Cambridge University Law Society
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
To comply with Wikipedia's quality standards, this article may need to be rewritten. Please help improve this article. The discussion page may contain suggestions. |
The Cambridge University Law Society is run by students for students.
Its aims are manifold, and changing. In short, it caters for two groups of people. Firstly, the law students at Cambridge, whether or not they (think they) have an interest in pursuing law. 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.
It aims to provide each of these groups a range of benefits and events, both academic and recreational.
On the academic side, it provides 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. The termly magazine, Per Incuriam, also provides members with a run-down on a number of popular Tripos topics, and is soon to include Q&A sessions with leading academics. Add to this the forthcoming ‘Editorial’ and ‘Letters’ sections, and the opportunity for discussion and debate is second to none.
To this should be added 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 and Cherie Booth QC to name but a few.
The Society also organises mooting competitions for its members. Mooting is an absolute must for budding barristers, hugely helpful to aspirant solicitors, legally challenging and immensely enjoyable. The society organises 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.
CULS also provides 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, by way of our ‘solicitor profiles’, and is building a range of partnerships with different career orientated organisations such as ‘Vault’. The Society also organises numerous opportunities for members to meet with members of the Bar and a range of Law Firms in informal settings. As part of the drive to increase awareness of non-law careers, the Committee are seeking to do the same for a range of other professions.
Last but by no means least; the society has 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 attracts record attendance every year. The Society also holds a headline event in each of the other two terms of Lent and Easter, being the Annual Dinner and Garden Party respectively. However, in addition to this it organises a plethora of other social events, which give members the chance to relax and unwind, or experience something new. Past highlights include a trip to Ronnie Scotts, a Comedy Night, Cocktail nights, and of course an abundance of champagne, punting and the like.
Members of the Society get discounted tickets to all events where an entrance fee is charged, and, considering the number of events that one is likely to go to in 3 years, the fee for life membership is well worth it! Life membership costs just £19 and a single year's membership costs £14!
Elections for positions to the Law Society Committee are held annually.
The Society's website can be located at: www.camlawsoc.com [1].
In 2006, the Cambridge University Law Society held its first "annual" Varsity Dinner with the Oxford Law Society in Oxford.
[edit] Presidents
Honorary President: The Right Honourable The Lord Mustill
Current President: Joseph Ruiz, Peterhouse
President 2007-8: Carlo Taczalski, Downing
President 2006-7: Jade Fearns, New Hall
President 2005-6: Nicholas Price, Downing
President 2004-5: Chris Ninan, Downing
President 2003-4: Gayatri Sehdev, Downing
Other Presidents of Note: Thomas Hill
