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The Law Society represents solicitors and promotes their interests. It is a leading voice on law reform and campaigns to ensure that the law is kept up to date, is workable and improves access to justice.
The society promotes the solicitors' profession at home and abroad. For example, it campaigns for improvements to the legal aid system and lobbies for improved practice rights for English and Welsh solicitors overseas.
It provides an extensive range of services to support solicitors throughout their careers and help them to run competitive businesses.
The Law Society is also the frontline regulator of the profession, although in practice this function is delegated to the independent Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA). The Law Society and the SRA are closely related but work independently of each other.
The SRA establishes the professional conduct rules, sets the requirements for ongoing professional development and monitors the work of firms. It investigates and disciplines solicitors who don't meet the required standards.
If you become a solicitor, you will need to become a member of the Law Society before you start the Legal Practice Course (LPC). The SRA will check your character, suitability and academic record.
The Law Society and SRA websites (as below) contain comprehensive information about careers in law and the institutions that provide law degrees, the LPC, the Graduate Diploma in Law, along with details about costs.
Studying for law is expensive. The Law Society runs a number of bursaries and scholarships for students and trainees, including the Diversity Access Scheme.
The Junior Lawyers' Division of the Law Society articulates the voice of those in the early stages of their careers - students, trainees and newly qualified solicitors - and provides services specifically for this sector. It offers support, information, advice and networking opportunities. Services include: an interactive website, training and skills events, mentoring opportunities, links with international bar associations, a telephone hotline, member discounts and accredited CPD training.
www.lawsociety.org.uk
www.lawsociety.org.uk/juniorlawyers
www.sra.org.uk
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