Solicitor

In English practice, has heretofore been the style or title of a practitioner in the court of chancery. The two words, solicitor and attorney, have, however, been commonly used indiscriminately; although there was a distinction between the titles, — an attorney being a practitioner in the courts of common law, a solicitor, a practitioner in the courts of equity. But as attorneys took out a certificate to practise in the courts of chancery, and therefore became solicitors also, and solicitors took out a certificate to practise in the courts of common law, and therefore became attorneys also, it was common to use the two words as interchangeable. But the judicature acts introduce a change in this respect. They provide for only one admission to practise in all the courts, as attorney, solicitor, or proctor; and direct that all three classes shall be known as solicitors of the supreme court. In other words, the title solicitor, in England, now embraces the functions of attorneys and proctors, as well as those of practitioners in equity courts. Throughout the United States, solicitor has been but little used as a title of a distinct class of practitioners; for the reason that all three classes of practitioners have generally been admitted as attorneys-at-law, — there has not usually been any distinct privilege of practising as proctor or as solicitor. Solicitor of the supreme court. In Scotland, the solicitors before the supreme courts are a body of men entitled to practise in the court of session, &c. In England, the attorneys, solicitors, and proctors admitted to practise in the supreme court of judicature are, by the judicature acts, to have this title. Solicitor of the treasury. The title of an officer now of the department of justice in the United States government, having general charge of law business arising out of the operations of the treasury.

Solicitor-general.

The style or title of the second law-officer in the English government, ranking next to the attorney-general; also, that of a similar officer under the United States government, who is connected with the department of justice. Also, in some of the states, the title of the chief law-officer, or one corresponding with the attorney-general in other states.