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“Lawyer” and “Advocate” are often used interchangeably in popular culture. However, there are some fundamental differences between a lawyer and an advocate. A lawyer is basically a person who has studied Law and is involved in the legal profession. But, an advocate is a slightly more specific term, used in the context of those lawyers who represent a client in a court of law. Thus, it is right to say that all advocates are lawyers, but all lawyers may not be advocates. However, is that the only difference between an advocate and a lawyer? Read the article to know more about the lawyer vs advocate comparison.
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A law graduate, involved in the legal profession such as those related to giving legal advice, consultation, assisting or any other law profession is called a lawyer. The term “Lawyer” is a very broad term and is used in the context of a legal professional including a barrister or an attorney.
Also Read | Types of law degrees
In legal terms, an advocate is a lawyer who enters into a roll under the provisions of the Advocates Acts 1961. In simple terms, an advocate is a lawyer who is registered with any State Bar Council or Bar Council of India. The conduct of an advocate is governed by the rules of the Bar Council of India (BCI), the apex regulatory body for legal professionals.
There are several points to be looked at in the advocate vs lawyer comparison. Some of the points are given in the table below.
Lawyer | Advocate |
A lawyer is any law graduate involved in a legal profession | Advocate represents their clients in the Court of Law |
Lawyer can be used in the context of a legal advisor, attorney, solicitor, barrister or even a law professor | Advocates have specified role and duties. It is a more specific term |
Lawyers may not be very experienced in the practising law | Advocates are experienced professionals and have cleared a standard Bar examination |
Lawyers cannot represent clients in Court of Law, but they can give legal advice, assist their clients in legal matters, or work in the corporate sector as a law professional | Advocates have Certificate of Practice (CoP) issued by the apex regulator of the legal profession and legal education in India. The CoP enables advocates to practice law |
Lawyers are not covered under Advocates Act | The conduct of advocates is governed by Advocates Act 1961 |
Whether a person is a lawyer or an advocate, both are legal professionals and have several common roles and responsibilities which their job entails. Given below are a few similar things that advocates and lawyers do:
The following are the roles and responsibilities of a lawyer:
The responsibilities of advocates are as follows:
Newly graduated lawyers, with no practical experience, are not authorized to represent clients in court. They must first gain the required experience before taking on such responsibilities.
Advocates are individuals who have successfully passed the AIBE exam. After clearing the exam and enrolling with a state bar council, they become qualified to practice in any court, equipped with extensive knowledge, skills, and experience in legal matters.
Since lawyers are those legal professionals who have just graduated from law school hence they do not have the necessary experience. Though they have knowledge of the law, including statutes, rules and regulations, and legal precedents.
Lawyers, having recently graduated from law school, lack practical experience. While they possess a strong understanding of legal principles, including statutes, rules, and precedents, they have not yet gained the hands-on experience required for real-world legal practice.
However, advocates, on the other hand, possess more experience, having worked across various judicial environments over the course of their careers. Their knowledge, expertise, and skill set come from representing clients and successfully securing favorable outcomes. These clients can include individuals or entities such as corporations, banks, or organizations.
A huge difference between advocates and lawyers is their area of specialization. Advocates often focus on particular fields, such as criminal law or corporate law, and develop deep expertise in those specific areas. Lawyers, however, possess a larger understanding of legal processes but do not specialize in any single area.
It must be noted that all advocates are lawyers but all lawyers are not advocates. So,being an advocate one gets an additional qualification to represent clients in addition to all the roles and responsibilities a lawyer can perform. So, becoming an advocate greatly increases the scope of earnings for a lawyer. However, the earnings will also depend on the the reputation of the advocate, type of clients being represented, and the type of cases at hand. On the other hand, a lawyer can find jobs in legal firms, and in the legal department of different organisations.
As per Ambition box data, the average salary of a lawyer in India ranges between Rs. 1-11 lakh p.a. with an average salary of Rs.4.8 lakh p.a. On the other hand the salary of an advocate in India ranges between Rs. 1.1 -9 lakh p.a. with an average salary of 4.9 lakh p.a.
