FAQs
What is the City of London Solicitors’ Company?
The City of London Solicitor’s Company is one of the City of London’s 111 Livery Companies. Some of the most ancient Companies can trace their origins to associations of merchants and craftspeople which were in existence prior to the 13th Century. The Solicitors’ Company was formed in 1908 and was granted Livery status in 1944 becoming 79 in the order of precedence.
Livery companies all categorised as ancient or modern. The Solicitors is a modern company.
Whether ancient or modern, the underlying principle of all livery companies is timeless. They continue, in innovative ways, to do what they have done throughout their history - supporting their trades, members, philanthropy and education and members. In the past, most livery companies regulated their trade and about 70% still do, including the Apothecaries, Spectacle Makers, Goldsmiths, Farriers. Whilst our livery company has never regulated its members, it has always sought to have a voice on matters affecting solicitors working in the City and promoted their interests and collegiality among them. The ancient liveries supported members who fell on hard times often providing for widows and children of members – many still own and administer Almshouses. In order to become a livery company, a charitable fund of at least £300,000 must be held.
The Solicitors’ Company distributes grants through our Charitable Fund and supports the education of solicitors through our Educational Trust.
The other essential bond of the livery companies is with the City of London Corporation and the governance of the City of London. For the past several centuries, twice a year (Midsummers’ Day on 24 June and Michaelmas Day on 29 September), all Liverymen of more than 12 months standing, are summoned to Guildhall for meetings called Common Hall. Amongst other business transacted at these meetings, the Livery elect the two Sheriffs and other officers of the City of London and choose two candidates, one of which the Aldermen must elect as Lord Mayor. The Livery also plays a prominent part in the City’s major events.
Who can join the City of London Solicitors’ Company?
Membership of the Company is open to any solicitor who practises or who has previously practised within the City of London or at Canary Wharf for a period of six months.
Can anyone join the Solicitors’ Company?
Several livery companies allow members who are not in their trade or profession. However, the Solicitors’ Company has two criteria for membership:
1. You must be/have been a solicitor and
2. Must practise/have practised in the City of London or Canary Wharf.
You need not be in private practice; we welcome in-house lawyers, as well as solicitors working for government and the armed forces among our members.
What is the City of London Law Society?
The CLLS is the local law society for City Solicitors and its specialist committees have reputations which are second to none in their technical fields.
How closely linked are the City Solicitors and the Law Society?
We are separate organisations which share common origins. The close links we have with the CLLS are mutually beneficial, with us providing the charitable organisation and social events and the CLLS primarily supporting the profession and educational aspects.
What is the cost of membership?
Like all organisations we need to cover our costs and we aim to keep our charges at reasonable levels and offer free and low cost events as well as those for which we have to charge.
There is no charge to join. The annual subscription (quarterage) for being a Freeman of the Company is £300 taken by direct debit.
If you currently work for a corporate member of the City of London Law Society, you are exempt from this fee while you remain at a member firm.
When you progress to take the Livery of the Company, there is a one-off fine of £500, which pays for your Livery Medal and your first Livery Dinner. The annual fee remains at £300 taken by direct debit.
What does the Solicitors’ Company stand for?
Our guiding principles are integrity, collegiality and charity. These principles are “lived” in a number of ways:
• Integrity - we promote "honourable conduct" and take a keen interest in the welfare and development of our profession (e.g. through our "Food for Thought" series of seminars and our annual Master's Lecture).
• Collegiality - we are inclusive, welcoming a diverse membership giving everyone opportunities to socialise and network across the profession and the City e.g. through our strong relationships with other livery companies and the City Corporation.
• Charity - our charitable fund supports charities with a connection to the City and/or the profession, with an emphasis on access to justice and social mobility, with our aim being to encourage and extend that "giving" through the individual donations of our members. Our Educational Trust runs two projects: one which supports students from under-represented and socially mobile backgrounds who aspire to become lawyers, by providing them with work experience, mentoring and training during their time at university. Secondly, in partnership with the CLLS, a project, known as SWSQF, aimed at providing funding for people working in social welfare law organisations to receive training and sit the Solicitors Qualifying Exam to effectively create more social welfare solicitors.
What activities does the Solicitors’ Company organise?
We aim to organise events and activities that our members are unlikely to have an opportunity to participate in as private individuals. We encourage members to let us know what events would interest them.
