Consider the following two conditions for a group $G$:


(1) $G$ does not satisfy a nontrivial law.


(2) $G$ contains a non-abelian free subgroup. 


Obviously (2) implies (1) and it is easy to construct torsion groups that do not satisfy any law (e.g., the direct product of all finite groups). Thus (1) does not imply (2) in general. However the following question seems open:



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> Are (1) and (2) equivalent for profinite groups?
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Here is a similar question:



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> Suppose that a residually finite group does not satisfy a law. Does its profinite completion contain a nonabelian free subgroup?
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These questions may be thought of as possible generalizations of the Tits alternative to residually finite (or profinite) groups. 


The answer to the second question is positive for finitely generated p-groups. This follows from [Wilson, Zelmanov, *Identities for Lie algebras of pro-p groups*, JPAA 81(192), 103-109], where the authors prove that if $G$ is a finitely generated residually finite p-group, then either it is finite (and hence satisfies a law), or its profinite completion contains a nonabelian free group. In the general case they only prove that if the profinite completion of a residually finite group does not contain a nonabelian free subgroup, then some Lie algebra associated to the group satisfies a law. 



Free subgroups vs law 
Since Henry asked, here is a reference: Aner Shalev in the first chapter (Lie Methods in the Theory of pro-$p$ Groups) in New Horizons in pro-$p$ Groups posed 4 conjectures in decreasing order of strength:


1. Let $G$ be a finite $p$-group satisfying some identity $w$ with probability $\epsilon>0$. Then $G$ satisfies some identity depending only on $w$, $p$, and $\epsilon$.
2. Let $G$ be a finitely generated pro-$p$ group satisfying some identity with positive probability. Then $G$ satisfies some identity.
3. Let $G$ be a finitely generated pro-$p$ group satisfying some coset-identity. Then $G$ satisfies some identity.
4. Let $G$ be a $k$-generated pro-$p$ group satisfying some identity on all generating $k$-tuples. Then $G$ satisfies some identity.


There is a discussion there about what is known. I am not sure what developments occurred since the book appeared and what is known about the profinite case in general. I think it may have been mentioned by Shalev or Mann in other surveys. 