To become a lawyer in India aspirants in India can complete a formal law degree and become lawyers. As per the “Rules of Legal Education” given by the Bar Council of India, there are two types of law courses leading to a bachelor's Degree in Law. These are;
LLB course - This course is popularly known as a 3-year LLB degree programme. Law aspirants can undertake this course only after completing graduation from a university recognized by the Bar Council of India.
Also Read | Types of Lawyers in India
A double-degree integrated course is a combination of Bachelor’ degree in Law and any other Bachelors’ discipline. The degree programme will be of at least five years and students can pursue it right after completing Class 12. Some of the popular 5-year integrated LLB programmes are BA LLB, BBA LLB, BCom LLB and BSc LLB.
After completion of the programme, students are eligible to register themselves with state bar councils. Such law graduates are called lawyers.
Related: Online Law Courses & Certifications
A law graduate becomes an advocate only when he/she is registered with the Bar Council of India (BCI). The council conducts an All India Bar Examination (AIBE) to set a standard for advocates. Law graduates who wish to become advocates are required to clear the AIBE exam and obtain a Certificate of Practice from the BCI. Generally, the AIBE exam is conducted twice a year and applications for it are accepted online from the official website of the council.
Those who clear the AIBE exam and have received the CoP from the council are eligible to represent their clients in a Court of Law. These lawyers are called Advocates.
Advocates uphold the interests of their clients and play a crucial role in the administration of justice. They are also bound by the rules of the Bar Council of India and accordingly, they are expected to adhere to the highest standards of probity and honour.
Also, check - Difference Between Judge and Magistrate
Anyone who has completed their legal education and possess the Bachelor of Legislative Law (LLB) degree can be called as a lawyer
Any lawyer whose name has been entered in the roll prepared and maintained by the State Bar Council under section 17 of the Advocates Act, 1961.
A lawyer does not have the authority to practise law or represent clients, only an advocate can do so.
Yes. A lawyer can become an advocate if they clear the All India Bar Examination conducted by the Bar Council of India and their name is entered in roll maintained by the State Bar Council under section 17 of the Advocates Act, 1961.
While possessing an LLB degree is a prerequisite for becoming an advocate, it is not enough. To become an advocate the person’s name must be entered in the roll maintained by the State Bar Council and the person must also clear the All India Bar Examination conducted by the Bar Council of India.
An advocate can represent clients in court, which a lawyer cannot.
Becoming an advocate is an additional qualification which a lawyer gets after clearing the AIBE exam. So, an advocate is always better than being only a lawyer.
Yes. Anyone who has completed their legal education and obtained the Bachelor of Legislative Law (LLB) degree is a lawyer.
The fees for a BA LLB course can vary and depends on the type of institution you choose. In government law colleges, the total fees for the five-year integrated BA LLB program ranges from 20,000 to 1.5 lakhs for the entire course. in private law colleges or deemed universities, the fees can be much higher, typically falling between 3 lakhs to 10 lakhs for the full duration of the program. For example, institutions like Symbiosis Law School, Jindal Global Law School, and Amity Law School charge higher fees but often offer better infrastructure, faculty, and placement opportunities. NLUs charge around 1.5 to 2.5 lakhs per year, depending on the campus. check the specific fee structure on the official website of the college you're interested in, as it also includes charges for tuition, library, examination, hostel, and other facilities.
Hey Sudhanshu ,
I hope you are doing good. As per your mentioned query, the fees structure varies on the type of institution either it is government or private. The fees ranges between Rs. 2 Lakhs to Rs. 10.93 Lakhs for the entire duration.
To know more , refer this :
https://www.careers360.com/courses/ba-llb-dual-degree
I hope this helps you!
Hello there,
For LLB 5-year admission login help, follow these steps:
Visit the
official admission portal
of the university or state conducting the 5-year LLB entrance or admission. For example, if it's Maharashtra, visit
Maharashtra Law CET portal
or your state's official site.
Use the
login credentials (ID and password)
you received during registration. If you forgot the password, use the
"Forgot Password"
option to reset it.
If you do not have a login, first complete the
registration process
on the portal to create your login ID.
