Join The Law Society: Steps To Membership

The Law Society is a professional body for solicitors in England and Wales, providing support and guidance throughout their careers. To become a member of the Law Society, you must be a qualified solicitor and registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). This registration is known as the roll of solicitors, which entitles you to practise as a solicitor. Once admitted to the roll, you automatically become a member of the Law Society. This membership offers benefits such as career support, access to legal libraries, and networking opportunities. Additionally, the Law Society advocates for solicitors by addressing issues that matter to them. There are also regional law societies, such as the Queensland Law Society and the Westminster & Holborn Law Society, which offer similar benefits and represent the interests of solicitors in their respective areas.

Register with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)

Registering with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is a requirement for anyone who wants to join the Law Society as a qualified solicitor. The SRA is responsible for enforcing the rules and regulations that solicitors must comply with, ensuring they follow the regulatory objectives of the Legal Services Act.

To register with the SRA, you must meet specific requirements. Firstly, you need to comply with the SRA Training Regulations, which include passing either the LPC or the SQE exams and completing the Professional Skills Course. Additionally, you need to obtain a 'satisfactory' standard disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service. Pre-admission screening is also a necessary step before being formally admitted to the role of solicitor and receiving your practising certificate.

Once registered with the SRA, you automatically become a member of the Law Society. The Law Society is an independent professional body that provides guidance and support to solicitors, promoting excellence and compliance with the rule of law. It offers a range of benefits to its members, including career support through e-learning and events, confidential legal support, and access to a comprehensive legal library with experienced librarians.

In addition to registering with the SRA, joining the Law Society also provides opportunities for networking and connecting with fellow solicitors. The Law Society offers a platform for members to expand their professional network and stay up-to-date with the latest changes and developments in their field.

For those who are not yet solicitors but are interested in the legal profession, the Law Society provides an avenue for engagement through 'My LS'. By signing up, individuals can access relevant news, events, and resources, as well as free career advice in areas such as CVs, interviews, and job searching.

Pass the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE)

To become a member of the Law Society, you must be a qualified solicitor. One way to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales is by passing the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). The SQE is a centralised assessment that serves as a new route to becoming a solicitor, introduced in 2021. It will eventually replace the Legal Practice Course (LPC) route.

The SQE is divided into two parts: SQE1 and SQE2. To qualify through the SQE route, you must pass both parts. Here's what you need to do:

Have a Degree or Equivalent Qualification

The SQE requires you to have a degree in any subject or an equivalent level 6 qualification. This step ensures that you have the necessary knowledge foundation to proceed with the SQE assessments.

Pass SQE1 and SQE2 Assessments

SQE1 assesses your "functioning legal knowledge" through realistic client-based scenarios in multiple-choice questions. It covers subjects you would have studied in a law degree or conversion course, as well as vocational practice areas. You must pass SQE1 to be eligible for SQE2.

SQE2 focuses on practical legal skills required for practice, including interviewing and case analysis. This part ensures that you can apply your knowledge and skills in real-world legal situations.

Undertake Two Years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE)

In addition to passing the exams, you need to gain practical experience. You must complete a minimum of two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) under a solicitor who is usually also the compliance officer. This experience can be gained through placements, paralegal work, law clinics, or working within a single law firm.

Demonstrate Satisfactory Character and Suitability

Finally, you need to pass background checks and meet suitability requirements. This step ensures that you meet the character and suitability standards expected of solicitors, which includes a 'satisfactory' standard disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

The SQE offers a more accessible route to becoming a solicitor, providing flexibility in both study and career options. It gives you the opportunity to gain practical experience alongside your studies and prepares you for a successful career in the legal field.

Get a satisfactory standard disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service

To become a member of the Law Society, you must be a qualified solicitor and registered with the Solicitors' Regulatory Authority (SRA). This means complying with the SRA Training Regulations, passing the LPC or SQE exams, and completing the Professional Skills Course. In addition, you need to obtain a 'satisfactory' standard disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

The Disclosure and Barring Service helps employers make safer recruitment decisions. It is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the UK Home Office. The type of disclosure you need from the DBS depends on the role or work you are doing. A standard disclosure is a higher-level check and is required for specific roles such as solicitors, accountants, or those providing care services.

To apply for a standard disclosure, the organisation you are working with will send you a form to complete. Once you have finished, the organisation emails it to Disclosure Scotland. Organisations must register with Disclosure Scotland to apply for standard disclosures or they can use an umbrella body if they do not wish to register.

It is important to note that Disclosure Scotland does not monitor people as part of a basic disclosure. The disclosure only shows information available on the date it was created.

Complete pre-admission screening

To become a member of the Law Society, you must first apply to be registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). This register is known as the roll of solicitors in England and Wales and entitles you to practise as a solicitor. Once you are admitted to the roll, you will automatically become a member of the Law Society.

Before you are admitted to the roll, you must undergo pre-admission screening. This screening helps assess your character and suitability to be a solicitor. The SRA will contact you eight weeks before the end of your training to arrange this. The screening includes checks on whether you have a criminal record.

If you have lived in the UK for 12 months or more during the last five years, you must complete an online screening application with Atlantic Data. This includes financial checks, a standard criminal records check, and checks for reprimands or final warnings recorded on the police national computer. If you have not lived in the UK for 12 months consecutively during the last five years, you do not need to complete these checks. Instead, the SRA will check your name and current address, and you will be required to upload ID documents.

In addition to the Atlantic Data screening, you will also need to provide an original criminal record check from any country you have lived in for 12 months or more during the last five years. This check must be no more than six months old and include an official translation if not in English.

Once you have completed the pre-admission screening, you can apply for admission on the SRA website. After your application is approved, you will receive an email confirmation, and you can then select your admission date. The admissions ceremony is a unique opportunity to celebrate entering the solicitor profession and to acknowledge friends and family who have supported you.

Attend an admission ceremony

Once you have been admitted to the roll of solicitors, you will receive an invitation from the Law Society to book a place at an admission ceremony. This ceremony is held at the Law Society's home in London, where you can celebrate your achievement with friends and family.

The Law Society is located at 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL. The ceremony timings are as follows: registration opens at 12:45 pm, the ceremony starts at 3 pm, drinks reception at 4 pm, and the event ends at 5 pm. It is recommended to arrive early, as the last admittance for the ceremony is at 2:45 pm.

Upon arrival, you will be directed to the Reading Room, which is opposite the main entrance. Here, you can collect your guests' passes, gown, and meet the photography team. You can also take photographs inside or outside the Law Society building at this time. Refreshments and a light lunch are available for purchase in the restaurant on the ground floor. There is also an unmanned cloakroom by the main entrance where you can leave your belongings at your own risk.

The dress code for the ceremony is business attire for admittees and smart casual for guests. You will need to book your admission ceremony online by logging in or registering with My LS. Please note that you must be admitted before booking your ceremony place.

The Law Society's admission ceremony is a memorable and enjoyable occasion to mark your qualification as a solicitor.

Frequently asked questions