Difference Between Lawyer and Solicitor

Lawyer vs Solicitor

If you have ever been embroiled in a dispute with another person or a company and had to file a case in a court of law, you probably know the difference between a lawyer and a solicitor, but a vast majority of common people are always confused with the variety of names for people in legal profession who are there to help and assist you to come out of a tricky situation. Some of these titles of legal persons are lawyer, solicitor, attorney, advocate, barrister and counselor. Let us take a closer look and try to differentiate between a lawyer and a solicitor in this article.

Lawyer

A lawyer is a generic term that is used to describe a person who has taken a degree course and is qualified to work as a lawyer, a person who is certified to take up cases of clients and to represent them in a court of law. He is also the person who is qualified enough to give legal advice on all sorts of matters. So a lawyer is a person who can give legal advice and is trained in the subject of law.

In different countries, different terms are used to refer to legal persons who have received a degree in law and are qualified to stand in a court of law. While in the US, the term applied to lawyers is attorneys who practice law, in England and Wales, the term lawyer is considered to be an umbrella term that refers to any person trained in the subject of law and may be variously named as a barrister, solicitor, or a legal executive. In India, the term advocate is used for lawyers who can stand and plead for their clients in a court of law.

Solicitor

A solicitor is a particular type of lawyer. He is one who seeks trade or contributions. He is a lawyer who holds positions in government firms and departments. He solicits, which implies that he gives legal advice on many matters but does not stand in a court of law to plead with the jury like an attorney or an advocate.