A
solicitor is a
legal practitioner who traditionally deals with most of the legal matters in some
jurisdictions. A person must have
legally-defined qualifications, which vary from one jurisdiction to another, to be described as a solicitor and enabled to practise there as such. For example, in England and Wales a solicitor is admitted to practise under the provisions of the
Solicitors Act 1974. With some exceptions, practising solicitors must possess a
practising certificate. There are many more solicitors than barristers in England; they undertake the general aspects of giving legal advice and conducting legal proceedings.