Breakdown of solicitor firms

As well as regulating solicitors we also regulate solicitors' firms. These can range from sole practitioners to huge firms with a global presence and thousands of lawyers.

The chart below shows a breakdown of Recognised Sole Practices, Recognised Bodies and Licensed Bodies (also known as an Alternative Business Structure) as at the end of February 2024. The numbers are based on a count of head offices with current Recognised Sole Practice, Recognised Body or Licensed Body status.

 
Note that due to the time taken to process firm openings and closures, formed and closure dates can be back dated and therefore figures reported are subject to change.
Date(s) Sole Practitioner Partnership Incorporated Company Limited Liability Partnership Other Total
February 2024 1,561
(17%)
1,091
(12%)
5,194
(56%)
1,456
(16%)
32
(0%)
9,334
January 2024 1,572
(17%)
1,093
(12%)
5,186
(56%)
1,456
(16%)
32
(0%)
9,339
December 2023 1,576
(17%)
1,099
(12%)
5,174
(55%)
1,460
(16%)
32
(0%)
9,341
November 2023 1,588
(17%)
1,108
(12%)
5,174
(55%)
1,467
(16%)
32
(0%)
9,369
October 2023 1,590
(17%)
1,113
(12%)
5,176
(55%)
1,466
(16%)
32
(0%)
9,377
September 2023 1,614
(17%)
1,123
(12%)
5,183
(55%)
1,472
(16%)
33
(0%)
9,425
August 2023 1,635
(17%)
1,133
(12%)
5,185
(55%)
1,478
(16%)
34
(0%)
9,465
July 2023 1,638
(17%)
1,143
(12%)
5,175
(55%)
1,481
(16%)
34
(0%)
9,471
June 2023 1,647
(17%)
1,151
(12%)
5,183
(55%)
1,479
(16%)
34
(0%)
9,494
May 2023 1,649
(17%)
1,164
(12%)
5,171
(54%)
1,480
(16%)
34
(0%)
9,498
April 2023 1,655
(17%)
1,167
(12%)
5,164
(54%)
1,480
(16%)
34
(0%)
9,500
March 2023 1,666
(17%)
1,180
(12%)
5,168
(54%)
1,481
(16%)
33
(0%)
9,528
February 2023 1,671
(17%)
1,188
(12%)
5,169
(54%)
1,489
(16%)
33
(0%)
9,550
January 2023 1,685
(18%)
1,194
(12%)
5,164
(54%)
1,487
(16%)
33
(0%)
9,563
December 2022 1,704
(18%)
1,207
(13%)
5,180
(54%)
1,497
(16%)
34
(0%)
9,622
November 2022 1,723
(18%)
1,215
(13%)
5,171
(54%)
1,495
(16%)
34
(0%)
9,623
October 2022 1,716
(18%)
1,227
(13%)
5,161
(54%)
1,498
(16%)
34
(0%)
9,636
September 2022 1,755
(18%)
1,256
(13%)
5,170
(53%)
1,505
(15%)
35
(0%)
9,721
August 2022 1,768
(18%)
1,260
(13%)
5,160
(53%)
1,501
(15%)
35
(0%)
9,724
July 2022 1,777
(18%)
1,265
(13%)
5,157
(53%)
1,497
(15%)
35
(0%)
9,731
June 2022 1,788
(18%)
1,278
(13%)
5,147
(53%)
1,497
(15%)
35
(0%)
9,745
May 2022 1,801
(18%)
1,288
(13%)
5,137
(53%)
1,497
(15%)
35
(0%)
9,758
April 2022 1,806
(19%)
1,297
(13%)
5,137
(53%)
1,495
(15%)
35
(0%)
9,770
March 2022 1,816
(19%)
1,306
(13%)
5,157
(53%)
1,499
(15%)
35
(0%)
9,813
February 2022 1,825
(19%)
