solicitor
solicitor — noun
1. a legal professional in the UK, Australia, and several other countries whose wor
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.
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
Our solicitor prepared all the paperwork for the sale of the small bakery.
Before the hearing, Hari's solicitor explained what would happen in the lower court.
The family solicitor has handled the Watanabes' legal affairs for over twenty years.
- 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
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
2. a person who goes to homes, makes phone calls, or approaches people in public pl
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.
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.
The political party sent solicitors to the town centre to collect signatures for their petition.
Adina told the solicitor at the mall that she was not interested in switching phone providers.
- 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
用法筆記
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
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.
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
The city solicitor issued a formal opinion on whether the new school contract was legal.
As county solicitor, Brian advises the board on employment laws and budget rules.
- 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
用法筆記
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.