Law Societies around the World

This page provides links to the websites of law societies and similar bodies which regulate legal practitioners in other jurisdictions. These websites typically provide contact information, descriptions of member programs and services, news, and notices to the legal profession. In addition, many law society sites now include the full text of relevant legislation, rules of professional conduct, committee reports, and recent issues of the organization's publications. Links to new websites will be added as they become available.

Canada

Canadian lawyers are regulated at the provincial level. The Federation of Law Societies of Canada acts as the umbrella organization for the provincial and territorial governing bodies. Legal practitioners in Canada's common law jurisdictions practice as both barristers and solicitors. In Quebec there are two professional designations (avocat and notaire) and two separate governing bodies.



United Kingdom / Ireland

England and Wales
In England and Wales, legal practitioners are certified as either barristers or solicitors and are governed by separate national bodies.

Scotland
There are currently three classes of lawyers in Scotland: solicitors (governed by the Law Society of Scotland), advocates (governed by the Faculty of Advocates), and most recently solicitor-advocates. The latter are not members of the Scottish Bar, but are solicitors who have written further examinations and have been extended the right to appear before the superior courts.

Ireland
In the Republic of Ireland, lawyers practise as either solicitors or barristers, and are governed nationally by the Law Society (solicitors) or the Bar Council (barristers).

Northern Ireland
The legal profession in Northern Ireland is divided. Solicitors are regulated by the Law Society of Northern Ireland. The Bar Council is responsible for the admission and conduct of barristers.

Isle of Man
Manx lawyers practise as advocates, combining the functions performed in England and Wales by solicitors and barristers, and are regulated by the Law Society.

Jersey
 In Jersey, lawyers practise as advocates and solicitors and are governed by the Law Society.

United States

American attorneys are regulated at the state level. Practice requirements vary from state to state. State Bar membership is mandatory in some jurisdictions and voluntary in others. In many states, lawyer discipline is the responsibility of the state's Supreme Court rather than the bar association. Due to the large number of state bar associations, individual links have not been included. A good list of such links is available at: http://www.hg.org/bar-associations-usa.html

Australia / Oceania

The Australian legal profession is regulated at the state level. The national Law Council of Australia operates as an umbrella organization representing the state and territorial bar associations and law societies. Legal practitioners in all jurisdictions except two, may practise as barristers and solicitors. In New South Wales and Queensland, however, the legal profession is split, and barristers and solicitors are represented by separate governing bodies.


New Zealand
Lawyers are certified as barristers or barristers and solicitors by one of New Zealand's fourteen District Law Societies and then automatically become members of the national New Zealand Law Society and their District Law Society.

Fiji
Fiji legal practitioners are admitted as both barristers and solicitors, and membership in the Law Society is compulsory.

Europe

A growing number of European law societies or bar associations have mounted websites, some with English versions. These may be found through the Council of the Bars and Law Societies of the European Union (CCBE) site, which provides contact information and website addresses of members.

Asia

Hong Kong
The two branches of the Hong Kong legal profession are governed by separate associations. Solicitors are members of the Law Society, and barristers belong to the Bar Association.

Japan
Japanese attorneys (bengoshi) must belong to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, as well as be a member of one the 52 local bar associations.

Malaysia
Legal practitioners are admitted as both advocates and solicitors. All practitioners must be members of both the national and local bars. Local bars are represented in the Bar Council, the body responsible for setting professional standards and discipline.

Philippines
Philippine legal practitioners are designated as attorneys or lawyers, and must belong to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

Singapore
Legal practitioners are admitted to the Singapore Bar as advocates and solicitors, and are governed by the Law Society.

Africa

Kenya
All practising lawyers in Kenya are called advocates, and every certified advocate becomes a member of the Law Society.

South Africa
The legal profession in South Africa is divided into two branches, advocates and attorneys. The Law Society of South Africa is the umbrella organization for the provincial law societies, which regulate the profession.

Uganda
Legal practitioners are called to the Uganda Bar as advocates, and are members of the the Law Society.