A solicitor general is a government official who serves as the chief representative of the government in courtroom proceedings. In systems based on the English

common law Common law (also known as judicial precedent, judge-made law, or case law) is the body of law primarily developed through judicial decisions rather than statutes. Although common law may incorporate certain statutes, it is largely based on prece ...

that have an

attorney general In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general (: attorneys general) or attorney-general (AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have executive responsibility for law enf ...

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 varies 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. ** Solicitor-General of Australia ** Solicitor-General of the Australian Capital Territory ** Solicitor General for New South Wales ** Solicitor-General of the Northern Territory ** Solicitor-General of Queensland ** Solicitor-General of South Australia ** Solicitor-General of Tasmania ** Solicitor-General of Victoria ** Solicitor-General of Western Australia

Canada

The role of Solicitor General existed at both the federal and provincial levels throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. However, within recent decades it has been renamed or merged into another ministry in most jurisdictions. * Solicitor General of Canada, a role now performed by the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness ** Solicitor General of Ontario, responsible for police and other law enforcement agencies in the province of Ontario. From 2003 to 2019 it was known as the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. At various points there was a separate Minister of Correctional Services ** Solicitor General of Quebec, a role now performed by the Minister of Public Security ** Solicitor General of Nova Scotia, a role now performed by the Minister of Justice ** Solicitor General of New Brunswick, a role now performed by the Minister of Public Safety ** Solicitor General of Newfoundland and Labrador ** Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General of British Columbia ** Solicitor General of Prince Edward Island ** Solicitor General of Alberta, a role now performed by the Minister of Justice ** Solicitor General of Saskatchewan ** Solicitor General of the Northwest Territories

United Kingdom

* In the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

: ** Solicitor General for England and Wales, the deputy for the Attorney General for England and Wales ** Solicitor General for Scotland, the deputy of the Lord Advocate of Scotland ** Solicitor General to the Duchy of Cornwall, one of two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Lancaster

United States

Solicitor General of the United States The solicitor general of the United States (USSG or SG), is the fourth-highest-ranking official within the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), and represents the federal government in cases before the Supreme Court of the United States. ...

, the federal government's primary advocate before the U.S. Supreme Court * In U.S. state governments, the Solicitor General is usually a high-level legal official who argues in court — often in the U.S. Supreme Court or in the federal United States courts of appeals — on behalf of the State, its executives and officials, and its legislature. The position of state solicitor general appeared in the late 20th century, and not all states have a solicitor general. State Solicitors General include, among others ** Solicitor General of Alabama, the top appellate advocate in the State of Alabama. ** Solicitor General of Florida, the top appellate advocate for the State of Florida ** Solicitor General of Hawaii, the top appellate advocate in the State of Hawaii ** Solicitor General of Louisiana, the top appellate advocate in the State of Louisiana ** Solicitor General of Michigan, the top appellate advocate for the State of Michigan ** Solicitor General of Missouri, the top appellate advocate for the State of Missouri. ** Solicitor General of New Jersey, the top appellate advocate in the State of New Jersey ** Solicitor General of New York, the top appellate advocate in the State of New York ** Solicitor General of Ohio, the top appellate advocate in the State of Ohio ** Solicitor General of Texas, the top appellate advocate in the State of Texas ** Solicitor General of Vermont, the top appellate advocate in the State of Vermont ** Solicitor General of Washington, the top appellate advocate in the State of Washington. ** Solicitor General of West Virginia, the top appellate advocate in the State of West Virginia. ** Though not a state, the District of Columbia also has an Office of the Solicitor General. *

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

also has county solicitors general who prosecute misdemeanors in that county. *

Other countries

* In the

British West Indies The British West Indies (BWI) were the territories in the West Indies under British Empire, British rule, including Anguilla, the Cayman Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Montserrat, the British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Antigua and Barb ...

: ** Solicitor General of Leeward Islands ** Solicitor General of Barbados ** Solicitor-General of Belize, a law officer of the government of Belize, subordinate to the Attorney-General of Belize ** Solicitor General of Grenada * 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 * Solicitor General of India,

Attorney General of India The Attorney General for India is the chief legal advisor of the Government of India. The Attorney General is appointed by the President of India at the instance of the Union Cabinet under Article 76(1) of the Constitution and hold office du ...

Solicitor-General for Ireland The Solicitor-General for Ireland was the holder of an Kingdom of Ireland, Irish and then (from the Act of Union 1800) United Kingdom government office. The holder was a deputy to the Attorney-General for Ireland, and advised the Crown on Irish ...

, deputy to the Attorney-General ''for'' Ireland, until 1922 * Solicitor-General of New Zealand, the second law officer of state and public servant representing the Attorney-General in court proceedings * Solicitor-General of the Philippines * Solicitor General of Sri Lanka, the deputy for the Attorney General for Sri Lanka * Solicitor-General of Singapore, formerly the deputy of the Attorney-General of Singapore, now subordinate to the Deputy Attorney-General of Singapore.

References

{{Reflist Legal professions