The Law Society: Who Can Join?

The Law Society is a professional body for solicitors in England and Wales that provides support and resources to its members. To join the Law Society, one must be a qualified solicitor registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and be admitted to the roll of solicitors. This process typically takes at least six years of full-time study and training, and members of the Law Society can benefit from access to a legal library, career advice, and networking opportunities. While only qualified solicitors can join the Law Society, independent local law societies and community groups offer ways for those interested in the legal system to get involved.

You must be a qualified solicitor to join

To join the Law Society, you must be a qualified solicitor. The Law Society is the professional body for solicitors in England and Wales. It is a place where solicitors can connect, grow and thrive, with support offered at every stage of their careers.

Becoming a solicitor takes a lot of commitment. It usually takes at least six years to qualify as a solicitor with full-time study, and competition for training opportunities is high. There are also apprenticeship options available, which can take between three and six years. To qualify, most aspiring solicitors will take the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) introduced the SQE in 2021, which replaced the previous Legal Practice Course (LPC).

Before you can join the Law Society, you must apply to be registered with the SRA. This register is known as the roll of solicitors in England and Wales and entitles you to practise as a solicitor. Once admitted to the roll, you automatically become a member of the Law Society. The SRA will contact you eight weeks before the end of your training to arrange pre-admission screening, which helps to assess your character and suitability to be a solicitor.

The Law Society offers a range of benefits to its members, including access to their legal library, both online and in-person at their London location. Members can also take advantage of free helplines, advertising and sponsorship opportunities, and exclusive offers and discounts from partners. The Law Society also provides free and confidential support on legal practice and procedure to its members and their staff.

Register with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) first

To join the Law Society, you must first be a qualified solicitor. Before you can join, you must apply to be registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). The SRA is the regulatory body for solicitors in England and Wales, responsible for regulating the professional conduct of more than 125,000 solicitors and other authorised individuals at over 11,000 firms. The SRA was formed in 2007 by the Legal Services Act 2007 to act as the independent regulator of solicitors.

The SRA offers a register, also known as the roll of solicitors in England and Wales, which entitles you to practise as a solicitor. This register is the definitive source of information about the law firms and people regulated by the SRA. It allows you to check whether someone is a solicitor, where they work, and whether the SRA regulates a law firm. The register also includes firms that the SRA has closed down and people prohibited from practising as solicitors.

Eight weeks before the end of your training, the SRA will contact you to arrange pre-admission screening. This helps assess your character and suitability to be a solicitor. Once you have your screening results, you can apply for admission on the SRA website. You can only apply for your first practising certificate once you have been admitted to the roll.

The Law Society is the professional body for solicitors in England and Wales, offering support at every stage of your career. It provides access to a legal library, with experienced librarians available to assist and guide your research. It also offers free career advice for paralegals and trainee solicitors.

It takes six years to qualify as a solicitor full-time

To become a solicitor, you must be a member of the Law Society. The Law Society is the professional body for solicitors in England and Wales, providing support at every stage of a solicitor's career.

There are also apprenticeship routes to becoming a solicitor, such as the six-year Solicitor Apprenticeship programme aimed at A-level graduates, paralegals, and chartered legal executives. Apprenticeships allow individuals to earn a salary while receiving on-the-job training and earning the same qualifications as those who take the traditional route. Graduate solicitor apprenticeships are also emerging, which take roughly two to three years to complete.

The Law Society offers access to a legal library

The Law Society is a professional body for solicitors in England and Wales, providing support at every stage of their careers. To join the Law Society, you must first apply to be registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and be admitted to the roll of solicitors. Once admitted, you automatically become a member of the Law Society.

The Law Society offers its members access to a legal library. This library provides a range of resources, including legal databases, a comprehensive print collection, and online resources. Experienced librarians are available to assist members with their research, utilising legal encyclopaedias and databases to answer questions and provide relevant precedents and legislation. The library also offers a document delivery service, allowing members to receive extracts directly.

The Law Society's library is located on the first floor of the Law Society building on Chancery Lane. It provides a comfortable workspace, with WiFi and power points available for those who wish to work on their own devices. The library is equipped with specialist software and equipment to assist users with visual impairments in accessing the collections and online resources.

In addition to the physical library, the Law Society also offers a remote enquiry service. This service allows members to contact the library during its opening hours, typically 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. Members can also access the library's collections and databases remotely through the library search feature on the Law Society website.

The Law Society library provides a valuable resource for solicitors, offering a competitive edge and supporting them in giving the best possible legal advice. It also serves as a forum for expanding professional networks, with members able to physically attend the library and connect with fellow solicitors.

Local law societies offer help and support

Local law societies offer a variety of help and support to their members. They provide access to a legal library, where experienced librarians are available to assist and guide research. They also offer a range of resources and services to help members thrive and prosper throughout their careers, such as case management software, cybersecurity, and personal finance. Local law societies also provide free and confidential support on legal practice and procedure to their members and their staff.

In addition to these services, local law societies offer advertising and sponsorship opportunities. They also provide free career advice for paralegals and trainee solicitors, as well as support for members both professionally and personally through free helplines. Local law societies have communities and networks that members can join to stay connected and learn from their peers and leading experts. These networks are based on shared interests, career stages, and business or practice types. For example, the Disabled Solicitors Network promotes equal opportunities for people with disabilities within the legal profession, while the Ethnic Solicitors Network provides a platform for solicitors from ethnic minority backgrounds to have their voices heard.

Local law societies also organise events and webinars that members can attend for free or at a discount. They provide a forum for members to expand their network and meet colleagues or clients. For those who are not yet solicitors but are interested in the legal system, local law societies offer "My LS", which provides relevant news, events, and resources. Local law societies are committed to supporting their members at every stage of their careers, from qualification through to retirement, and advocating on the issues that matter most to solicitors.

Overall, local law societies offer a comprehensive range of benefits and support to their members, creating a community where legal professionals can connect, grow, and thrive. They provide resources, events, and networks that enhance members' careers and help them stay up-to-date with the latest changes in the legal field. By joining a local law society, members can access exclusive opportunities and support that can enhance their professional and personal development.

Frequently asked questions