Mike Mansheim wrote:
>
> > Get your solicitor to send them a letter.
>
> Is a solicitor what we Americans would call a lawyer?
>

Yes it is. The term "solicitor", used in Commonwealth countries, is
much to be preferred over Americans' use of "lawyer" because the
precise meaning of the verb "to solicit" is to accost, to make immoral
request or offer, to pester by begging. The noun "solicitation" means
the act of soliciting in the streets for immoral purposes. There is an
offence of "soliciting", meaning to procure women for the purposes of
prostitution.

It's obvious that this association of the word "solicitor" with vice,
immorality & prostitution is so much more accurately evocative of the
work practices & "ethics" of the legal profession than the misnomer
"lawyer". One hopes its usage may be taken up by our American friends!
<GR>

PJH

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