A degree alone isn’t enough: Why understanding the difference between ‘lawyer’ and ‘advocate’ is crucial on the path to becoming one.

There is often confusion among people regarding legal education and the profession of advocacy. Many people consider ‘Lawyer’ and ‘Advocate’ to be the same, but in the eyes of law, the meaning and rights of these two words are completely different. If you also think that anyone can go to court and fight a case as soon as they get a law degree, then you are mistaken. To become a professional lawyer in India, it is not enough to just complete law studies, but some legal procedures after that are also mandatory.

The subtle difference between a lawyer and an advocate

First of all, it is important to understand that a ‘Lawyer’ is a person who has obtained the degree of Law (LLB). A lawyer can provide legal advice, draft legal documents and express his opinion on legal matters. At the same time, ‘Advocate’ is a person who has registered himself with the State Bar Council after obtaining a law degree. Without registration with the Bar Council, no person can appear or argue on behalf of any other party in the court. That is, every advocate is a lawyer, but not every lawyer is an advocate.

Why is Bar Council registration mandatory?

The biggest milestone in the process of becoming an ‘Advocate’ for any law graduate is to pass the ‘All India Bar Examination’ (AIBE). Only after passing this examination conducted by the Bar Council of India (BCI), a person gets the license to practice in court. If a person tries to fight a case in court without registration and license, it is considered a violation of the law. Therefore, if you are also thinking of making a career in the field of advocacy, then after the degree, give priority to registration with the Bar Council and preparation for the mandatory examination. Only proper legal guidance and knowledge can make you a successful advocate.