The Law Society — the professional body for solicitors in England and Wales
The Law Society is the professional body for solicitors in England and Wales. For the public, its most useful service is Find a Solicitor — the official, free database of solicitors and law firms regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-09-01
What the Law Society is
The Law Society represents and supports solicitors and advocates for access to justice and the rule of law. It is not the regulator of solicitors — that is the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) — and it is not the route for complaints about poor service (that is the Legal Ombudsman; see our complaints guide).
Its public-facing role centres on Find a Solicitor: a free service for anyone looking for information about solicitors and firms in England and Wales regulated by the SRA.
What help it offers
- Find a Solicitor — search by legal issue (for example, family law), postcode, town, firm name or solicitor name. You can filter results by: - Law Society accreditations — the key one for parents is Children Law accreditation (for solicitors representing children, parents and other parties in care proceedings) and the Family Law Advanced accreditation; tick the "accredited specialists only" box. - Languages spoken, accessibility needs and other filters.
- Information for the public — plain-English guides on what solicitors do and how working with one works.
- Campaigns on access to justice — relevant to the policy backdrop of family legal aid.
Contact details
- Website: https://www.lawsociety.org.uk
- Find a Solicitor (official database): https://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk
- Find a solicitor — public guidance: https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/public/for-public-visitors/find-a-solicitor
How a self-representing parent can use the Law Society
1. Find a family solicitor properly. Search Find a Solicitor by postcode and "family" — then re-filter by accredited specialists to find genuine family law specialists rather than firms that simply list the word. 2. Check accreditation for care proceedings. If social services are involved, look for Children Law accredited solicitors — this accreditation signals tested expertise in public law children cases. 3. Verify a solicitor you were recommended. Use the database to confirm the person/firm exists, is SRA-regulated, and practises where they say they do. 4. Prepare before the first meeting. Once you have shortlisted solicitors, our first-solicitor-interview guide tells you what to ask — including fixed fees and unbundled services, which many family solicitors now offer. 5. Know where complaints go. Complaints about a solicitor's service go to the Legal Ombudsman; conduct complaints to the SRA. The Law Society itself cannot discipline solicitors.
The Law Society does not give legal advice on individual cases. For free advice routes, see Coram Children's Legal Centre, Rights of Women and the Support Through Court service in this directory.
Useful links
- The Law Society homepage: https://www.lawsociety.org.uk
- Find a Solicitor: https://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk
- Public guidance on finding a solicitor: https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/public/for-public-visitors/find-a-solicitor
- About the Law Society: https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/about-us
This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws, procedures and contact details change — verify anything important against the official sources linked above before relying on it. Your Family Case is an independent directory listing; we take no referral fees and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or receiving payment from any organisation listed.
Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.