Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

The Law Society of England and Wales definition

What does The Law Society of England and Wales mean? The law Society of England and Wales is the professional body for solicitors in England and Wales. In practice it represents and supports solicitors, issues practice guidance and accreditation schemes, provides training and library services, and advocates on law reform and access to justice. Regulatory position: while historically the regulator, the Society is now the “approved regulator” under the Legal Services Act 2007 but has delegated all regulatory functions to the independent Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). The SRA sets the Standards and Regulations, maintains the roll, issues practising certificates, and takes enforcement action, under oversight of the Legal Services Board....

Law Society’s CQS exclusive training requirement unlawful: CAT finds Chapter II abuse and Chapter I breach (first fast-track stand-alone case)

Published by a LexisNexis Competition expert

Practice notes

CASE HUB ARCHIVED –this archived case hub reflects the position at the date of the judgment of 26 May 2017; it is no longer maintained. See further, timeline and commentary.

Case facts

Standalone proceedings before the CAT were brought by Socrates Training Limited against The Law Society of England and Wales, alleging Abuse of dominance (Case 1249/5/7/16).

Latest development

On 26 May 2017, the CAT issued its judgment on liability, concluding that the Law Society had abused its dominant position (in breach of the Chapter II prohibition) in the market for supplying quality certification/accreditation to conveyancing firms by requiring that certain training courses were sourced exclusively from it. The CAT also held that the Chapter I prohibition had been infringed. However, it determined that liability arose only from the end of April 2015, and not earlier. The Tribunal will next consider quantum. That same day, the CAT made directions dealing with matters following the judgment, including:

ordering the Law Society not to oblige any CQS accredited firms to purchase exclusively from the Law Society...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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