History

On 25th August 1827, a few Liverpool men gathered in a dusty room in Clarendon Buildings, on the corner of North John Street and Lord Street to discuss a proposed Law Library for Liverpool.

At that time the cost for membership fees in 1827 was £15.  It had long been felt that Liverpool needed a Law Library due to the high prices of law books.  According to the Annual Report of 1829, there were 52 members.  Most of their names now forgotten but some survived until very recently in the names of Liverpool firms.

The first President was Joshua Lace whose name was until recently still reflected in the firm of Berrymans Lace Mawer, later BLM until it merged with another firm, Clyde & Co in 2022.  Samuel Brabner’s name survives in Brabners.  The name of his contemporary founding member, John Holden was reflected until 2001 in the firm of Brabner Holden.

Within six months the fledgeling library was sufficiently stocked with books either bought or donated by members.  In 1834, the society’s name was changed from Liverpool Law Library Society to the Liverpool Law Society.

By the time the Annual Report of 1893 was printed, there were 348 members and the President was James Alsop whose name survived until recently in the name of the national firm Dibb Lupton Alsop, now known as DLA Piper.  (Extract taken from “A Century of Liverpool Lawyers” written by Noel Fagan, Graeme Bryson and Charles Elston).

Presidents