Cambridge University Law Society
The Cambridge University Law Society (also known as "CULS" or "LawSoc") is the educational and representative body of undergraduate law students at the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1901, and with an estimated 2,000 active members,[2] it is the largest United Kingdom student-led law society and among the largest student-run law societies in the world.[3][4] It founded the Cambridge Law Journal as a student publication in 1921,[5][6] today the longest-running university law journal in the United Kingdom and the principal publication of the Faculty of Law, Cambridge.
  | |
| Type | Student-run law society |
|---|---|
| Established | 1901 |
| Founder | Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge |
Academic affiliation | University of Cambridge |
| President | Rebecca McNeill |
| Vice-president | Yasmin Dugdale |
| Honorary President | Brenda Hale, Baroness Hale of Richmond[1] |
| Students | 2,000 (estd.) |
| Location | Cambridge , |
| Campus | David Williams Building |
| Website | https://www.culs.org.uk |
It is known for its Speakers events featuring prominent lawyers, politicians and legal celebrities. It also publishes the Cambridge Law Review and organises the annual University of Cambridge Law Ball, one of the University's most prominent events outside May Week.[7] It is one of the wealthiest societies at the University of Cambridge.[2][8]
History
CULS was established in January 1901 by the Faculty of Law, Cambridge as an educational body of law students. It had a small membership in its earlier years, and was dormant during World War I. In 1920, it was given increased attention by then Downing Professor of the Laws of England Harold Hazeltine,[5] who delivered its inaugural address.
Through the connections of the Faculty, CULS hosted prominent legal figures in the 1920s, including Joseph Henry Beale,[5] Roscoe Pound,[9] Travers Humphreys,[10] and William Buckland.[10] These addresses were academic in nature, and were frequently reproduced in the Cambridge Law Journal. CULS also increased its engagement with other Cambridge University societies, including through debates.[11][12]
By 1977, CULS was the third-largest society by memberships in the University of Cambridge.[13] CULS has since evolved to form career networks and partnerships with leading law firms and barristers' chambers.
Structure and organisation
Membership
Membership is open to all members of the University of Cambridge. Elected positions are restricted to members of the Society who are undergraduates at the University of Cambridge. The Society is led by an executive committee, which appoints non-executive committees and sub-committees. The President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary are elected officers of the Society, and there are 9 mandatory appointments to the non-Executive Committee.[14]
Law Ball
The Cambridge University Law Society organises the annual Law Ball, one of the University's most prominent balls outside May Week.[7][15] The location of the ball is traditionally kept secret until the guests arrive. Guests are given a meeting point and subsequently transported to the venue.[15] These balls are partially sponsored by law firms, and tend to be elaborately themed. The headliner for the 2017 Law Ball was Tinchy Stryder.[16]
Per Incuriam Magazine
The Society's official termly magazine, Per Incuriam, features content by students as well as notable academics and professionals.[17] Notable past contributors include John Laws, Simon Deakin, and David Feldman.
Cambridge Law Journal
In 1921, the Cambridge University Law Society founded the Cambridge Law Journal as a student publication.[5][6] As it gained recognition for quality,[18] its management was taken over by the Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge. Today, the Cambridge Law Journal is the longest-running university law journal in the United Kingdom and the principal publication of the Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge. It is edited by Professor John Bell. In 2003, The Cambridge Law Review was founded as a successor student-run academic journal.[19]
Honorary Presidents
| Name | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Cyril Salmon, Baron Salmon[20] | 1975 | 1991 |
| Peter Oliver, Baron Oliver of Aylmerton[21] | 1991 | 2007 |
| Michael Mustill, Baron Mustill[22] | 2007 | 2015 |
| Brenda Hale, Baroness Hale of Richmond[23] | 2015 | Present |
Notable visitors, lecturers and speakers
- Roscoe Pound – former Dean of Harvard Law School
- Joseph Henry Beale – former Royall Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and inaugural Dean of Chicago Law School
- Alfred Denning – former Lord of Appeal in Ordinary and Master of the Rolls[24]
- Cyril Salmon – former Lord of Appeal in Ordinary[25]
- Brenda Hale – President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
- Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh[24]
- Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, GBE – first female Lord Justice of Appeal[25]
- Igor Judge – former Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
- Robert Megarry – former Vice-Chancellor of the Supreme Court[24]
- Enoch Powell, MBE – former British Minister of Health, politician, classical scholar, philologist, and poet[24]
- Robert Alexander, QC – British barrister, banker and Conservative politician[24]
- Travers Humphreys – British barrister and judge
- Martin Nourse – former Lord Justice of Appeal of England and Wales[24]
- George Baker – President of the Family Division of the High Court of Justice[25]
- Anthony Clarke – former Justice of the United Kingdom Supreme Court
- Conor Gearty – Professor of Human Rights at the London School of Economics
- Robert Winston – British professor, medical doctor, scientist, television presenter and Labour Party politician[24]
- John Alderson, CBE – former Chief Constable for Devon and Cornwall and expert on police and penal affairs.[25]
- William Hughes – Labour Party politician
- Raymond Blackburn – Labour Party politician
- Hilel Neuer – Executive Director of UN Watch
References
- "CULS Lecture: Lady Hale - 'The Life of A Lady Law Lord' - Faculty of Law". www.law.cam.ac.uk.