Livery Companies have always been associated with fellowship and formal dining events. Each year we organise at least two formal dinners to which members may bring personal or professional guests: A Banquet at Mansion House and a Black Tie event at one of the Livery Halls. In addition, there are at least two less formal opportunities per year to dine at a Livery Hall, where our Court of Assistants (the equivalent of the Board of Directors) meets, and there are at least three opportunities for lunches shared with other livery companies. In addition, courtesy of our Honorary Chaplain, the Reverend Canon Roger Hall, we hold an annual service at St Peter ad Vincula, one of the Chapels Royal inside the Tower of London which is followed by supper.
Our aim to promote professional development takes the form of twice yearly ethics events, which give an opportunity to wrestle with issues facing the profession, while enjoying the surroundings of a Livery Hall and fellowship with members of other livery companies, especially those of the Financial Services Group of Livery Companies (FSG), with which we have a very close relationship. Our annual Master’s Lecture is given on a topic of general interest to members and we regularly join with one of the other FSG Companies to run a joint event of interest to both Companies.
We organise walking tours, visits to sites of historical significance, quizzes, wine tastings, general lectures and will make up groups to attend events organised by other groups e.g. the Sheriffs’ Ball and military pageants on Horse Guards Parade. Finally, our members are often invited to attend events organised by other livery companies or the City.
The costs of events range from free through to approximately £160 for our top ticket event at Mansion House.
How does the Charitable Fund receive funding?
We expect our members to personally contribute to our Charitable Fund. Individual charitable giving is part and parcel of livery company life, across the livery movement and essentially it’s part of the social contract of joining us. It would not be fair for members to enjoy the benefits of membership without also expecting to donate to our fund and through that to support the charitable causes we commit to.
We ask for a regular monthly or annual payment to be made to our Charitable Fund.
How do I apply for membership?
To apply to become a Freeman of the Company, please contact us for details.
You will need a proposer and seconder who are already members of the Company. If you need help in locating these, please email DeputyClerk@citysolicitors.org.uk
How do I find a proposer and seconder for my application?
If you need help in locating these, please email DeputyClerk@citysolicitors.org.uk
How do I know the geographical area needed for membership?
The City of London Solicitors’ Company boundary is one mile from any corner of the Bank of England and Canary Wharf.
Please email DeputyClerk@citysolicitors.org.uk if you need more information.
What is the Freedom of the City of London and how do I apply?
What is the difference between a Freeman and a Liveryman?
Applying to become a Freeman is the first level of membership of the Company. Any Freeman wishing to take the Livery must first become a Freeman of the City of London by redemption through Guildhall.
All Freemen then have the option of taking or applying for the Livery of the Company, which is the second level of membership. Liverymen are able to vote at the Common Hall elections and progress further in the Company.
Could I get involved in helping to run the Solicitors’ Company?
Yes, we want as many of our members as possible to be active in the running of the Company.
The remits of our Committees are wide-ranging and we have recently increased the number of members on each of them giving plenty of opportunities to get involved. In addition, there are periodically ad hoc initiatives with which we need help from our members. For these, we create a working group for the period of the project. A recent example is the working group responsible for the office move in 2025.
The first step to full membership of the Company is to apply for the Freedom of the Company. A short ceremony in front of the Court, usually with others being admitted at the same time, marks entry into the Company. Once “Free of the Company” they may apply for the Freedom of the City of London, which means joining a historic group going back to mid-13th Century. People of all nationalities are welcome to apply for the Freedom of the City and it’s a lovely way to mark a connection with this great City. Once admitted to the Freedom of the City we hope that Freemen* will go on to take the Livery and receive all the rights and privileges of the Company. Those who have been admitted to the Livery are eligible for election to the Court and may ultimately become an Officer of the Company, including becoming Master. We want future Court members to be Liverymen who are active within the Company (which can take a range of forms) and have a real contribution to make to the life and future development of the Company.
Why are members referred to as Freemen and Liverymen?
Although the terms Freeman and Liveryman are used to denote membership throughout the livery movement they do not comment on the sex of the member. Since inception, the Solicitors’ Company has admitted both men and women to the Freedom and to the Livery.
Likewise, the term Master, signifies the “Chair” of the Court of Assistants and is used for both women and men.