veenzar (Advocate) 07 June 2009

What is the role of a Solicitor?

Is there any difference between a lawyer and a solicitor?

1 Replies

Prakash Yedhula (Lawyer) 07 June 2009

Solicitors traditionally dealt with any legal matter apart from conducting proceedings in courts (advocacy), with some exceptions. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers, and a law practitioner will usually only hold one title. However, in Canada, New Zealand and some Australian states, the legal profession is now for practical purposes "fused", allowing a legal practitioner to hold the title of "barrister and solicitor" and practice in both roles simultaneously. The distinction between barristers and solicitors is however retained.

In some other countries with common law jurisdictions, a solicitor is a lawyer who traditionally offers legal services outside of the courts.