Advocate

Advocates give advice about legal cases to their professional clients and many advocates represent clients in court.

Advocates are responsible for talking to professional people and are required to give written legal opinions. Many advocates are responsible for reading law reports and witness statements to prepare for court cases. All legal advocates are responsible for representing clients in court.

Advocates generally work long hours, and most work evenings and weekends. Advocates work in offices called chambers. 

Advocates are members of the Advocates’ Library in Edinburgh. Advocates who specialise in criminal work spend a lot of their time in court and many spend time travelling.

Advocates earn between £19,000 and £260,000 for experienced advocates.

Advocates need to have academic ability and a good memory, excellent spoken communications skills and all need to be confident and able to think logically.

There are more than 400 advocates in Scotland and advocates need a degree in Scottish Law plus a postgraduate diploma. All advocates must work for 21 months in a solicitor’s office and serve nine and a half months’ pupilage.

Many find it is a very competitive and often costly process, as at each stage of training there are more advocate applicants than places, and once qualified advocates can find it hard to secure a tenancy in chambers.

Advocates may find that after 10 to 15 years’ experience they may apply ‘to take silk’ (to become a Queen’s Counsel), which is necessary to become a Court of Session judge or High Court judge.

Jobs of this type currently available

There are currently no jobs of this type available.