What should the collective noun for a group of solicitors be?

There are some mysteries in life that will never be fully solved: why the pan always boils over at exactly the moment you sit down, why the photocopier works better if you threaten it and why people outside the law persist in calling us “lawyers” when “solicitor” would do perfectly well. Yet among these everyday conundrums there is one small linguistic void that has always vexed me — what, precisely, should you call a gathering of us?

We have a pride of lions, a murder of crows, a parliament of owls. These collective nouns tell us something about the species in question: a murder of crows sounds ominous in the best possible way, a parliament of owls conjures dignity and perhaps the odd prolonged debate. But when you look at a group of solicitors what do you see? A congregation of suits? A conference of coffee cups? A committee of briefcases? As someone who spends a not insignificant portion of his life in court corridors and meeting rooms I have had ample opportunity to observe my tribe and to hazard a few suggestions.

The case for “a counsel of solicitors”

It feels almost too obvious to be ignored. “Counsel” carries legal gravitas while also hinting at advisory work, which is the backbone of the solicitor’s role. Imagine instructing a junior solicitor: “There’s a counsel of solicitors brewing in the conference room, could you fetch the papers?” It has a warm, reassuring ring to it. The only minor drawback is that “counsel” is often used for barristers in more formal contexts, and you don’t want to cause a constitutional crisis in the middle of a workshop on GDPR compliance.

The case for “a brief of solicitors”

Witty,  slightly sardonic and open to numerous double entendres, “a brief of solicitors” nods to the paperwork that defines modern practice. We are, after all, a species that lives by the file and thrives on the précis. A brief suggests concentrated thought, meticulous preparation and possibly a last-minute panic about a missing witness statement. One can already imagine the headline: “Brief of solicitors seen congregating outside chambers.” It also provides fertile ground for risqué cartoonists.

The case for “a ledger of solicitors”

Practical, a little droll, and with a Victorian flavour, “a ledger” points to the administrative heart of much of what solicitors do: accounting for client funds, balancing a client ledger, keeping receipts in triplicate. The word has seriousness without pomposity and conjures an image of a row of colleagues bent over spreadsheets and clacking keyboards. It would be ideal for regulatory evenings and seminars on client money rules.

The case for “a consultation of solicitors”

This one is possibly the most earnest of the lot. It speaks to our consulting role, our readiness to listen, interpret and provide solutions. A consultation is also, crucially, an event where coffee is dispensed in generous quantities and the biscuits are rapidly consumed. “There was a consultation of solicitors in the canteen” sounds entirely plausible and slightly comforting, like a gathering of grown-ups discussing how best to sort out the world’s problems one deed at a time.

The case for “a caution of solicitors”

Humour me. “Caution” is a legal term that manages to be both ominous and instructional. It evokes careful reasoning, measured advice and the occasional stern warning about the perils of litigation. A caution of solicitors would be ever ready to temper enthusiasm with experience — “I’d be cautious on that point” — and to supply the necessary caveats at speed. It also sounds like the title of an esoteric short story in which the office photocopier attains sentience.

The case for “a ballot of solicitors”

For those of us who delight in procedure “a ballot” is a charming option. It acknowledges the democratic, committee-driven nature of many firms, where the most minor of decisions will be resolved by vote. It hints at meeting agendas, minutes and motions — and at the delightful ritual of someone being tasked with drafting the next set of minutes. You can picture it: “A ballot of solicitors convened to decide whether to replace the tea bags.”

The case for “a statute of solicitors”

This one is grander, almost baroque. “A statute of solicitors” gives the impression of tradition, rules and a sense that everything is settled in black and white. It is suited to those moments when a firm stands back and proclaims policy on topics such as remote working, dress code or the acceptable use of swear words in cross-examination. Fancy, slightly pompous and entirely appropriate for a firm photograph.

Why the exact phrase matters less than you think

If I sound a little too invested in this matter it is because us solicitors care about words. We will agonise over a single comma and suffer sleepless nights revising the wording of a clause until it is so precisely drafted it will likely live forever in a drawer. Collective nouns are an exercise in identity. They help outsiders understand what kind of creature we are and give insiders a private joke to share at conferences and Christmas parties.

Practical considerations

Any collective noun needs to be usable in everyday speech and flexible enough to encompass the variety of contexts in which solicitors appear. It should be amusing without being offensive, and ideally it should carry a hint of the profession’s virtues: diligence, probity and a readiness to explain why £90 is not a reasonable amount for a parking fine.

My preferred pick

If you press me to choose one, I would plump for “a brief of solicitors.” It is witty, recognisable and has the right degree of self-deprecation that lawyers enjoy. It refers to our work, and yet with a smile it reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously. One can imagine the phrase cropping up in firm banter and in newspaper pieces alike: “A brief of solicitors lined the corridors of the courthouse, murmuring about schedule constraints and the perilous state of the coffee machine.”

An invitation to the reader

Language is democratic and ever-evolving. I welcome suggestions from fellow solicitors, paralegals and anyone who has ever had the misfortune or pleasure of being involved in a multidisciplinary professional meeting. Your turn: what do you call a group of solicitors? Propose your favourites and tell me where they fit best — at a client meeting, in a hearing, in a coffee queue or standing by the reception with a file labelled URGENT.

In closing, may your briefs be concise (and always clean), your coffee hot and your collective noun memorable. If nothing else we have learned that the law, like language, is richer for a little imagination.

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This blog was prepared by Alexander JLO’s partner, Peter Johnson on 5th May 2026 and is correct at the time of publication. With decades of experience in almost all areas of law Peter is happy to assist with any legal issue that you have. He is widely regarded as one of London’s leading lawyers. His profile on the independent Review Solicitor website can be found Here