The Law Society is the representative body for solicitors in England and Wales. Over 164,000 individual solicitors and 10,000 legal firms are members. Founded in 1825, the Society is based in Chancery Lane in London. It also has offices in Cardiff and Brussels and officers in the English regions.

The Law Society exists to represent, promote and support all solicitors. Offices deal with a range of topics including legal policy, communications, products and services, business development and relationships with the UK government, Parliament and overseas bars.

The Brussels office, opened in 1991, represents the Law Society to the EU and provides up to date intelligence on EU developments. The Cardiff office represents the Society to the Welsh Assembly Government, and there are also regional managers in the nine English regions and Wales.

The Society helps current and future members by providing support and guidance on areas of practice and management, supporting equality, diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, campaigning on legal issues of importance to its members and acting as the approved regulator for solicitors.

The Society receives around 30% of the annual practising certificate fee solicitors pay to the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Other funding comes from commercial activities.

The Society publishes the weekly trade magazine for solicitors, the Law Society Gazette. The Gazette is distributed to solicitors with a practising certificate free of charge, and available to others on subscription.

The Society’s work is governed by the Law Society Council. Council members are elected to represent members, including different demographic groups and parts of the profession. The Law Society has three elected office holders – a president, vice president and deputy vice president. They each hold office for one year. The current President is Jonathan Smithers. The office holders are the Society’s main ambassadors and represent the organisation at home and abroad.

The Society also has a chief executive, currently Catherine Dixon, who is responsible to the council and management board.

Apart from lobbying the UK government and EU institutions, The Law Society is a campaigning organisation. A current campaign amplifies the Society’s opposition to legal aid cuts. The Society says its priority is to continue to influence the Ministry of Justice on legal aid in its members’ interests.

The Law Society has a commitment to eradicate unlawful discrimination and promote equality, diversity and inclusion. It is an equal opportunities employer and pledges to treat all employees and job applicants fairly and equally. The Society is keen that its employees reflect the diversity of society and it monitors recruitment and selection to spot any under or over representation.