advocate, noun

Origin:
EnglishShow more Special sense of general English.
Law
A lawyer who pleads the cause of a client in the South African Supreme and Appeal Courts; used as a title before a surname, often abbreviated as Adv. See also SC. Cf. attorney.
Note:
Used also in Scottish English. Cf. British English ‘barrister’.
1832 Graham’s Town Jrnl 20 Apr. 68John Marr, European, was arraigned alternatively for Rape and Incest, and was defended by Mr. Advocate van Ryneveld.
1849 De Zuid-Afrikaan in J. Crwys-Williams S. Afr. Despatches (1989) 19Silence was at length procured, and after the spectators had been addressed by Mr Ebden, Sr., Mr. Sutherland, and Mr. Adv. Ebden, the crowd separated.
1934 N. Devitt Mem. of Magistrate 126The Magistrate..has risen..from a junior post in the Union public service. His qualifications for the position are either those of an advocate or attorney.
1940 E. Bright in Baumann & Bright Lost Republic 97Mr A. Fischer..was actually an eminent advocate — but in those days there was no prohibition against practising both at the Bar and Side-Bar.
1958 A. Sampson Treason Cage 21‘This is something which I as an accused feel with deep resentment,’ said Advocate Slovo, conducting his own defence.
1958 A. Sampson Treason Cage 34[M—]..had practised illegally for several years as an advocate.
1978 S. Kentridge Informant, Johannesburg, GautengThe South African Advocate is the equivalent of the English barrister. The official designation..is an advocate of the Supreme Court..the term is also used as a description of a particular function of a barrister’s calling, namely the conduct of cases in court...The..peculiarity of the South African usage..is its use as an appellation...It is very common..to hear a member of the bar described as ‘Advocate Jones’. It is however an undesirable usage.
1979 A.P. Brink Dry White Season 111In the face of strong opposition from Adv De Villiers the magistrate ruled that the court would..consider their affidavits as evidence.
1987 J. Joubert in Style Mar. 89Advocate P.J. Wessels, now a senior judge.
1987 Star 29 Oct. 13[He] is in South Africa to contribute to the..debate..over the fusion of the Bar and Side-bar. Advocates in South Africa are generally against fusion, while most attorneys would like the right to argue cases in the Supreme Court.
1990, 1992 [see attorney].
A lawyer who pleads the cause of a client in the South African Supreme and Appeal Courts; used as a title before a surname, often abbreviated as Adv.
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18321987