- "Careers and Cambridge: Obsession or Anathema?". 3 February 2017.
- "Solicitors in Cambridge - Slater and Gordon Lawyers UK". Slater and Gordon Lawyers UK.
- "Student Societies - BA Faculty of Law". ba.law.cam.ac.uk.
- "Reports of the University and College Law Societies." The Cambridge Law Journal, vol. 1, no. 1, 1921, pp. 95–106. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/4514852.
- Library, New York University Law (16 February 2018). "A Catalogue of the Law Collection at New York University: With Selected Annotations". The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd. – via Google Books.
- "Law Society (CULS) [Cambridge University] @ Cambridge University Students' Union". www.cusu.co.uk.
- "Which Deadly Sin is your Society?". 10 October 2016.
- "Reports of the University and College Law Societies." The Cambridge Law Journal, vol. 1, no. 2, 1922, pp. 219–227. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/4514898.
- "Reports of the University and College Law Societies." The Cambridge Law Journal, vol. 1, no. 3, 1923, pp. 369–378. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/4514964.
- "The Criminal Responsibility of the Alleged Insane." The Cambridge Law Journal, vol. 1, no. 3, 1923, pp. 302–322. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/4514933.
- Durley, Lord Wright of (4 December 2014). "Legal Essays and Addresses". Cambridge University Press – via Google Books.
- Massey, David (1978). "Cambridge University Law Society, 1977-78". The Cambridge Law Journal. 37 (2): 375–376. JSTOR 4506131.
- "Cambridge University Law Society — The UK's Largest Student Law Society" (PDF). Cambridge University Law Society.
- "CULS Law Ball 2014".
- "Cambridge University Law Society". www.facebook.com.
- Jessalyn, Blossom Meghan (20 January 2012). "Per Incuriam". Sess Press – via Google Books.
- Miles O. Price, "A Catalogue of the Law Collection at New York University, with Selected Annotations. Julius J. Marke ," The Library Quarterly 24, no. 4 (Oct., 1954): 1158.
- https://www.cambridgelawreview.org/about-us/history/%5B%5D
- Blake, Jonathan (1975). "Cambridge University Law Society". The Cambridge Law Journal. 34 (2): 351–352.}}
- Peacock, Lisa (November 1991). "Cambridge University Law Society". Cambridge Law Journal. 50 (3): 580–581 – via HeinOnline.
- "Death of the Rt Hon Lord Mustill - Faculty of Law". archive.is. 28 April 2015. Archived from the original on 28 April 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- "CULS Lecture: Lady Hale - 'The Life of A Lady Law Lord', Faculty of Law". www.law.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- T. P. J. Hill. "Cambridge University Law Society 1985-86." The Cambridge Law Journal, vol. 45, no. 3, 1986, pp. 542–544. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/4506955.
- Jackson, A. P. "Cambridge University Law Society 1979-80." The Cambridge Law Journal, vol. 39, no. 2, 1980, pp. 407–408. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/4506309.