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About Solicitors
A solicitor is a type of lawyer. Solicitors provide expert guidance on the problems people regularly face and other legal matters, including buying and selling houses (conveyancing and mortgages), drawing up wills and dealing with relationship breakdown. All UK solicitors are governed by strict codes of conduct.
England & Wales
The Law Society is the professional body for all solicitors in England and Wales, who are bound by its code of practice. Founded in 1825, the Law Society is responsible for standards of education in the profession and is empowered to investigate solicitors' accounts and to issue annual practising certificates.
Northern Ireland
In 1922 a Royal Charter was granted to solicitors in Northern Ireland to permit the setting up of the Incorporated Law Society of Northern Ireland, which acts as the regulatory authority governing the education, accounts, discipline and professional conduct of solicitors in order to maintain the independence, ethical standards, professional competence and quality of services offered to the public.
Scotland
The Law Society of Scotland is the governing body for Scottish solicitors and was established by the Legal Aid & Solicitors (Scotland) Act in 1949. All practising solicitors in Scotland must be members of the Society and must hold a current Practising Certificate, which is issued by the Society. It is common in Scotland for solicitors to offer both legal services as well as estate agency services. It should also be noted that the law of property in Scotland is significantly different from the rest of the UK.
These notes are offered as a general guide only and do not constitute legal or financial advice.
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