Much has changed for law societies in recent years, with governments in Australia, New Zealand, England, Wales, and Scotland creating government sponsored regulators for lawyers (both barristers and solicitors), leaving to law societies the role of advocacy on behalf of their members.
In Canada, each province and territory has a law society (French: barreau) with statutory responsibility for regulation of the legal profession in the public interest.
Law Societies in Australia represent the interests of solicitors and are organised in each State and mainland territory.
Australia has a split profession, and barristers' interests are represented by separately-organised Bar Councils in each State and territory.
The Law Council of Australia is a peak body representing the interests of all legal practitioners at federal level.