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.
Solicitors General include the following:
United States Solicitor General, the federal government's primary advocate before the U.S. Supreme Court
In states in the United States, a 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 particular 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:
Michigan Solicitor General, the top appellate advocate for the State of Michigan
Solicitor General of Ohio, the top appellate advocate in the state of Ohio
Solicitor-General of Australia, the second law officer of state and public servant representing the Attorney-General in court proceedings
Solicitor General for New South Wales
Solicitor-General of Victoria (Australia), Second Law Officer of Victoria, Australia, behind the Attorney-General
Solicitor-General of the Northern Territory
Solicitor-General of South Australia
Solicitor-General of Belize, a law officer of the government of Belize, subordinate to the Attorney-General of Belize
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 Ontario province
In the United Kingdom:
Solicitor General of Cornwall, one of two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Lancaster
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 (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
Solicitor-General for Ireland, 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.
