People who ask for or try to obtain something, especially donations or votes; in the UK, lawyers who advise clients and prepare legal documents.
From Latin 'sollicitare' (to disturb, to trouble, to seek earnestly), derived from 'sollicitus' (anxious, eager). The meaning evolved from disturbing someone with requests to professionally seeking business or legal matters.
In Britain, solicitors are the everyday lawyers who handle wills and divorces, while 'barristers' are the fancy courtroom lawyers—it's a split that goes back hundreds of years and confuses everyone visiting the UK legal system!
Solicitors as a profession historically excluded women until the 1970s-80s in most jurisdictions. Language around 'solicitor' embedded masculine professional identity and access barriers.
Use neutrally to describe the profession regardless of practitioner gender. Use inclusive pronouns when referencing individuals.
Women solicitors fought for access to legal practice; many jurisdictions denied women bar admission, charging, or partnership rights well into the late 20th century.
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