The Tribunal is constituted as a Statutory Tribunal under Section 46 of The Solicitors' Act 1974.

The Tribunal adjudicates upon alleged breaches of rules of professional conduct which are designed to maintain the reputation of the solicitors' profession for honesty, probity, trustworthiness independence and integrity. The Tribunal has power to strike off a solicitor from the Roll, suspend from practice, fine or reprimand. Fines are payable to H M Treasury. The Tribunal can award costs but not compensation. The Tribunal also adjudicates upon the alleged misconduct of registered foreign lawyers and clerks employed by solicitors and hears applications for restoration to the Roll. The Tribunal's decisions can be the subject of appeal to the High Court.

The Tribunal currently has about 30 members all of whom are appointed by the Senior Judge of the Chancery Division of the High Court (The Master of the Rolls). Two thirds are Solicitor Members and one third Lay drawn from a variety of backgrounds. Brief biographical details of Tribunal Members and of the Clerk and her staff are shown in the Tribunal's last Annual Report.

Solicitor Members are wholly independent of the Council of the Law Society and currently provide their services pro bono. Lay Members are remunerated by the Lord Chancellor's Department.

The Law Society is the "prosecutor" in over 90 per cent of cases brought before the Tribunal.