Society of Labour Lawyers

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0097 SLL
Held at	: British Library of Political and Economic Science   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://www.lse.ac.uk/library ›
Full title	: Society of Labour Lawyers
Date(s)	: 1936-2005
Level of description	: collection
Extent	: 36 boxes
Name of creator(s)	: Society of Labour Lawyers
Detailed catalogue	: Click here to view repository detailed catalogue

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

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).

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

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.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

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.

Conditions governing access:

Open

Conditions governing reproduction:

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.

Finding aids:

Online catalogue available

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Allied Materials

Related material:

National Register of Archives: Click here to view NRA record

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Output from CAIRS using template 14 and checked by hand on May 29, 2002; updated Apr 2008

Rules or conventions:

Date(s) of descriptions:
May 29, 2002; updated Apr 2008