THE SOCIETY

The Society was reformed on 8th October 2001 following the amalgamation of the Holborn Law Society and the City of Westminster Law Society. Each was founded in 1962 to serve the two areas. Both had similar aims and constitutions. The Society continues the work and traditions of its two parts, now united.

MEMBERS AND CATCHMENT AREA

Lawyers living or working in the City of Westminster and Holborn. The Society probably has the widest catchment area of legal expertise in an organisation of its type anywhere. There is almost every legal speciality in its private practice membership - as well as in central government, local government, academia, the law schools, the major trade associations and non-governmental organisations and in commerce and industry, the bar, the law courts and the many foreign lawyers who work in Westminster and Holborn.

OBJECTIVES

Professional Issues
To promote responsible practice. To help settle disputes and to settle questions of professional practice. To consider questions affecting the legal profession, mainly relating to solicitors.
The Practice of Law
To consider questions relating to the administration of the law.
Law Reform
To consider questions relating the reform of the law.
Legal Education
To encourage legal education.

Legal Issues of Public Importance
To address legal issues of public importance.

Charitable purposes
To raise money for charitable purposes. The Society supports The Mary Ward Legal Centre. The Society has power to provide assistance to members in need.

Social Activities
To encourage social activities among members.

The Law Society
To maintain a dialogue with the Law Society (the Society is an independent body not responsible to the Law Society). The Council of the Law Society includes five members elected for the City of Westminster and the Holborn Constituencies.

ORGANISATION
A Committee of elected members and officers, assisted by an Administrator, conducts the Society’s business. The Committee generally meets on the last Wednesday of the month. A management sub-committee of officers meets monthly.

The Committee is supported by specialist Sub-Committees many of which are chaired by a member of the main Committee and meet monthly. Society members are encouraged to serve on sub-committees, particularly where they have specialised knowledge.

These are:
Criminal Law
Education and Training
International
Land Law and Conveyancing
Law Reform
Litigation
Parliamentary and Planning
Professional matters
Revenue
Trainee and Young Solicitors

MEMBERSHIP
Full members
Full membership is open to solicitors who or work in the Society’s area. Membership is open to barristers who are employed in the Society's area in legal or public appointments, in the Government Legal Service, in commerce and industry or in private practice or by any public body, society or corporation.

Associate members
Associate membership is open to lawyers everywhere: but for the right to vote at general meetings, associate membership is indistinguishable from full membership. Thus the membership of the Society includes solicitors outside the area, members of the judiciary, academic lawyers and overseas lawyers working in London.

Trainee Solicitors
Trainee solicitor membership is open to all trainee solicitors. There is no geographical restriction.

Discounts
There is a sliding scale discount on membership fees to encourage firms to put forward for membership as many as possible of their partners, associates and, qualified assistants. Employed solicitors pay a reduced subscription.

Educational activities
Monthly early evening lectures at a modest price: members enjoy a discounted rate. CPD points are available.

Issues of Public Importance
Each year the Society organises a number of lectures or discussions on legal issues of major public importance, working with other stakeholders.

Pro bono activities
The Society encourages pro bono activities and is a supporter of the Solicitor’s Pro Bono Group and is a partner in the Wig and Pen Prize.

Social activities
These include an Annual Dinner to which other professions are welcome, a reception for foreign lawyers, The Legal Charities Garden Party and a reception following the AGM. The Trainee and Young Solicitors organise their own social programme. After main committee meetings there is often an informal dinner to which members are welcome.

THE REPORT
The Report is the Society’s main way of communicating and commenting.