what is a solicitor

A solicitor is a legal practitioner who provides legal support, advice, and representation in various matters such as criminal law, business law, family law, and property law. They are responsible for representing and defending a clients legal interests, and they can advocate in court with the appropriate accreditation. Solicitors generally provide day-to-day legal advice on a range of issues and take instructions from clients, including individuals, groups, private companies, and public sector organizations, advising them on necessary courses of legal action. They work closely with clients and are likely to be their first point of contact, dealing with tasks such as giving legal advice, translating client’s issues into legal terms, researching cases, writing legal documents, and preparing cases. In the UK, solicitors usually deal with the paperwork and communications involved in a clients case, ensuring the accuracy of all procedures and giving legal advice, while also preparing paperwork for court when necessary. They can represent a client in court, but more often they will turn to a barrister to represent their client in court. A solicitor is a qualified person who represents and advises clients and can prosecute and defend litigation in the UK County courts and, with appropriate accreditation, can do this in the High Court as well. The term "solicitor" is mainly used in the UK, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, and some parts of the US.