhat differing meanings. The broad equivalent in many English law–based jurisdictions could be a barrister or a solicitor. However, in Indo-Pak, other European and South American jurisdictions, "advocate" refers to a lawyer or magistrate representing in courts.

"Advocate" is in some languages an honorific for lawyers, such as "Adv. Sir Alberico Gentili". "Advocate" also has the everyday meaning of speaking out to help someone else, such as community or patient advocacy, or the support expected from an elected politician or complaints handler; this article does not cover those senses.