pleaders

Pleaders are lawyers who argue cases in court on behalf of clients. The term comes from the verb plead and historically referred to a practitioner authorized to present cases and draft pleadings for submission to a court. While the word remains in active use in some jurisdictions, in many legal systems it has largely been superseded by the title advocate or simply lawyer. In India and parts of the Commonwealth, pleaders are legal practitioners who are enrolled with a bar council and have the right to plead in lower courts and draft legal documents, whereas advocates—often senior or specialized—are those permitted to plead in higher courts such as the High Court or Supreme Court.

Duties and functions of a pleader typically include drafting complaints and petitions, filing pleadings, examining and cross-examining witnesses, and presenting oral arguments before judges. Pleaders advise clients on procedural matters and law, and work under the supervision of more senior practitioners or as part of a law firm or legal department.

Qualifications and training usually require completion of a first professional degree in law, such as an LLB, followed by enrollment with a relevant Bar Council. Depending on the jurisdiction, additional entrance examinations, apprenticeships, or period of practical training may be required to gain the right to plead in court.

In modern practice, the term is less common outside specific legal traditions. When used, it generally denotes a practicing lawyer authorized to present cases before certain courts, distinct from advocates who plead in higher or more senior courts.