Society of Labour Lawyers

Papers of the Society of Labour Lawyers, mainly dating 1949-1979, including: Annual reports and accounts. Minutes of Annual General Meetings and Executive Committee meetings. Rules of the Society. Newsletters and circulars. Membership records. Papers regarding conferences and other Society events. Subject files on topics such as racial discrimination, illegitimacy, homosexuality and abortion. Subject files relating to reform of the justice system, such as: improving access to the law (provision of legal aid and advice); criminal procedure; and, ending capital punishment. The subject files include correspondence, memoranda, sub-committee papers and evidence to government inquiries and Royal Commissions. Correspondence with members of the Society, MPs and others, including Gerald Gardiner (Lord Chancellor, 1964-70) and Samuel Silkin (Attorney General, 1974-79). Correspondence of the Society's Honorary Secretaries, Jean Graham Hall and Conrad Ascher.

The Society of Labour Lawyers was founded in 1949 by Gerald Gardiner and others. It is affiliated to the Labour Party and its membership comprises solicitors, barristers, lay magistrates, law teachers and students of law who are also members of the Labour Party. The society has been very active in the cause of law reform since its foundation, producing several influential publications on the subject including Law Reform Now (1963), Law reform for all (1996) and Furthering justice (2005).

The collection is arranged in 8 series: 1. Executive Committee; 2: Annual reports and Annual General Meetings; 3. Publications, including rules and newsletters; 4. Membership records; 5. Events; 6. Subject files; 7. Correspondence and other papers; 8. General papers. Within these series, the files are arranged chronologically.

Open

Online catalogue available

Output from CAIRS using template 14 and checked by hand on May 29, 2002; updated Apr 2008

No documents may be photocopied. No material may be published without the prior permission of both the copyright holder and the Library. All applications for publication must be made to the Archivist in the first instance, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user.