The contrast between an advocate and a lawyer in Kenya is the main topic of this article. Both names are frequently used interchangeably.
The two, however, are substantially dissimilar from one another. A lawyer may not always be an advocate, but the opposite is also true.
A lawyer is a member of the legal profession who has graduated from law school with a Bachelor of Law (LLB) degree. Anyone working in the legal profession may be referred to by this word. An advocate, however, has an advantage over a lawyer in this situation.
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An advocate must enroll in the Kenya School of Law for a postgraduate diploma in legal studies after earning a degree. Nairobi’s Karen-Langata South Road is where the school is situated. A person must be admitted to the bar and as a member of the Law Society of Kenya in order to practice as an advocate.
It’s not easy being accepted into the bar. It involves much more than just enrolling in the Kenya School of Law’s postgraduate diploma program in legal studies.
You must complete a six-month pupillage program in a setting approved by the Council of Legal Education under the supervision of an attorney with at least five years’ experience.
On the suggestion of the Law Society of Kenya, you then file a petition with the Chief Justice, following which you are admitted to the bar and your name is listed in the roll of advocates.
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The primary difference between the two is that a lawyer cannot speak for a client, represent a client in court, or argue the client’s case. In courts, only attorneys represent clients. A lawyer can only provide legal counsel.
