Advokat

Advokat is a title used in several European languages, notably Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish, to denote a lawyer who is qualified to practice law and to represent clients in court. The precise qualifications and rights attached to the title vary by country, but in all cases advokats are regulated by a professional body and cannot use the title without admission.

Across Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, the title is regulated and practitioners must be admitted to a national bar or equivalent professional body. The path generally begins with completing a university law degree, followed by several years of practical training and mentored work, and culminates in admission to the bar or to the professional association, after which the individual may appear before courts, draft legal documents, and provide legal advice. In Sweden, the title is protected and can only be used by members of Sveriges advokatsamfund, a professional association that regulates admission and standards.

The term advokat is sometimes translated as lawyer, attorney, or advocate in English, and it should not be confused with prosecutors or judges. In some languages (for example Polish adwokat), the term refers to a privately practicing defense lawyer; in others the term more generally means any licensed legal practitioner.

Common duties across jurisdictions include advising clients on rights and obligations, drafting and reviewing contracts, negotiating settlements, and representing clients in civil and criminal proceedings. Practice areas range from corporate and tax to criminal defense, family law, and intellectual property.