Our governance

At the Law Society, hearing directly from solicitors about their experiences and gathering their insights are central to the way we work. Learn about how we’re governed and how our members influence and shape the work we do.

Law Society Council members applauding at a Council meeting.

Our Council

Supported by the Board, our Council is the main oversight body.

It’s made up of 97 solicitors who help to set the strategic direction of our organisation and make sure we’re well governed.

Learn more about our Council

Office holders

Meet our office holders

Three elected office holders act as our main ambassadors, representing members at home and abroad. They each hold office for one year.

Mark Evans

President

Brett Dixon

Vice president

Dana Denis-Smith OBE

Deputy vice president

Meet our office holders

Our committees

We have two types of committees who make sure everything we do is in our members’ best interests:

Council and Board committees

Our Council and Board are supported by a number of committees, who make sure our organisation is well governed and that we run effectively as a business.

Advisory committees

Our advisory committees are made up of solicitors in specific practice areas or settings, providing insights into our members’ day-to-day experiences to help us meet their needs, through our guidance and trusted resources.

Four solicitors talking at a panel event

Get Involved

Get Involved is a more flexible way for members to share their knowledge and experiences outside of joining Council or a committee, focused on short-term opportunities for our members to shape our work.

Become a Get Involved volunteer

Law Society Board members in the Law Society’s Hall, London.

Our Board

Our Board is responsible for making sure the Law Society is well governed. It oversees the effective implementation of our corporate strategy and business plan, as set by Council.

Learn more about our Board

Our Charter

Our Royal Charter was granted in 1845. It allowed the incorporation of the Law Society, established the Council as our governing body and defined our objectives and powers to govern our own affairs.

Our regulatory powers are supported by legislation:

Our constitutional documents set out our purpose, our structure and help people understand what we do and how we function.

The Law Society Group

The Law Society Group is made up of two separate legal entities:

The Law Society

We are the independent professional body for solicitors in England and Wales, run by and for our members.

We support solicitors to deliver their vital work, through our trusted resources, training, networks and events.

We also work to influence the government and other key decision makers to protect access to justice and the rule of law.

Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)

The SRA is the independent regulator of solicitors and law firms in England and Wales. It protects consumers and supports the rule of law and the administration of justice.

The SRA carries out the Law Society’s regulatory functions, including:

overseeing the operation of the SRA
dealing with solicitors’ compliance with regulatory requirements
dealing with solicitors’ disciplinary proceedings

Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) funding

The memorandum of understanding (PDF 273 KB) sets out the processes the Law Society, Legal Services Board and SDT agree to follow to meet their duties and obligations to fund the SDT’s work (section 46A Solicitors Act 1974).

A solicitor raises their hand to speak at our annual general meeting.

Annual general meeting (AGM)

The Law Society AGM happens so that our Council can:

discuss the governance of our organisation
report back to our members on our activities
receive our annual report and approve our accounts as signed by our auditors

2024 AGM minutes (PDF 203 KB)