Abstract
Access to justice is an essential element of the rule of law because everyone is entitled to equal protection and treatment before the law. In practice, economically disadvantaged communities continue to face economic barriers, limited legal knowledge, and difficulties in obtaining professional legal assistance. This study analyzes the role of advocates in expanding access to justice for disadvantaged communities and examines the strengthening of legal aid, professionalism, ethics, and the role of sharia advocates. This study employs normative juridical research using statutory and conceptual approaches. The legal materials consist of legislation, books, and relevant scholarly articles, including seven main references concerning advocates, legal aid, sharia advocates, and legal aid organizations within Islamic higher education institutions. The findings indicate that advocates do not merely provide legal services but also have a social responsibility to ensure that disadvantaged communities can understand, protect, and pursue their legal rights. Strengthening free legal aid, professional competence, ethical standards, and institutional capacity is necessary to make legal services more accessible, professional, inclusive, and oriented toward substantive justice. Such strengthening requires cooperation among advocate organizations, universities, and legal aid institutions.
