A solicitor is a type of lawyer, as a lawyer is just someone qualified to practise in the field of law. In US English people are more likely to refer to 'my lawyer' meaning someone they employ to deal with their legal interests (eg wills, divorce, family arrangements and other matters). In the US you might also speak of your 'attorney' meaning someone who speaks on your behalf in court.

In the UK you would usually call this person your 'solicitor', but he or she is still a lawyer. One reason why this type of lawyer is called a solicitor is to distinguish them from a 'barrister', whose job (like a US attorney) is to represent a client in court. Solicitors do get involved with court cases too, but it's not their main function.

You can learn more about the different uses of these words, and the different functions of a lawyer, here.