One who pleads, intercedes, speaks for, or disseminates information intended to influence individual behavior or opinion, corporate conduct, public policy, law, etc It can or cannot be on behalf of another Anyone can be an advocate, from a brother standing up for a sibling, to a legislator trying to rally support to pass a bill Advocacy can occurs in the context of activities intended to educate and inform, such as human rights advocacy; simply persuade groups of people to follow a given path, such as political campaign groups trying to influence voting patterns; and at other times can even be considered a political activity; such as advocating for the elimination of the death penalty While the term is embedded with connotations referring to the democratic principals on which it rests, both commercial lobbying groups and environmental NGO's should be understood as being alike in that they both advocate
A person, often a family member, who is designated to speak with healthcare providers on behalf of a patient An advocate does not have legal powers, unlike a healthcare proxy
One who pleads another's cause or in support of an individual A special needs advocate primary responsibility is to represent the best interests of the student in the educational process
A person who argues the case for another or helps them to present their point of view Advocates are used in social care particularly where people are socially disadvantaged by status, ill-health or disability Some people argue that advocates disempower people by speaking on their behalf rather than letting them speak for themselves - see self-advocacy
A member of the Scottish bar, the Scottish equivalent to barrister An advocate is a member of the Faculty of Advocates and may be either a junior or a senior (a Queen's Counsel)
In some jurisdications (such as the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man), this is the correct designation of a qualified lawyer In those islands an advocate acts as both barrister and solicitor; in Scotland an advocate is a barrister only In civil law jurisdictions, an avocat/avvocato/abogado will normally concentrate on court work, whereas a notary public will handle routine work like drafting of legal documents
One who pleads anothers's cause or in support of an individual A special needs advocate primary responsibility is to represent the best intrests of the student in the educational process
An advocate for a particular group is a person who works for the interests of that group. advocates for the homeless see also devil's advocate. to publicly say that something should be done
If you advocate a particular action or plan, you recommend it publicly. Mr Williams is a conservative who advocates fewer government controls on business. the tax policy advocated by the Opposition. = recommend
An advocate of a particular action or plan is someone who recommends it publicly. He was a strong advocate of free market policies and a multi-party system. = proponent