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

---

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

---

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

In October, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson authorized Barry Barnette, an elected solicitor from another jurisdiction, to review the handling of the case and consider criminal charges, citing alleged misconduct in the police investigation.

From The Wall Street Journal

Choosing to hire a local solicitor, Mr Jackson says he and his wife soon learnt the trust "wasn't worth the paper it was written on".

From BBC

The national legal aid system pays for barristers and solicitors to act for a defendant who cannot afford to pay for their own lawyer.

From BBC

Letters sent to homeowners in Sheffield threatening High Court legal action after a solicitor bought the freehold for their houses have been described by recipients as "scaremongering" and "aggressive".

From BBC

She did have a "genuine link" to a VIP box, said her solicitor, who described it as a sad tale, and a lie that ran away.

From BBC

Related Words

• barrister
• counselor