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.
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 stands outside, smiling widely. Mark is a white man with short grey hair. He wears a navy suit, white shirt and red, white and silver striped tie.

Mark Evans

President

Brett Dixon stands smiling in front of the Law Society on Chancery Lane. Brett is a white man with closely cropped grey hair, a short grey beard and glasses. He is wearing a navy suit, white shirt and pale blue tie.

Brett Dixon

Vice president

Dana Denis-Smith OBE stands on the library staircase at the Law Society’s Hall, London.

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:

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
Four solicitors talking at a panel event
Law Society Board members in the Law Society’s Hall, London.
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 independently run divisions:

The SRA Board carries out the Law Society’s regulatory function, 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)
A solicitor raises their hand to speak at our annual general meeting.