different between layman vs solicitor

English

Etymology

From Middle English lay +? man.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?le?m?n/
• Rhymes: -e?m?n

Noun

layman (plural laymen)

1. Layperson, someone who is not an ordained cleric or member of the clergy.
2. (by extension) Someone who is not a professional in a given field.

3. A common person.
4. A person who is untrained or lacks knowledge of a subject.
   • 2005, Plato, Sophist. Translation by Lesley Brown. 221d.

     should he be held to be just a layman, or does he have some art?

5. A generally ignorant person.
6. Lay-sister or lay-brother, person received into a convent of monks, following the vows, but not being member of the order.

Antonyms

• cleric
• priest
• monk
• friar
• expert
• specialist
• professional

Derived terms

• in layman's terms

Related terms

• laity

Translations

Anagrams

• yalman

English

Alternative forms

• solicitour (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle French soliciteur. Equivalent to solicit +? -or.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /s??l?s?t?/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /s??l?s?t?/
• Hyphenation: so?li?ci?tor

Noun

solicitor (plural solicitors)

1. One who solicits.
   • 2014, K. Stanton, Shakespeare's 'Whores': Erotics, Politics, and Poetics

     […] sex workers are regarded as born to be punished; the solicitors of their services are not.

2. In many common law jurisdictions, a type of lawyer whose traditional role is to offer legal services to clients apart from acting as their advocate in court. A solicitor instructs a barrister to act as an advocate for their client in court, although rights of audience for solicitors vary according to jurisdiction.
3. In English Canada and in parts of Australia, a type of lawyer who historically held the same role as above, but whose role has in modern times been merged with that of a barrister.
4. In parts of the U.S., the chief legal officer of a city, town or other jurisdiction.
5. (Canada, US) A person soliciting sales, especially door to door.

Usage notes

• Jurisdictions using the common-law definition include England and Wales, Scotland, the Republic of Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, India, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

Derived terms

• solicitor general

Translations

See also

• advocate
• attorney
• barrister
• counsel
• counselor
• lawyer

Further reading

• solicitor on Wikipedia.Wikipedia