1,315
(13%)
5,118
(52%)
1,489
(15%)
35
(0%)
9,782
January 2022 1,834
(19%)
1,322
(14%)
5,108
(52%)
1,494
(15%)
34
(0%)
9,792
December 2021 1,849
(19%)
1,337
(14%)
5,096
(52%)
1,493
(15%)
34
(0%)
9,809
November 2021 1,859
(19%)
1,348
(14%)
5,090
(52%)
1,495
(15%)
34
(0%)
9,826
October 2021 1,878
(19%)
1,352
(14%)
5,093
(52%)
1,503
(15%)
34
(0%)
9,860
September 2021 1,921
(19%)
1,366
(14%)
5,115
(51%)
1,508
(15%)
33
(0%)
9,943
August 2021 1,933
(19%)
1,378
(14%)
5,100
(51%)
1,506
(15%)
33
(0%)
9,950
July 2021 1,940
(20%)
1,384
(14%)
5,085
(51%)
1,501
(15%)
33
(0%)
9,943
June 2021 1,952
(20%)
1,388
(14%)
5,080
(51%)
1,505
(15%)
33
(0%)
9,958
May 2021 1,966
(20%)
1,401
(14%)
5,067
(51%)
1,506
(15%)
34
(0%)
9,974
April 2021 1,973
(20%)
1,411
(14%)
5,042
(51%)
1,504
(15%)
34
(0%)
9,964
March 2021 1,986
(20%)
1,431
(14%)
5,052
(50%)
1,509
(15%)
33
(0%)
10,011
February 2021 2,006
(20%)
1,444
(14%)
5,049
(50%)
1,509
(15%)
34
(0%)
10,042
January 2021 2,021
(20%)
1,450
(14%)
5,042
(50%)
1,514
(15%)
34
(0%)
10,061
December 2020 2,027
(20%)
1,455
(14%)
5,021
(50%)
1,518
(15%)
35
(0%)
10,056
November 2020 2,036
(20%)
1,460
(14%)
5,021
(50%)
1,521
(15%)
35
(0%)
10,073
October 2020 2,060
(20%)
1,470
(15%)
5,015
(50%)
1,526
(15%)
36
(0%)
10,107
September 2020 2,073
(20%)
1,477
(15%)
5,018
(50%)
1,530
(15%)
37
(0%)
10,135
August 2020 2,101
(21%)
1,490
(15%)
4,972
(49%)
1,526
(15%)
37
(0%)
10,126
July 2020 2,114
(21%)
1,499
(15%)
4,955
(49%)
1,527
(15%)
37
(0%)
10,132
June 2020 2,118
(21%)
1,495
(15%)
4,971
(49%)
1,531
(15%)
37
(0%)
10,152
May 2020 2,125
(21%)
1,505
(15%)
4,968
(49%)
1,535
(15%)
38
(0%)
10,171
April  2020 2,132
(21%)
1,511
(15%)
4,968
(49%)
1,533
(15%)
38
(0%)
10,182
March 2020 2,143
(21%)
1,528
(15%)
4,960
(49%)
1,537
(15%)
37
(0%)
10,205
February 2020 2,159
(21%)
1,534
(15%)
4,952
(48%)
1,534
(15%)
38
(0%)
10,218
January 2020 2,162
(21%)
1,546
(15%)
4,950
(48%)
1,537
(15%)
38
(0%)
10,233
December 2019 2,189
(21%)
1,566
(15%)
4,949
(48%)
1,536
(15%)
38
(0%)
10,278
November 2019 2,198
(21%)
1,571
(15%)
4,951
(48%)
1,543
(15%)
38
(0%)
10,301
October 2019 2,217
(21%)
1,584
(15%)
4,952
(48%)
1,549
(15%)
39
(0%)
10,341
September 2019 2,245
(22%)
1,597
(15%)
4,945
(48%)
1,551
(15%)
38
(0%)
10,376
August 2019 2,266
(22%)
1,599
(15%)
4,927
(48%)
1,551
(15%)
40
(0%)
10,383
July 2019 2,277
(22%)
1,612
(16%)
4,907
(47%)
1,551
(15%)
38
(0%)
10,385
May 2019 2,297
(22%)
1,635
(16%)
4,873
(47%)
1,558
(15%)
37
(0%)
10,400
April 2019 2,316
(22%)
1,637
(16%)
4,846
(47%)
1,562
(15%)
38
(0%)
10,399
March 2019 2,322
(22%)
1,647
(16%)
4,826
(46%)
1,553
(15%)
38
(0%)
10,386
