solicitor

American  

[suh-lis-i-ter] / səˈlɪs ɪ tər /

noun

1. a person who solicits.

2. a person whose business it is to solicit business, trade, etc.

3. an officer having charge of the legal business of a city, town, etc.

4. (in England and Wales) a member of that branch of the legal profession whose services consist of advising clients, representing them before the lower courts, and preparing cases for barristers to try in the higher courts.

   Synonyms:

   counselor, attorney, lawyer

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solicitor British  

/ səˈlɪsɪtə /

noun

1. (in Britain) a lawyer who advises clients on matters of law, draws up legal documents, prepares cases for barristers, etc, and who may represent clients in certain courts Compare barrister

2. (in the US) an officer responsible for the legal affairs of a town, city, etc

3. a person who solicits

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Other Word Forms

• solicitorship noun

Etymology

Origin of solicitor

1375–1425; late Middle English solicitour < Anglo-French; Middle French soliciteur. See solicit, -or ²

Example Sentences

The BBC has found that as well as having acted as a solicitor for both Maassarani and Lawless, Murphy had personal business links to both men in relation to property deals worth nearly £2m.

From BBC

Family solicitor Elizabeth Maliakal said the inquest had been "immensely difficult" for her clients, concluding on the third anniversary of his death.

From BBC

Kise is a longtime Florida Republican power player who served as the state’s solicitor general and has argued before the U.S.

From Salon

In a statement issued by his solicitor, Kirkham said the company was being placed into insolvent liquidation.

From BBC

But David Hamilton has taken the unprecedented step of instructing solicitors to begin legal proceedings which could see the government held in contempt of court.

From BBC

Related Words

• barrister
• counselor