vakil

Vakil is a term used in several languages of the Indian subcontinent and Iran to denote a lawyer or representative who pleads or acts on someone’s behalf in legal or administrative matters. The word derives from Persian vakil, which itself comes from the Arabic wakil, meaning “deputy” or “agent.”

In historical South Asia, vakils were legal practitioners who represented clients in courts. During Mughal and British periods, distinctions such as vakil-e-aam (public advocate) and vakil-e-khas (private advocate) appeared in court life, underscoring various levels of access and responsibility. In modern usage, the formal designation for a practicing lawyer in India and Pakistan is advocate; however, the term vakil remains common in everyday speech, Urdu-language literature, and traditional contexts. Some law offices and court contexts still retain the word in titles or notices.

Beyond law, vakil can also denote a general representative or agent in bureaucratic or negotiation settings, reflecting its broader sense of delegation. The term is also used as a surname in parts of the region and among diaspora communities.

Overall, vakil emphasizes representation and advocacy, with historical roots in court practice and a continuing presence in contemporary linguistic and cultural usage.