New statistics on what potential clients look for when on the hunt for a lawyer show they are two times as likely to type the word "lawyer" into Google than "solicitor". 

In September this year Google recorded 135,000 searches for solicitors, while there were 301,000 searches for the word lawyer. 

A new online directory is using the statistics to back its choice of a lawyers.com.au name. The company's spokesperson, Craig Seitam, attributes the choice of "lawyer" to television and popular culture.

"The popularity of American programs such as the Law & Order franchise, and Boston Legal could be having an effect.  People tend to search for the terms that they know, and if the word 'lawyer' is top of mind, it will be the first word they type."

Seitam said: "The United Kingdom follows a different trend, with 'solicitor' 507 per cent more popular than Google searches for 'lawyer'."

Even more unusual is the Australian difference between singular and plural. Seitam said: "According to Google, in the month of September 2009, 50 per cent more searches were conducted for 'lawyers' than 'lawyer'."