Celebrating 200 years of the Law Society in Liverpool

News

The Law Society of England and Wales marks 200 years* since its founding with a special event in Liverpool on 20 June, to celebrate the significant impact solicitors have had on the economy and local communities in the North West.

Legal services are a vital public service. Two thirds (68%) of people in the North West, who had a recent legal issue, knew where to get good legal information or advice if they needed it**.

This confidence speaks to the importance of efficient signposting for local resources and agencies, ensuring that everyone can seek and get legal advice when they need it.

In the North West alone, there are 13,700 solicitors.

Two thirds of people in the North (67%) believe that legal services are important to the British economy***.

In Liverpool alone, law firms turned over £496 million last year.

For its bicentenary, the Law Society wants to boost the role of public legal education, which starts with communities in England and Wales understanding their own legal rights and responsibilities.

Research by the Law Society reveals that around six in 10 (64%) adults in the North West have experienced a legal issue in the last four years.

Of those, three in ten (30%) had an unmet legal need and around two in 10 (19%) experienced a contentious issue but did not receive the professional help they needed.

It is imperative therefore that education on legal services becomes available to level the playing field.

Law Society president, Richard Atkinson, said: “The North West continues to be a prominent region contributing greatly to the UK economy and legal profession.

“From conveyancing to public law, solicitors in Liverpool and the wider region excel in providing outstanding legal services.

“As we honour the past, we look to the future. Public trust in the legal profession underscores the values that the Law Society has been guided by for 200 years.

“While there are many challenges ahead, we consider it our duty as solicitors to do our part to improve fairness and access to justice for all.

“Our profession honours tradition yet it is open to innovative solutions that address the issues we face.”

Notes to editors

*Find more information about the Law Society’s bicentenary celebration.

**See the results of the Law Society’s 2023 Legal Needs Survey.

***All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.

Total sample size was 2,580 adults, including 596 adults in the North.

Fieldwork was undertaken between 15 and 16 January 2025. The survey was carried out online.

The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).