A solicitor general or solicitor-general, in
common law countries, is usually a legal officer who is the chief representative of a regional or national government in courtroom proceedings. In systems that have an
attorney-general (or equivalent position), the solicitor general is often the second-ranked law officer of the state and a deputy of the attorney-general. The extent to which a solicitor general actually provides legal advice to or represents the government in court varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and sometimes between individual office holders in the same jurisdiction.
List
Solicitors General include the following:
Australia
In Australia the role of the Solicitor-General is as the second law officer after the Attorney-General. At federal level, the position of
Solicitor-General of Australia was created in 1916 and until 1964 was held by the secretary of the
Attorney-General's Department. It has always been held by a public servant. At state (and prior to 1901, colonial) level, the position has existed since the granting of self-government in the 19th century, and until the early 20th century was held by a member of parliament. During the 20th century there have been significant changes to the role, becoming increasingly independent and non-political to balance the increasing political engagement of the Attorney-General. Criminal litigation has largely been devolved to the various
Directors of Public Prosecution. The Solicitor-General provides legal advice to the executive and represents the relevant government in court proceedings, particularly in constitutional matters.[1]
In states in the United States, a state's Solicitor General is usually the top appellate advocate on behalf of the State, its executives and officials, and its legislature (sometimes referred to as State Solicitor, or Appellate Chief, depending upon the state). In many states, the Solicitor General also formulates a state's legal position in significant out-of-state cases before the
Supreme Court of the United States. State Solicitors General include, among others
Solicitor-General (Fiji), the Chief Executive Officer of the Attorney-General's Chambers, and as such assists the Attorney-General in advising the government on legal matters, and in performing legal work for the government
Solicitor General of Hong Kong, until 1979, deputy to the Attorney-General; since 1981, head of the Legal Policy Division of the Department of Justice (Chinese: 律政司) in Hong Kong
Attorney general, the main legal advisor to the government. In some jurisdictions the attorney general may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions
Law officers of the Crown, the chief legal advisers to the Crown, and advise and represent the various governments in the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth Realms
Solicitor, a lawyer who traditionally deals with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in court
Solicitor (South Carolina), a state elected position equivalent to a district attorney in many other states