Advocate

From Wild Southwest Wiki

An Advocate fulfills the purpose of a Lawyer in the courts of the Southwest. In fact the word 'lawyer' is almost extinct.

The term dates from the first legal systems set up after the War. When an accused person was brought before the fairly informal courts in operation, it was not unusual for them to be allowed to nominate someone to argue on their behalf. Some of these people had worked as Lawyers prior to the war, others were merely skilled in argument and rhetoric.

Over time some of these informal Advocates began to earn a living representing clients. As legal systems were re-established across the Southwest and slowly became more complex, Advocates began to specialise and today fill most of the niches of their pre-war kin.

Anyone may serve as an Advocate, there are no tests or exams necessary in any State - however a good knowledge of the law is essential. Advocates live and die by their reputations, younger practitioners often serve as assistants to established operators until they've learnt enough to set up on their own.