What is an Advocate? This is the Difference Between Advocate and lawyer

Attorney — If you are interested in the legal field, the profession of attorney is no stranger to you. The term attorney is used to refer to a person who has expertise and experience in the legal field to represent a client.

So what is the difference between a lawyer and a lawyer? Are the educational pursuits the same? Who can be an advocate and what are the conditions?

App Nendatekno has summarized the various information related to the lawyer profession that you can read in this article. It explains in detail how to meet the requirements to become an Official Advocate in Indonesia so you can learn more clearly the duties and responsibilities of an Advocate.

What is an Advocate?

When asked what an attorney is, the answer is that an attorney is a person who has the right to represent a person or group in need of legal representation in court.

You may have seen movies or series related to the field of law. Generally, the flow of legal aid is the same as for a movie or series.

Later, the advocate provides counseling for the client’s problems. Not only that, but if the matter later has to go to court, the lawyer will accompany the client and represent him to overcome the legal problems.

The role of an attorney in the legal profession

Basically, Advocates don’t defend who is right. A lawyer’s job is to defend clients in front of the law.So, if you’re wondering whether a lawyer will defend a patently guilty client, the answer is absolutely yes. But to defend here is not to exonerate the client before the law, but to mitigate the loss to the later punishment.

Advocacy Duty

A lawyer’s primary job is to provide legal assistance to clients. Clients are not limited to individuals but include organizations, groups, institutions and even countries.

Other advocacy duties include:

• Accompanying clients who are suspected or charged with legal matters during the screening process.
• A court designates a suspect or defendant who has no legal companion to accompany him despite being sentenced to 15 years or more in prison and death.
• Comprehensive legal assistance and accompanying customers free of charge for customers who cannot afford legal assistance services.
• Advocates must keep the interests and profiles of their clients confidential.
• Attorneys are also obliged to provide advice on legal matters so that the public can understand how to obtain legal assistance.

The difference between an advocate and an attorney

What is the difference between an advocate and an attorney if they are obliged to assist clients in legal matters?

Prior to 2003, there was a clear distinction between advocates and lawyers: their areas of practice. Attorneys may only accompany their clients in legal matters to appear in court in the district in which they are registered as attorneys. Out-of-region lawyers must first obtain a permit.

The Advocate is then the client’s paralegal and can proceed legally in any court. Advocates are thus more flexible about their work area.

However, after the promulgation of Law No. 18 on Advocates in 2003, there is no difference between lawyers and advocates. Under the law, there are many types of professions that represent clients in legal matters they face, including attorneys, solicitors, general counsel, and legal consultants.

Requirements to Become an Advocate

Being an advocate is of course not easy as it has a solid legal basis. Citizenship is required to meet the requirements to become a lawyer, such as being an Indonesian citizen residing in Indonesian territory up to the age of being non-governmental.

A more complete list of requirements to become an Advocate can be found in the following list.

• Indonesian citizens residing in Indonesian territory.
• Minimum age is 25 years old.
• You are not a public official on active duty or a national official.
• You have a legal education background.
• Pass the bar exam (usually conducted by Indonesian legal advocacy organizations).
• Completed an internship as a lawyer for at least two years in a lawyer’s office or law firm.
• Free from any offense that carries the threat of imprisonment for 5 years or more.
• Have high integrity and good professionalism as law enforcement officers.
Later, when you are officially appointed as an Advocate, you will have 3 proofs that you are an Official Advocate:
• Appointment letter to the profession of attorney
• Affidavit as Advocate
• Advocate membership card across Indonesia

The various information about the supporters above will help you understand this profession better.  Advocate is a job that deals with clients, so of course you have to manage your emotions well and have high professionalism.