Lay Advocate Law and Legal Definition
A lay advocate means a paralegal but not an attorney who specializes in representing persons in administrative hearings. Lay advocates undergo training and have experience in representing parties in administrative hearings. The term is also used to refer student volunteer organization that offers preventive law and paralegal counseling to the entire college community under the supervision of an attorney .
Lay advocates have the ability to present cases clearly, succinctly, and rationally. Their service provides great peace of mind to litigants in person when they are permitted by the court in the interest of justice to serve as an advocate on behalf of a litigant in person. On behalf of the litigants the lay advocates are given a discretionary right of audience to cross examine witnesses and address the court.