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UK Legal Professional and Regulatory Bodies

The United Kingdom has three separate legal jurisdictions, each with its own oversight regulators, front-line regulators, and representative bodies. Knowing who does what — and who to contact — matters at every stage of qualification.

UK-Wide · England & Wales · Scotland · Northern Ireland

UK-Wide

Bodies whose remit covers the whole of the United Kingdom.

1

Immigration Advice Authority (IAA)

Created:
1999 as the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC).
Name changed:
On 16 January 2025, OISC became the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA).

Functions

  • Regulates immigration advisers.
  • Registers authorised immigration advisers.
  • Protects the public from poor immigration advice.
  • Conducts competence assessments.
  • Investigates complaints.
  • Takes disciplinary action.

England & Wales

A layered structure of oversight regulators, front-line regulators, and representative bodies.

2

Law Society of England and Wales

Founded:
1825

Role

  • Professional representative body for solicitors.
  • Provides training, guidance and policy support.
  • Created the SRA as its independent regulatory arm.
  • Does not regulate solicitors directly.
3

Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)

Established:
2007

Role

  • Regulates solicitors.
  • Regulates law firms.
  • Regulates Registered Foreign Lawyers (RFLs) (existing registrations only).
  • Maintains the Roll of Solicitors.
  • Sets ethical standards.
  • Investigates misconduct.
  • Introduced the SQE in 2021.
4

Bar Standards Board (BSB)

Established:
2006

Role

  • Independent regulator of barristers.
  • Regulates barristers, pupils and chambers.
  • Oversees Bar Training Courses, pupillage and continuing competence.
5

Bar Council of England and Wales

Full name:
General Council of the Bar
Established:
1894

Role

  • Representative body of the Bar of England and Wales.
  • Represents barristers’ interests.
  • Engages with Government and policymakers.
  • Contributes to law-reform consultations and issues affecting the administration of justice.
  • Provides professional services, guidance and support to barristers.
6

Inns of Court

Functions

  • Call students to the Bar.
  • Provide Qualifying Sessions.
  • Preserve legal traditions.

Lincoln’s Inn

Est. 1422

Gray’s Inn

Est. c.1370

Inner Temple

Est. c.1388

Middle Temple

Est. c.1501
7

CILEX

Created:
1963 as the Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX).
Name changed:
In 2012, after receiving a Royal Charter, it became the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX).

Role

  • Represents Chartered Legal Executives.
  • Represents paralegals and other legal professionals.
  • Provides an alternative route into the legal profession.
  • Enables qualification while working.
8

CILEx Regulation

Role

  • Independent regulator for CILEX-authorised legal professionals and firms.
  • Regulates Chartered Legal Executives and CILEX Practitioners.
  • Regulates CILEX Authorised Entities and law firms.
  • Sets and enforces professional standards and the CILEX Code of Conduct.
  • Deals with misconduct and disciplinary matters.
9

Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC)

Established:
1985

Role

  • Specialist regulator of licensed conveyancers in England and Wales.
  • Regulates CLC lawyers and CLC-regulated practices.
  • Particularly concerned with conveyancing/property and probate services.
  • Sets professional standards and regulatory requirements.
  • Deals with regulatory misconduct and operates consumer-protection arrangements.
10

Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA)

Membership:
Describes itself as the UK's largest intellectual-property organisation, with around 5,000 members.

Role

  • Professional and representative body for UK patent attorneys.
  • Supports and represents the patent attorney profession.
  • Promotes professional education and standards.
  • Provides professional development and resources.
  • Its regulatory role is separated from representation: IPReg carries out independent regulation of patent attorneys.
11

Intellectual Property Regulation Board (IPReg)

Established:
2010
Origin:
Established by CIPA and CITMA so that regulatory functions could be separated from the professional bodies' representative activities.

Role

  • Independent regulator of Patent Attorneys and Trade Mark Attorneys.
  • Maintains registers of regulated patent and trade mark attorneys.
  • Sets professional and ethical standards.
  • Deals with qualifications and entry into the professions.
  • Oversees continuing professional competence.
  • Investigates regulatory and disciplinary matters.
12

Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA)

Role

  • Professional body for Chartered Trade Mark Attorneys.
  • Represents and supports the trade mark attorney profession.
  • Promotes education, training and professional development.
  • Has Approved Regulator status under the Legal Services Act framework.
  • Independent regulation of trade mark attorneys is carried out through IPReg.
13

Association of Costs Lawyers (ACL)

