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

"He was giving breakdowns of what his actions were - he's got to see the solicitor, he's got to see the funeral director and he's making arrangements," says North.

From BBC

The two solicitors helped get a judicial review commissioned after £105,000 was raised by a fundraising group.

From BBC

The former justice secretary also previously served as Welsh secretary, prisons and probation minister and solicitor general.

From BBC

Defence solicitor David Sutherland told the court on Wednesday he thought the public would be "horrified" with anything other than a custodial sentence.

From BBC

He joined the FTC as a minority commissioner in 2024, after serving as Virginia’s solicitor general.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• barrister
• counselor