Solicitor-general, the name given to one of the law-officers of the crown appointed by patent. The Solicitor-general of England has powers similar to those of the Attorney-general (q.v.), after whom he ranks and to whom he gives aid in discharging his functions. His tenure of office in practice terminates with the fall of the ministry of which he is a member. He receives on appointment the honour of knighthood.
The Solicitor-general for Scotland is one of the crown counsel, next in dignity to the Lord Advocate (see ADVOCATE, LORD), and exercising all his functions along with him, but he does so as his deputy and not of original right. An act, however, of 1887 provides that, if the office of Lord Advocate be vacant, indictments may be raised in the name of the Solicitor-general. Like the Lord Advocate, he has the privilege of pleading within the bar. This right was recognised by the court as early as 1662, though it was afterwards lost for some time.