Make sure to use the correct website URL provided by the admission authority. Avoid third-party websites.
I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries, feel free to share your questions with us, and we will be happy to assist you.
Thank you, and I wish you all the best in your bright future.
Several law colleges in Mumbai offer 3-year LLB programs with evening sessions, often starting after 4 PM. Following are the options include:
Well to confirm the exact timing and availability of evening classes, it's best to contact the respective colleges directly or visit their websites for the most up-to-date information.
Hello there,
Siksha O Anusandhan (SOA) University in Bhubaneswar offers a 5-year integrated B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) program through its National Institute of Law. The course combines arts and law education, preparing students for careers in law, governance, and public policy. The total fee is around Rs.8.6 lakh for the entire course.
To be eligible, candidates must have completed 10+2 with minimum marks (45% for general, 42% for OBC, 40% for SC/ST) and should be under 20 years old (with age relaxation for SC/ST). Admission is through the SOA Admission Test (SAAT) or other law entrance exams like CLAT or LSAT.
SOA has a modern campus with good infrastructure, libraries, hostels, and is accredited with an A++ grade by NAAC. Graduates can work as advocates, corporate legal advisors, government legal officers, or law teachers.
For admission details and updates, you can visit the official SOA admission website.
I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries, feel free to share your questions with us, and we will be happy to assist you.
Thank you, and I wish you all the best in your bright future.
A lawyer is a professional who practises law. An Individual in the lawyer career path defends his or her client's cases and makes arguments on his or her behalf in both criminal and civil proceedings. A lawyer may advise and assist clients on how they should handle their legal issues. An individual as a career in law in India is considered one of the most sought-after careers.
A lawyer's job requires inhibiting skills. It involves practical applications of abstract legal theories and knowledge to solve specialised individual problems or to facilitate the interests of those who hire a lawyer to perform legal services. Here, in this article, we will discuss how to become a lawyer after 10th, is lawyer a good career in India, and how to become a lawyer in India.
Are you searching for a civil lawyer job description? A civil lawyer is a law professional who deals with disputes that come under civil law. Civil law is applicable to issues related t property and business disputes, family disputes, and torts. A tort can be defined as a civil wrong that causes the other person harm or injury. A Civil lawyer handles disputes regarding personal injury, family relationships, real estate, and employment. A career as a civil lawyer requires working with government entities and business institutions.
Individuals in the human rights lawyer career path are legal professionals responsible for advocating for people whose inherent dignity has been violated and who have suffered a lot of injustice. They take cases to defend the human rights of minorities, vulnerable populations, the LGBTQI community, indigenous people and others.
A criminal lawyer is a lawyer who specialises in the field of crimes and punishments. Individuals who have been accused of committing a crime are guided by a criminal lawyer. Bail bond hearings, plea bargains, trials, dismissal hearings, appeals, and post-conviction procedures are all part of his or her work. Criminal law is the body of law that describes criminal acts, governs the arrest, prosecution, and trial of offenders, and defines the sentences and correctional options that are available to criminals.
Family lawyers are required to assist a client in resolving any family-related problem. In general, family lawyers operate as mediators between family members when conflicts arise. Individuals who opt for a career as Family Lawyer is charged with drafting prenuptial agreements to protect someone's financial interests prior to marriage, consulting on grounds for impeachment or civil union separation, and drafting separation agreements.
A cyber lawyer handles legal issues related to the internet, such as cybercrimes, data breaches, and online privacy. They prepare legal documents, represent clients in court, and advise businesses on cybersecurity compliance. The career requires a law degree, specialisation in cyber law, and strong tech knowledge.
An immigration lawyer is responsible for representing the individuals (clients) involved in the immigration process that includes legal, and illegal citizens and refugees who want to reside in the country, start a business or get employment.
A Government Lawyer represents the government in legal matters, provides legal advice to officials, drafts legislation, and prosecutes or defends cases. The role requires strong research, communication, and analytical skills. To pursue this career, one must obtain an LLB, pass the Bar Exam, gain court experience, and apply for government positions. Career progression includes roles from junior to senior government lawyer.
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