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Membership

Bristol Law Society is a private members’ local law society of about 6000 which represents and supports the local legal community.

New members

Membership is renewable annually and is open to the following categories of people:

Solicitor
SRA Regulated Manager
Trainee solicitor
Pupil or Trainee Barrister
Trainee chartered legal executive
Barrister
FILEx/CILEx
Paralegal or legal assistant
Licensed conveyancer
Costs lawyer
Foreign lawyer or registered foreign lawyer within the meaning of Section 89 of the Court and Legal Services Act 1990
Director, principal or employee of a legal services provider which is regulated, registered or authorised by an Approved Regulator
Employed by a recognised provider of legal education
Retired but prior to retirement, qualified for membership as above
Notary Public
Trade Mark or Patent Attorney
Other (Please provide details on application)

To apply to join, you must have a proposer and seconder who are members of Bristol Law Society. If you do not know a member of BLS and wish to join, please do contact us and we will assist in finding requisite members on council who can support your application. If you have any queries, please contact us at membership@bristollawsociety.com.

Membership confers a number of benefits including access to various special offers and special rates to attend BLS events. Members automatically receive the Bristol Law Society monthly newsletter, Legal Life.

To apply for membership, please click here.

Subscriptions renewal for existing Bristol Law Society members

Subscriptions for the renewal membership become due on 1 December each year All members will receive a letter from the BLS Office advising them that their membership is due for renewal and how to make payment.

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Burges Salmon has been an enthusiastic supporter of BLS for many years. BLS provides a valuable role in uniting and promoting the whole of the legal sector across Bristol to benefit both its members and the city. It facilitates collaboration across the sector to ensure that we can all make a difference. Whether that is driving important initiatives in, for example, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and the use of new technologies, liaising with stakeholders and charities in our wider community or providing training to generations of lawyers, the service and support provided by BLS is invaluable. More recently BLS has taken a lead on promoting Bristol’s legal brand, encouraging legal and business services talent to come to the city, which in turn attracts clients and inward investment to our thriving and vibrant commercial community. BLS breaks down barriers and brings those in the profession together for the greater good. We are proud of our long-standing association with BLS.
Roger Bull - Managing Partner, Burges Salmon
Three things to say about my experience of working with Bristol Law Society. Their central team, council members and general hangers-on are just about the nicest, most generous group of people working in the legal sector today. The numerous events, awards, socials and conferences I’ve had the pleasure to attend over the years have been, without exception, top quality and supremely organised. And, thirdly, they consistently exceed and challenge the boundaries of what lawyers might assume a regional Law Society will restrict activities to – from a hugely successful charitable school meals drive to corporate social responsibility and diversity campaigns to being joint architects and coordinators of the region’s unique Bristol+BathLegalTech group, which it has been my privilege to co-chair for the last five years.
Chris Bull - Principal, Edge International
As one of the leading Insurance brokers for law firms in the UK and with a large presence in Bristol it seemed only natural for us to support the Bristol Law Society. Bristol Law Society is one of the oldest and most vibrant of the Law Societies in England and Wales. We are pleased to be working with them on important matters relating to law firms’ liability insurances and Risk Management. From Sole Practitioner to Top 20 law firms we are sure our two organisations can provide excellent support and assistance for the challenges faced by the legal profession.
Matthew Baker - Financial Lines Group, Howden Insurance Brokers Ltd
Joining BLS in 2013 and becoming President in 2018/19 has created many longstanding friendships and business relationships, whilst also unlocking doors to other opportunities in the City. BLS enabled a perfect balance of professional development and also opportunities to give back to the legal and wider community. I am pleased that my Firm has supported BLS in many capacities since 2013 and continues to do so.
Nicholas Lee- Managing Director of Paragon Costs Solutions and Past President of BLS