a legal advocate is an attorney. An INMATE ADVOCATE is a person who advances issues common to prisoners such as being provided with proper health care, educational programs or job training skills. It may also be a person who is not admitted to practice law but provides general legal assistance to a prisoner in such circumstances as an internal prison disciplinary hearing. In such a role they may be known as "COUNSEL SUBSTITUTE" Source: Barron's Dictionary of Legal Terms, Steven H. Gifis, 5th Edition; © 2016