Ever out of curiosity, sought out from a dictionary the actual meaning of solicitor but never got a clear understanding? Perhaps, there were a lot of complex terms associated with the definition of questions left unanswered.
There is a very thin line between who a lawyer is and who a solicitor is, however, it is generally considered that they both mean the same thing. The word “lawyer” is a generic term used to describe anyone with a legal profession and license to practice the law, and a solicitor is a kind of lawyer.
Solicitor General Meaning
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So what is the meaning of solicitor? You’re about to find out!
WHO IS A SOLICITOR?
A solicitor is a legal specialist who provides professional advice to clients on the different areas of law such as human rights law, property law, criminal law, etc, and is also responsible for performing clients’ advocacy and representation.
In a layman’s term, the illustrative description of who a solicitor is, is any person who has graduated from Law school, attained a law degree, and has been authorized to practice law.
Solicitors are lawyers who are not barristers, though these two carry out interwoven duties or share similar responsibilities, they are quite different in how and where they work. For example, a barrister works in the court chambers and strictly within the court, but a solicitor can work in and out of the court.
They are like law agents who interact directly with the clients and relate information to them in ordinary man’s terms i.e without the legal vocabularies and all, while also negotiating transactions for or with them.
A solicitor relates information to the barristers who represent the clients in the court in the incidence of resolving a dispute. Nonetheless, a solicitor can as well represent clients in court and prepare a legal argument in their favour but that’s not all.
As earlier stated, they can also work outside the court as property lawyers, who specializes in helping clients make the right decisions about a property and giving them guidance on property acquisition, or as a family lawyer, who serves as a practitioner of the law in family matters such as interpreting wills, resolving family disputes, etc.
A solicitor is an individual who has the approval to practice law, tender legal advise to clients, perform court proceedings, conduct legal research, and present lawful arguments in the different areas of law.
WHAT QUALIFICATIONS SHOULD A SOLICITOR HAVE?
What makes one a solicitor? Does getting a law degree automatically authorize you to become one? Alright, now that you fully understand the meaning of solicitor, here are the qualifications that you are a solicitor:
- The Graduate Diploma in Law. This is specifically for non-law graduates who want to go into the law profession.
- The LLB (Bachelor of Laws) is equivalent to a BSc (Bachelor of Science) or BA ( Bachelor of Arts).
- The online Graduate Diploma in Law. This is a specially designed course that converts non-law graduates to lawyers online.
- The online LLB. This is synonymous with getting a BSc or BA online
- The Accelerated LLB is a two-year qualifying law degree. It covers the same material faster, so instead of the normal 3 years, it becomes just two years.
- The MA law degree is specially designed for non-law students seeking to gain a Master of Arts qualification in law.
QUALITIES OF A SOLICITOR
A solicitor must exhibit the following qualities below:
- Excellent communication and interrelational skills
- Problem-solving and analytical skills
- Logical reasoning and judgment skills
- Attention to detail
- Professional approach to work
- Efficient negotiation skills
- Dedication and commitment to work
- Excellent research and development skill
HOW MUCH DO SOLICITORS EARN?
The amount a solicitor earns is solely dependent on the type of law you are practising, whether you work in a law firm or “in-house”, and your level of experience. There is no fixed salary for a solicitor, however, the least amount a solicitor can be paid is within the range of 50,000NGN – 100,000NGN.
You must know that the salaries of a trainee solicitor would differ from that of an “in-house” solicitor, partner solicitor, and a qualified solicitor.
Another factor that determines the salary a solicitor is paid is the size of the law firm and how big it is because the higher the capacity of the law firm, the higher the salary of the lawyers.
WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE BECOMING A SOLICITOR IN NIGERIA
- Must have obtained a law degree from the University and passed the fundamental courses as stipulated by the Council of Legal Education in Nigeria.
- You must have passed the Bar examinations and been issued a qualifying certificate from Nigeria Law School.
- Have been summoned by the body of benchers to the Nigerian Bar.
These are the basic requirements you would need to pass before becoming a lawyer or a solicitor.
We hope you found this article quite helpful and informative, and that you clearly understood the meaning of solicitors, what they do, the qualifications they must have, and the qualities they must possess.
Also, read here to know the difference between a lawyer and a barrister.
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