The Cambridge University Law Society is run by students for students.

Its aims are manifold, and changing. In short, we cater for two groups of people. Firstly, the law students at Cambridge, whether or not they have an interest in pursuing law as a career following graduation. Secondly, the large number of students studying for other triposes, but who are interested in law, either as an academic discipline or as a career.

We aim to provide each of these groups a range of benefits and events, both academic and recreational.

On the academic side, we provide a forum for the debate of current legal issues, by inviting speakers from all over the globe to speak on their areas of expertise, and face questions from our members. In this way we hope to encourage the lawyer’s natural instinct to question rather than to placidly accept. Our termly magazine, Per Incuriam, also provides members with a run-down on a number of popular Tripos topics, as well as editorial sections and copies of speeches from our prominant speakers. The opportunity for discussion and debate provided for by the magazine is second to none.

To this we should add the Society’s enviable reputation for attracting speakers, with Lord Justice Lawrence Collins answering members’ questions in Lent ’07, as but one example. Past speakers include the Lord Faulkner LC, Linda Dobbs QC, Cherie Booth QC and Dame Rosalyn Higgins, the President of the International Court of Justice at the time, to name but a few. In the 2008-9 year, our speakers included Mr Justice Weir, Sir Anthony Clarke MR, and Lord Neuberger. We are committed to expanding our range of speakers, as with all aspects of the Society.

The Society also organises mooting competitions for our members. Mooting is an absolute must for budding barristers, hugely helpful to aspirant solicitors, legally challenging and immensely enjoyable. We organise 4 internal mooting competitions: Fledglings’ (for Freshers), The De Smith Competition (for all Cambridge students wishing to compete for the prestigious De Smith trophy), the Brick Court Team Competition, and at least 2 Essex Court Speed Moots (for competitors of all abilities). Additionally the Society enters a number of teams into various national and international competitions to represent Cambridge.

We also provide copious amounts of career guidance. This is done through a range of mediums. On the web, the Society provides invaluable insights into the different firms offering training contracts and vacation schemes, by way of our ‘solicitor profiles’, and is building a range of partnerships with different career orientated organisations.

The Society also organises numerous opportunities for our members to meet with members of the Bar and a range of Law Firms in informal settings. As part of our drive to increase awareness of non-law careers, the Committee are seeking to do the same for a range of other professions. We are keen to hear from any organisations that would like to get involved with us, and also from our members as to what would be most beneficial to them. Furthermore, we acknowledge that a number of our members are interested in pursuing study further, and to this end we are also seeking to improve our information in this sphere.

Last but by no means least; we have the enviable reputation for organising some of Cambridge’s top social events. Indubitably the highlight of the calendar is the Annual Law Ball, held in November, which attracted a record attendance last year of approximately 600, and is on course to go one better this year. We also hold a headline event in each of the other two terms, being the Annual Dinner and Garden Party respectively. However, in addition to this we also organise a plethora of other social events, which give our members the chance to relax and unwind, or experience something new. Highlights of 2008-9 included a Day at the Races at Newmarket Racecourse for Champions Day, the Annual Law Formal, Jazz Night, plenty of cocktail nights, and of course an abundance of champagne and the like. We further aim to provide sporting opportunities, with several football matches against law firms last year, and it is hoped that this will be continued and expanded on this year.

Members of the Society get discounted tickets to all events where an entrance fee is charged, and, considering the number of events that you're likely to go to in 3 years, the fee for life membership is well worth it! Life membership costs just £20 and a single year's membership costs £15!