February 2019 2,325
(22%)
1,649
(16%)
4,828
(46%)
1,544
(15%)
38
(0%)
10,384
January 2019 2,341
(23%)
1,651
(16%)
4,812
(46%)
1,542
(15%)
37
(0%)
10,383
November 2018 2,347
(23%)
1,661
(16%)
4,797
(46%)
1,538
(15%)
38
(0%)
10,381
October 2018 2,367
(23%)
1,673
(16%)
4,788
(46%)
1,542
(15%)
37
(0%)
10,407
September 2018 2,392
(23%)
1,696
(16%)
4,780
(46%)
1,551
(15%)
37
(0%)
10,456
August 2018 2,413
(23%)
1,708
(16%)
4,745
(45%)
1,552
(15%)
39
(0%)
10,457
July 2018 2,405
(23%)
1,714
(16%)
4,710
(45%)
1,546
(15%)
40
(0%)
10,415
June 2018 2,415
(23%)
1,719
(17%)
4,677
(45%)
1,543
(15%)
40
(0%)
10,394
May 2018 2,421
(23%)
1,725
(17%)
4,665
(45%)
1,544
(15%)
38
(0%)
10,393
April 2018 2,420
(23%)
1,739
(17%)
4,641
(45%)
1,546
(15%)
39
(0%)
10,385
March 2018 2,434
(23%)
1,759
(17%)
4,632
(44%)
1,550
(15%)
39
(0%)
10,414
February 2018 2,433
(23%)
1,763
(17%)
4,626
(44%)
1,551
(15%)
38
(0%)
10,411
January 2018 2,451
(24%)
1,769
(17%)
4,600
(44%)
1,557
(15%)
38
(0%)
10,415
December 2017 2,462
(24%)
1,777
(17%)
4,580
(44%)
1,551
(15%)
38
(0%)
10,408
November 2017 2,476
(24%)
1,785
(17%)
4,562
(44%)
1,553
(15%)
38
(0%)
10,414
October 2017 2,489
(24%)
1,799
(17%)
4,537
(44%)
1,557
(15%)
38
(0%)
10,420
September 2017 2,534
(24%)
1,827
(17%)
4,545
(43%)
1,561
(15%)
39
(0%)
10,506
August 2017 2,545
(24%)
1,831
(17%)
4,523
(43%)
1,560
(15%)
38
(0%)
10,497
July 2017 2,549
(24%)
1,841
(18%)
4,482
(43%)
1,559
(15%)
40
(0%)
10,471
June 2017 2,557
(24%)
1,862
(18%)
4,444
(42%)
1,565
(15%)
40
(0%)
10,468
May 2017 2,553
(24%)
1,878
(18%)
4,419
(42%)
1,567
(15%)
41
(0%)
10,458
April 2017 2,558
(25%)
1,898
(18%)
4,366
(42%)
1,562
(15%)
41
(0%)
10,425
March 2017 2,573
(25%)
1,915
(18%)
4,328
(42%)
1,556
(15%)
41
(0%)
10,413
February 2017 2,582
(25%)
1,921
(18%)
4,290
(41%)
1,552
(15%)
42
(0%)
10,387
January 2017 2,591
(25%)
1,930
(19%)
4,260
(41%)
1,549
(15%)
40
(0%)
10,370
December 2016 2,597
(25%)
1,947
(19%)
4,215
(41%)
1,551
(15%)
44
(0%)
10,354
November 2016 2,610
(25%)
1,959
(19%)
4,225
(41%)
1,554
(15%)
45
(0%)
10,393
October 2016 2,627
(25%)
1,978
(19%)
4,205
(40%)
1,559
(15%)
46
(0%)
10,415
September 2016 2,663
(25%)
2,004
(19%)
4,203
(40%)
1,568
(15%)
45
(0%)
10,483
August 2016 2,681
(26%)
2,032
(19%)
4,178
(40%)
1,574
(15%)
45
(0%)
10,510
July 2016 2,687
(26%)
2,046
(20%)
4,133
(39%)
1,570
(15%)
46
(0%)
10,482
June 2016 2,693
(26%)
2,047
(20%)
4,133
(40%)
1,570
(15%)
46
(0%)
10,489
May 2016 2,705
(26%)
2,076
(20%)
4,039
(39%)
1,562
(15%)
47
(0%)
10,429
April 2016 2,703
(26%)
2,107
(20%)
3,986
(38%)
1,558
(15%)
53
(1%)
10,407
March 2016 2,710
(26%)
2,123
(20%)
3,931
