Everything About the Profession of a Lawyer / Advocate
Talking about the profession of a lawyer, basically both parties provide legal services. It's just that, in the past, these two terms had differences in terms of their practice location.
Based on the Decree of the Minister of Justice, an advocate is allowed to provide legal services in court and can proceed with proceedings throughout Indonesia. Meanwhile, the license to practice a lawyer is only granted by a local court. In other words, the scope of practice of a lawyer is more limited than that of an advocate.
If a lawyer wants to proceed outside the area of his license to practice, then that lawyer needs to ask for a license at the court where he intends to provide legal services.
Since Law No.18 of 2009 on Advocates was passed, now there is no difference between a lawyer and a lawyer. According to article 1 paragraph (1) of the Advocate Law, all persons who are professionally providing legal services inside or outside courts throughout the Republic of Indonesia are called Advocates, including lawyers.
How Do Lawyers Work?
Although information about the profession of lawyers, lawyers or general lawyers is heard, there are still many who do not really understand how Lawyer Consulting Services work. The paradigm that differs in the wider community, namely the task of an advocate is to free clients from lawsuits. Of course this paradigm is not true.
According to the Secretary General of the national leadership of the Indonesian Advocates Association (PERADI), an advocate's job is to provide legal assistance so that a client can get his rights during the legal process.
In practice, an advocate is free to issue a statement or opinion while defending a client's case in court as long as he adheres to the professional code of ethics and laws and regulations.
In addition, every lawyer also has an obligation to keep all information from his clients confidential, except for other provisions stipulated by law. One more thing, lawyers or advocates are prohibited from differentiating the treatment of their clients based on religion, politics, gender, race, or social and cultural background.
Requirements to Become a Lawyer
Referring to Article 2 paragraph (1) of the Advocate Law, someone who can become an advocate is those who have a higher legal education background. In addition, it is mandatory to attend special education for the advocate profession held by the Indonesian Advocates Association (PERADI).
After completing the special education for the advocate profession, you need to take an exam and do an internship at an advocate office for about 2 consecutive years. If you have passed, before carrying out your duties as an advocate, you will be sworn in at the High Court according to your domicile.