Counsel or Advocate--any difference ???

Radhey (Querist) 01 October 2010 This query is : Resolved
In England----they are called Barristers.

In US--------- they are called Attorneys.

In India ------they are called"Advocates"

but

sometimes "Counsel" also.

Is there some difference in "Advocate" and "Counsel" or none ?

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Radhey (Querist) 01 October 2010
Also correct me, if I am wrong somewhere.

s.subramanian (Expert) 01 October 2010
Both mean the same thing .No difference.

R.Ranganathan (Expert) 01 October 2010
Better to get proper meanings through the Dictionary instead of asking in this forum. Their general meaning refers to the same thing but still it has its own particular meanings.

Kirti Kar Tripathi (Expert) 01 October 2010
I agree with Mr. Rangnathan

Parthasarathi Loganathan (Expert) 01 October 2010
Generally speaking, an attorney, or attorney-at-law, is a person who is a member of the legal profession. An attorney is qualified and licensed to represent a client in court. By most definitions, an attorney may act on the client’s behalf and plead or defend a case in legal proceedings. The English word attorney has French origins, where it meant “a person acting for another as an agent or deputy.”

A lawyer, by definition, is someone who is trained in the field of law and provides advice and aid on legal matters. Because a lawyer also conducts suits in court proceedings and represents clients in various legal instances, the term has expanded to overlap the definition of attorney. In the U.S., attorney and lawyer are normally considered synonyms. The term lawyer has Middle English roots.

In the U.K, even more job titles are used in the field of law; there are barristers and solicitors, among others. A barrister generally performs trial work, especially in the higher courts, and does not deal directly with clients. A solicitor, on the other hand, speaks with clients, prepares documents and may appear as an advocate in a lower court.

Finally, Esquire is a title sometimes used by attorneys. When used, it follows the attorney’s full name, and is most often an abbreviation, Esq. It is an honorary title that has little meaning in the U.S. today and is even somewhat controversial. The term Esquire has English roots, where it was considered an honorary title and originally referred only to males. It is now used as a professional title, similar to the use of Dr. or Ph.D.

Akhilesh Kumar (Expert) 01 October 2010
The term counsel means "to advice" but legally who appears before the court is called "an advocate".the terms counsel is generaly used by the Hon,ble High court and supreme court and the lower court also.But there is defference between them.According to advocates act 1961 there is term "Advocate"prescribed for the person who get enrolled with bar council of india.any one can be counsel who has degree of law whether registered or not.