(38%)
1,550
(15%)
51
(0%)
10,365
February 2016 2,704
(26%)
2,133
(21%)
3,900
(38%)
1,545
(15%)
48
(0%)
10,330
January 2016 2,704
(26%)
2,144
(21%)
3,859
(37%)
1,545
(15%)
42
(0%)
10,294
December 2015 2,714
(26%)
2,163
(21%)
3,842
(37%)
1,545
(15%)
42
(0%)
10,306
November 2015 2,709
(26%)
2,180
(21%)
3,824
(37%)
1,543
(15%)
42
(0%)
10,298
October 2015 2,725
(26%)
2,203
(21%)
3,813
(37%)
1,550
(15%)
45
(0%)
10,336
September 2015 2,748
(26%)
2,217
(21%)
3,813
(37%)
1,550
(15%)
45
(0%)
10,373
August 2015 2,793
(27%)
2,253
(22%)
3,788
(36%)
1,564
(15%)
46
(0%)
10,444
July 2015 2,796
(27%)
2,278
(22%)
3,729
(36%)
1,563
(15%)
46
(0%)
10,412
June 2015 2,803
(27%)
2,307
(22%)
3,677
(35%)
1,561
(15%)
46
(0%)
10,394
May 2015 2,798
(27%)
2,328
(22%)
3,634
(35%)
1,557
(15%)
47
(0%)
10,364
April 2015 2,798
(27%)
2,345
(23%)
3,601
(35%)
1,557
(15%)
47
(0%)
10,348
March 2015 2,789
(27%)
2,354
(23%)
3,567
(35%)
1,560
(15%)
46
(0%)
10,316
February 2015 2,793
(27%)
2,367
(23%)
3,547
(34%)
1,564
(15%)
48
(0%)
10,319
January 2015 2,801
(27%)
2,373
(23%)
3,527
(34%)
1,561
(15%)
50
(0%)
10,312
December 2014 2,809
(27%)
2,386
(23%)
3,501
(34%)
1,566
(15%)
62
(1%)
10,324
November 2014 2,811
(27%)
2,402
(23%)
3,503
(34%)
1,571
(15%)
73
(1%)
10,360
October 2014 2,856
(27%)
2,419
(23%)
3,509
(34%)
1,577
(15%)
83
(1%)
10,444
September 2014 2,911
(28%)
2,453
(23%)
3,498
(33%)
1,589
(15%)
81
(1%)
10,532
August 2014 2,935
(28%)
2,477
(23%)
3,492
(33%)
1,593
(15%)
96
(1%)
10,593
July 2014 2,937
(28%)
2,502
(24%)
3,462
(33%)
1,591
(15%)
100
(1%)
10,592
June 2014 2,941
(28%)
2,508
(24%)
3,424
(32%)
1,589
(15%)
109
(1%)
10,571
May 2014 2,938
(28%)
2,508
(24%)
3,391
(32%)
1,585
(15%)
97
(1%)
10,519
April 2014 2,947
(28%)
2,540
(24%)
3,363
(32%)
1,590
(15%)
106
(1%)
10,546
March 2014 2,961
(28%)
2,570
(24%)
3,327
(31%)
1,606
(15%)
126
(1%)
10,590
February 2014 2,967
(28%)
2,576
(24%)
3,301
(31%)
1,593
(15%)
117
(1%)
10,554
January 2014 2,978
(28%)
2,606
(25%)
3,284
(31%)
1,591
(15%)
130
(1%)
10,589
December 2013 3,056
(29%)
2,633
(25%)
3,219
(30%)
1,594
(15%)
141
(1%)
10,643
November 2013 3,069
(29%)
2,652
(25%)
3,203
(30%)
1,595
(15%)
131
(1%)
10,650
October 2013 3,101
(29%)
2,681
(25%)
3,203
(30%)
1,603
(15%)
136
(1%)
10,724
September 2013 3,108
(29%)
2,681
(25%)
3,198
(30%)
1,600
(15%)
139
(1%)
10,726
August 2013 3,233
(30%)
2,767
(25%)
3,172
(29%)
1,587
(14%)
192
(2%)
10,951
July 2013 3,225
(30%)
2,783
(26%)
3,103
(29%)
1,559
(14%)
196
(2%)
10,866
June 2013 3,248
(30%)
2,808
(26%)
3,064
(28%)
1,552
(14%)
203
(2%)
10,875
May 2013 3,252
(30%)
2,836
(26%)
3,046
(28%)
1,545
(14%)
188
