solicitor

IPA/səˈlɪsɪtə(r)/
KK[səlˈɪsətɚ]IPA/səˈlɪsɪtər/

solicitor — noun

  • solicitorsingular
  • solicitorsplural

1. a legal professional in the UK, Australia, and several other countries whose wor

1.nounB1
Definition

a legal professional in the UK, Australia, and several other countries whose work includes preparing documents for property sales and other legal matters, giving legal guidance to clients, and representing clients in lower-level courts.

Example

Adisa went to a solicitor to help her buy her first flat in London.

solicitor + to-infinitive for purpose

The solicitor advised the Chen family about their rights when the landlord refused to fix the roof.

advise + object + about + legal topic

Common collocations
  • instruct a solicitor
  • consult a solicitor
  • solicitor's office
  • solicitor's letter
  • family solicitor
  • property solicitor
  • local solicitor
  • solicitor's fees
Synonyms
  • lawyer

    general term for anyone qualified in law; solicitor is a specific type of lawyer in certain legal systems

  • attorney

    US equivalent of a lawyer, not typically used for British-style solicitors; 'power of attorney' is a separate concept

  • legal executive

    a qualified legal professional in the UK who specialises in a particular area, with slightly narrower training than a solicitor

Usage Note

In England and Wales, solicitors traditionally handle legal paperwork and advice, while barristers argue cases in higher courts. However, solicitors with special training can now also appear in higher courts. In Australia the roles are similar but vary slightly by state.

Common Mistakes

I hired a solicitor to argue my case in the Supreme Court.
I instructed a barrister to argue my case in the Supreme Court.
In the UK, a solicitor usually prepares the case and a barrister presents it in higher courts (though some solicitors now have rights to appear there too).

2. a person who goes to homes, makes phone calls, or approaches people in public pl

2.nounB2
Definition

a person who goes to homes, makes phone calls, or approaches people in public places to sell a product, collect money for a charity, or ask for political support.

Example

A solicitor for the local children's hospital knocked on Yuki's door asking for donations.

solicitor + for + organisation — charity context

Andrés worked as a phone solicitor for an energy firm, selling new plans to customers.

Common collocations
  • charity solicitor
  • door-to-door solicitor
  • phone solicitor
  • party solicitor
  • solicitor for donations
Synonyms
  • canvasser

    more specific for political or survey contexts; less common in general use

  • salesperson

    broader term covering any sales role, not just door-to-door or phone work

  • fundraiser

    specific to charity or donation contexts; implies organised campaigns

Usage Note

This sense is much less common than the legal meaning (sense 1). When used without context, most English speakers will assume you mean a legal professional. The verb 'to solicit' is more frequent than this noun form for the canvassing meaning.

3. a senior lawyer in the United States who is appointed as the chief legal officer

3.nounC1
Definition

a senior lawyer in the United States who is appointed as the chief legal officer for a municipal or regional government body — for example, a city, county, or state agency — providing official legal advice and managing the entity's legal affairs.

Example

The county solicitor reviewed the new zoning rules before the council voted on them.

county solicitor — US government title

Renata was appointed as the town solicitor, the youngest person ever to hold the role.

town solicitor — appointed role

Common collocations
  • county solicitor
  • town solicitor
  • city solicitor
  • appoint a solicitor
  • solicitor's opinion
Synonyms
  • city attorney

    more common title in many US cities for the same role

  • county counsel

    used in some US states (especially California) for the county's top lawyer

  • corporation counsel

    title used in some larger US cities for the municipal legal department head

Usage Note

This title is used in various US states and municipalities; the exact duties vary by jurisdiction. Some cities use 'city attorney' instead of 'city solicitor'. Not to be confused with the US 'Solicitor General', who represents the federal government before the Supreme Court.

Common Mistakes

The Solicitor General of the United States is the city solicitor for Washington, DC.
The Solicitor General is a federal official who represents the US government before the Supreme Court.
'City solicitor' is a local role, while 'Solicitor General' is a national one.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

In legal systems derived from British tradition, a 'solicitor' and a 'barrister' are two distinct types of lawyer. A solicitor typically works directly with clients, prepares legal documents, and handles routine legal matters; a barrister specialises in courtroom advocacy and is instructed by a solicitor for higher-court cases. 'Lawyer' is the broadest term — it includes both solicitors and barristers in the UK, and any licensed legal professional in the US. 'Attorney' is the standard US term for a lawyer authorised to act for a client; it is rarely used in British English for this sense. 'Advocate' is used in Scotland and South Africa for a lawyer who argues in court (similar to an English barrister), and more broadly for anyone who publicly supports a cause. To see the difference: if you need to buy a house, you would ask a solicitor (UK) or a real-estate attorney (US); if you are taken to the Supreme Court, a barrister (UK) or an advocate (Scotland) would present your case.

lawyer ↗barrister ↗attorney ↗advocate ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • instruct a solicitor
  • consult a solicitor
  • act as solicitor for

Prepositions

  • solicitor for [organisation]
  • solicitor to [client]

Etymology

LatinAnglo-FrenchEnglish

The word 'solicitor' entered English from Anglo-French 'soliciteur', built on Latin 'sollicitare' meaning 'to disturb, agitate, or stir up'. In Latin 'sollicitus' meant 'anxious' or 'agitated' (from 'sollus' = whole + 'citare' = to move). Originally in English, a 'solicitor' was simply someone who urged or entreated others — a petitioner. By the 15th century the term had moved into legal contexts, describing someone who managed legal affairs on behalf of another person. Over the following centuries it became the standard title for the type of lawyer who handles paperwork and client advice (as opposed to the barrister who argues in court). The US sense of a municipal legal officer developed separately in the 18th–19th centuries as American legal systems diverged from British ones.