Opening hours
The Library is open Monday to Friday. We are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.
Services are available during the following hours:
You may email legal information enquiries to library@lawsociety.org.uk at any time. We respond to emails between 09:00 to 17:00.
Visiting the library
The Law Society Library is a private library for solicitor members of the Law Society of England and Wales. Admission requirements are given below.
Please feel free to call us to discuss your requirements prior to your visit.
Members of the Law Society, or those who work for a member
The following forms of identification can be used:
- your Law Society membership card
- your business card. This should show your name and job title and be from a legal department, a legal organisation or a law firm
- a letter on headed paper or a copy of an email from your firm with your name and the name of the solicitor authorising you to visit the library if you are an employee of a solicitor
- your security or staff pass provided it has your name and your law firm's name on it
- a letter or email from the Law Society Library agreeing to give you access to the library
Students on the LPC
Individuals who are studying on the LPC course may use the library. You should bring your University or College card or a letter from your tutor. This must clearly indicate that you are currently studying the LPC course.
Non-members of the Law Society
If you would like to discuss the nature of your research prior to applying to use the library, please contact us for further details.
NB: Library staff are not legally qualified and we cannot give legal advice however, we are happy to give you advice and assistance in carrying out your legal research using our collection.
Due to licence restrictions, it is not possible for non-members to use our subscription databases such as LexisLibrary, Westlaw and Justis.com.
How much does it cost?
Charges for non-member use of the library are as follows:
- One day £16 (incl VAT)
- One week* £32 (incl VAT)
- One month** £64 (incl VAT)
* Or for five consecutive days that the library is open, eg Thursday to Wednesday inclusive.
** One calendar month, eg 4 March to 3 April
Payment can be made by cheque (payable to The Law Society) sent with your application form, or we can telephone you to take payment by credit/debit card prior to your visit.
On the day of your visit, please bring some photo ID, such as a driving licence or a passport to confirm who you are.
Apply for a pass
Please complete the application form and return it to us
Non-member pass application (Word 169kb)
We reserve the right to refuse admission to the library.
Users with disabilities
Please identify any needs in advance of your visit so that every effort can be made to assist you. The library is on the first floor and can be accessed by lift from the Law Society entrance hall. We have a range of resources in the library such as Braille keyboard, ZoomText, JAWS software on the research computers and MagniLink enlarger for printed material.
Other facilities
We also have power sockets for laptops and free wifi throughout the library.
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