(2%)
10,867
April 2013 3,255
(30%)
2,859
(26%)
3,014
(28%)
1,539
(14%)
203
(2%)
10,870
March 2013 3,273
(30%)
2,895
(27%)
2,974
(27%)
1,529
(14%)
184
(2%)
10,855
February 2013 3,293
(30%)
2,899
(27%)
2,954
(27%)
1,529
(14%)
152
(1%)
10,827
January 2013 3,309
(31%)
2,911
(27%)
2,915
(27%)
1,532
(14%)
152
(1%)
10,819
December 2012 3,351
(31%)
2,943
(27%)
2,901
(27%)
1,539
(14%)
158
(1%)
10,892
November 2012 3,370
(31%)
2,965
(27%)
2,904
(27%)
1,540
(14%)
168
(2%)
10,947
October 2012 3,377
(31%)
2,896
(26%)
2,980
(27%)
1,541
(14%)
182
(2%)
10,976
September 2012 3,421
(31%)
3,045
(27%)
2,869
(26%)
1,548
(14%)
234
(2%)
11,117
August 2012 3,430
(31%)
3,054
(27%)
2,862
(26%)
1,546
(14%)
223
(2%)
11,115
July 2012 3,487
(31%)
3,115
(28%)
2,843
(25%)
1,550
(14%)
177
(2%)
11,172
June 2012 3,530
(31%)
3,185
(28%)
2,846
(25%)
1,556
(14%)
187
(2%)
11,304
May 2012 3,556
(31%)
3,219
(28%)
2,811
(25%)
1,555
(14%)
228
(2%)
11,369
April 2012 3,557
(32%)
3,227
(29%)
2,739
(24%)
1,537
(14%)
206
(2%)
11,266
March 2012 3,574
(32%)
3,255
(29%)
2,745
(24%)
1,549
(14%)
108
(1%)
11,231
February 2012 3,568
(32%)
3,258
(29%)
2,730
(24%)
1,541
(14%)
85
(1%)
11,182
January 2012 3,543
(32%)
3,233
(29%)
2,671
(24%)
1,511
(14%)
170
(2%)
11,128
December 2011 3,534
(32%)
3,233
(29%)
2,636
(24%)
1,495
(14%)
155
(1%)
11,053
November 2011 3,508
(32%)
3,226
(30%)
2,583
(24%)
1,481
(14%)
127
(1%)
10,925
October 2011 3,545
(32%)
3,257
(30%)
2,526
(23%)
1,474
(14%)
115
(1%)
10,917
September 2011 3,612
(33%)
3,306
(30%)
2,497
(23%)
1,477
(13%)
117
(1%)
11,009
August 2011 3,628
(33%)
3,335
(30%)
2,457
(22%)
1,471
(13%)
126
(1%)
11,017
July 2011 3,640
(33%)
3,309
(30%)
2,400
(22%)
1,398
(13%)
120
(1%)
10,867
June 2011 3,656
(33%)
3,338
(30%)
2,339
(21%)
1,392
(13%)
115
(1%)
10,840
May 2011 3,667
(34%)
3,374
(31%)
2,299
(21%)
1,376
(13%)
104
(1%)
10,820
April 2011 3,675
(34%)
3,414
(31%)
2,220
(20%)
1,349
(12%)
100
(1%)
10,758
March 2011 3,692
(34%)
3,446
(32%)
2,208
(20%)
1,356
(12%)
101
(1%)
10,803
February 2011 3,711
(34%)
3,473
(32%)
2,175
(20%)
1,343
(12%)
101
(1%)
10,803
January 2011 3,733
(34%)
3,487
(32%)
2,107
(19%)
1,336
(12%)
98
(1%)
10,761
December 2010 3,771
(35%)
3,511
(32%)
2,079
(19%)
1,339
(12%)
89
(1%)
10,789
November 2010 3,783
(35%)
3,524
(32%)
2,057
(19%)
1,327
(12%)
88
(1%)
10,779
October 2010 3,797
(35%)
3,521
(33%)
1,989
(18%)
1,305
(12%)
84
(1%)
10,696
September 2010 3,880
(35%)
3,561
(32%)
2,001
(18%)
1,309
(12%)
85
(1%)
10,836
August 2010 4,042
(36%)
3,613
(33%)
1,945
(18%)
1,296
(12%)
80
(1%)
10,976
July 2010 4,030
(37%)
3,620
(33%)
1,898
(17%)
1,262
(11%)
75
(1%)
10,885