ADVOCATE

advocate (ad-v<<schwa>>-kit), n.1. A person who assists, defends, pleads, or prosecutes for

public  advocate.An  advocate  who  purports  to  represent  the  public  at  large  in  matters  of

public concern, such as utility rates or environmental quality.

2.Civil & Scots law. A barrister; specif., a member of the Faculty of Advocates (the Scottish

counterpart of a barrister) or of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen (a society of solicitors). • A

member of the Aberdeen society is designated “advocate in Aberdeen.” Cf. BARRISTER. 3.Hist.

Eccles.  law.  A  person  who  is  trained  in  both  canon  and  secular  law  and  can  (1)  appear  in  an

ecclesiastical or admiralty court on another’s behalf, and (2) give legal advice. • Members of the

College  of  Advocates  (also  known  as  Doctors’  Commons)  bore  the  title  of  advocate.  After  the

dissolution of the College in 1857, the term became indistinguishably associated with barrister. —

advocate (ad-v<< schwa>>-kayt), vb. — advocacy (ad-v<<schwa>>-k<<schwa>>-see), n. [Blacks Law 8th]