I am not very certain rav, but I do not think that there is a clearly defined difference between the two terms. Just that, 'attorney' is more in use in the US, whereas lawyers or solicitors is the more common term in the UK and the Commonwealth. A solicitor however, is a lawyer who operates, somewhat on the lower rungs of the legal hierarchy. That however sets me thinking as to why one of the highest legal advisory posts in government is termed a 'Solicitor General'? Any legal eagles out there that can throw more light on this?