Specialisms
These are the areas of law and legal practice in which the Law Society is most active.
Please select from the menu to the right for a brief definition of each area.
Administrative & Public Law is an area of law where we do not actively seek to improve the law, procedure and practice on an ongoing basis.
Agricultural is an area of law where we do not actively seek to improve the law, procedure and practice on an ongoing basis.
Business Affairs encompasses the whole range of legal issues affecting business and the way in which they operate - company law, employment law, tax law, competition law to list only the most obvious.
Charity Law covers the rules relating to the setting up and operation of charities, which are bodies run for the public benefit.
Children Law relates to public law Children Act proceedings such as applications for care orders by local authority social services departments, private law Children Act proceedings such as applications about the place of residence of or contact with children, and adoption. This is an area of law where we actively seek to improve the law, procedure and practice.
Civil Liberties & Human Rights is not a distinct area of law - legally enforceable rights and responsibilities underpin the legal system. The Human Rights Act came into force on 2 October 2000, giving effect to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in UK law. Convention rights affect ordinary people - in every area of public and private rights.
Civil Litigation is a process for resolving public and private legal disputes on civil matters through negotiation or through the courts. In 1999, new rules (the Civil Procedure Rules) were introduced in order to improve access to justice. These are also known as the Woolf Reforms because they were developed by Lord Woolf.
The law of Clinical Negligence enables disputes between patients and health care providers involving issues about quality of health care to be resolved through negotiation or through the courts. The Civil Procedure Rules contain a pre-action protocol for Clinical Negligence that governs pre-action behaviour.
Commercial Law covers the wide range of legal issues affecting businesses from company law to employment law, from tax law to health and safety.
Commercial Conveyancing is the process by which interests in commercial property are created and transferred. Many issues affecting commercial conveyancing also affect residential conveyancing.
Commercial conveyancing does not include matters relating to housing or planning and environmental issues.
The Money Laundering Task Force and Land Law Conveyancing Committee have issued new anti-Money Laundering guidance for solicitors undertaking property work.
Computers and IT Law covers the rules relating to computer contracts; use of computers in business and associated matters.
Construction & Civil Engineering is an area of law where we do not actively seek to improve the law, procedure and practice on an ongoing basis.
Consumer Law enables consumers that purchase commodities or services to enforce their rights through negotiation or through the courts.
Residential Conveyancing is the process by which flats and houses are legally transferred between a seller and a buyer. Many issues affecting residential conveyancing also affect commercial property.
Residential conveyancing does not include matters relating to housing or planning and environmental issues.
The Money Laundering Task Force and Land Law Conveyancing Committee have issued new anti-Money Laundering guidance for solicitors undertaking property work.
Corporate Finance deals with the ways in which companies raise funding for business development and acquisitions. See company law and financial services law for the legal framework.
Criminal Law is the principle means by which the government identifies and criminalises behaviour that is considered wrong, damaging to individuals or to society as a whole or is otherwise unacceptable.
The criminal justice system is the mechanism by which action is taken to deal with those suspected of committing offences. The criminal justice system refers to the whole process from the initial investigation of a crime through to acquittal or to conviction and sentence in the criminal courts.
Debt & Money Advice is an area of law where we do not actively seek to improve the law, procedure and practice on an ongoing basis.
European Community Law is an integral part of the law of England and Wales. It can be relied on by, and enforced against, private individuals, small and large businesses, and governments and other public bodies.
European law goes hand in hand with English and Welsh law in many different situations, such as employment rules, commercial activity, consumer rights, and protection of the environment. It has influenced the way in which law has developed and been applied within the United Kingdom, and has the ability to override aspects of national law.
Employment Law governs relationships in the workplace, through a combination of contract law and statutory rights, with many of these rights having their origins in European Community law.
Energy & Natural Resources is an area of law where we do not actively seek to improve the law, procedure and practice on an ongoing basis.
Environmental Law covers the range of measures taken to protect human health and the physical environment against damage through pollution and the impact of human activities on the natural world.
Family Law covers all areas of law relating to relationships with partners, cohabitants (either same sex or opposite sex) and married couples. It deals with issues relating to the beginning and end of a relationship (e.g. marriage, divorce etc). It does not deal with wider family issues (e.g. elderly relatives or making of wills).
Family lawyers offer advice on the rights of cohabitants and what they should know before beginning to live together. They also deal with the law on relationship breakdown, divorce, capital and income settlements, and cases relating to private children law. They are also able to offer help to those suffering domestic violence.
Financial Services Law provides the legal framework for the financial services industry and governs the raising of finance from the public by companies.
Immigration Law deals with the rights of non-EU nationals to enter and remain in the UK. They may wish to do this for a variety of reasons ranging from business needs to family visits, or to claim asylum.
Insolvency and Bankruptcy law govern the position of businesses and individuals who are in financial difficulties and cannot meet their outstanding commitments.
Intellectual Property Law provides a framework to protect the legal rights of writers, artists, inventors, traders and others. This protection may be by copyright over artistic works, by a registered patent in an invention or by a registered trademark for a sign such as a logo.
International Law, or more precisely public international law, is the law governing the relationship between states and emanations of the state (such as state-owned companies). A related area of international law is international human rights law, which deals mainly with the protection of an individual's rights against violations by state actors.
In both public international and particularly international human rights law, we actively seek to improve the law, procedure and practice.
Landlord and Tenant (Residential) Law covers issues concerning residential tenancies, such as the terms of a tenancy agreement, disrepair and possession proceedings.
Civil and Commercial Mediation is a way of solving (non family) problems without going to court.
It involves the parties meeting with a trained independent person (the mediator) to explore whether a mutually acceptable solution can be found to the dispute.
Family Mediation is a way of solving family problems without going to court.
It involves the parties meeting with a trained independent person (the mediator) to explore whether a mutually acceptable solution can be found to the dispute.
Mental Health and Incapacity Law concerns the operation of law as it affects those who suffer mental illness or lack capacity due to disability. It includes the law relating to older people. The law is applied through Mental Health Tribunals, Public Guardianship Office and the Court of Protection.
Pensions Law is an area of law where we do not actively seek to improve the law, procedure and practice on an ongoing basis.
The law of Personal Injury enables private legal disputes, between people or organisations, involving injury to one's person to be resolved through negotiation or through the courts. The Civil Procedure Rules contain a pre-action protocol for Personal Injury that governs pre-action behaviour.
Planning Law provides the legal controls on the freedom of property owners to use and develop their property in the interests of the wider community.
The law of Professional Negligence enables legal disputes between people or organisations that are caused by the negligence of professionals to be resolved through negotiation or through the courts. The Civil Procedure Rules contain a pre-action protocol for Professional Negligence that governs pre-action behaviour.
Shipping Law is an area of law where we do not actively seek to improve the law, procedure and practice on an ongoing basis.
Tax Law, this covers both direct taxes (income tax, corporation tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, international tax, stamp duty) and indirect taxes (VAT and excise duties).
Trust Law covers the creation and administration of trusts run by one person or group (the trustees) for the benefit of another person or group (the beneficiaries).
Welfare Benefits is an area of law where we do not actively seek to improve the law, procedure and practice on an ongoing basis.
Wills and Probate deals with the processes of making a will before death, and the winding up of the affairs of a person after death.
