The Law Society Council vacancies

Posted on15 April 2026

The Law Society Council elections opened on Thursday 9 April and we have vacancies across a number of geographic, characteristic and work practice constituencies (full list below). This is a great opportunity for members of your committee, or wider membership, to get to the heart of their professional body and help shape our work. You can find out more about the eligibility criteria for each constituency, how to stand for election and what to expect if you’re elected in our guidance pack for candidates.

Find out more on our webpage which includes the nomination form
Nomination forms need to be submitted by 12pm on Wednesday 6 May

How to vote

Voting is done electronically and all solicitors who are eligible to vote will receive a ballot by email. It is important that our members are able to vote in all constituencies that relate to them. To do this, please encourage them to:

Update their details on MyLS: By providing their work practice area, organisation type and characteristics on MyLS we will know which seats they are eligible to vote in. This needs to be done by Sunday 31 May so we can make sure they receive their ballot.

Geographic	Kent Norfolk North East North West London Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire	Plymouth and Cornwall South London South Wales Wolverhampton and Staffordshire Yorkshire and Humberside
Characteristic	Disabled Solicitors Ethnic Minority Solicitors Ethnic Minority (Black Solicitors’ Network)	LGBTQ+ Solicitors Women Solicitors (x4)
Work practice	Criminal Defence Employment Law Family In-house Corporate Counsel (x3) In-house Voluntary and Charities Law Management	Legal Aid Local Government Major Corporate (x2) Private Client Small Firms Sole Practitioners

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