Role

  • Professional and representative body for Costs Lawyers.
  • Represents the interests of Costs Lawyers.
  • Provides education, training and professional development.
  • Supports members working in legal costs.
  • Important distinction: ACL represents the profession; CLSB regulates Costs Lawyers.
14

Costs Lawyer Standards Board (CLSB)

Role

  • Independent regulator of Costs Lawyers in England and Wales.
  • Sets professional standards.
  • Maintains the Register of Costs Lawyers.
  • Deals with professional-conduct and regulatory issues.
  • Protects consumers and promotes proper professional standards.
15

Master of the Faculties / Faculty Office

Historical origin:
1533

Role

  • The Master of the Faculties is the Approved Regulator of the notarial profession in England and Wales.
  • The Faculty Office regulates Notaries Public.
  • Deals with admission and regulation of notaries.
  • Makes and operates rules governing the notarial profession.
  • The Faculty Office also issues Special Marriage Licences.
  • Performs legal work connected with the Archbishop of Canterbury's Lambeth Degrees.
16

Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)

Role

  • Primarily the professional body and regulator for chartered accountants.
  • Also an Approved Regulator and Licensing Authority for reserved legal services.
  • Accredits qualifying firms to undertake uncontested probate.
  • Since 1 October 2025, ICAEW-accredited legal-services firms can also undertake the administration of oaths.
  • Monitors accredited firms and individuals and enforces applicable professional standards.

Scotland

Scotland has its own legal system, profession, and regulatory framework.

1

Law Society of Scotland

Established:
1949

Role

  • Professional body for Scottish solicitors.
  • Has important regulatory responsibilities for Scottish solicitors.
  • Sets professional rules and standards.
  • Deals with matters including admission, education/training and practising requirements.
  • Supports and represents Scottish solicitors.
  • Its regulatory role operates within the Scottish framework in which the Court of Session / Lord President has ultimate regulatory responsibility.
2

Faculty of Advocates

Established:
Historical origins in the 16th century

Role

  • Professional body for advocates in Scotland.
  • Advocates are broadly the Scottish equivalent of barristers.
  • Deals with admission and professional standards within the Faculty framework.
  • Makes rules concerning advocates' professional practice, conduct and discipline, subject to the Scottish regulatory structure.
  • Represents and supports advocates.
  • The Lord President / Court of Session retains ultimate regulatory responsibility.
3

Court of Session / Lord President

Role

  • The Lord President is head of the Scottish judiciary.
  • Has ultimate responsibility for regulating the legal profession in Scotland on behalf of the Court of Session.
  • The Court has responsibility concerning admission to several legal professions.
  • Routine regulatory responsibilities are delegated to professional bodies, including the Law Society of Scotland and the Faculty of Advocates.
  • The Lord President must approve important professional rules concerning training, practice, conduct and discipline.

Quick reference

  • Scottish solicitors → Law Society of Scotland.
  • Scottish advocates → Faculty of Advocates.
  • Ultimate regulatory responsibility → Court of Session / Lord President.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland maintains a separate profession with its own governing bodies.

1

Law Society of Northern Ireland

Established:
1922

Role

  • Professional body for solicitors in Northern Ireland.
  • Regulates the solicitors' profession in Northern Ireland.
  • Deals with professional standards and practising requirements.
  • Supports and represents solicitors.
  • Has an important role in protecting the public and maintaining standards within the profession.
2

Bar of Northern Ireland

Role

  • Professional body for barristers practising in Northern Ireland.
  • Represents the Northern Ireland Bar.
  • Supports barristers and promotes professional standards.
  • Operates within Northern Ireland's separate legal and professional framework.
  • Closely associated with the Bar Library and Inn of Court structure.
3

Bar Council of Northern Ireland

Role

  • Governing and representative structure of the Bar of Northern Ireland.
  • Represents practising barristers.
  • Deals with matters affecting the profession and administration of justice.
  • Works within Northern Ireland's professional regulatory arrangements.
4

Inn of Court of Northern Ireland

Established:
11 January 1926

Role

  • Institution associated with the Northern Ireland Bar.
  • Historically connected with the organisation and development of the Bar.
  • Provides a forum for Bench and Bar.
  • Provides professional, educational/training and social activities.
  • Has close links with Northern Ireland's barristers and judiciary.
  • Unlike England and Wales, Northern Ireland has one Inn of Court, rather than the four Inns found in England and Wales.

Not Sure Which Body Regulates You?

Your qualification route determines which regulator you deal with. Speak to our team and we will assess your background and point you to the right pathway.

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