History of the Company

The Company was the brainchild of four solicitors practising in the City who called a meeting of interested parties in Innholders' Hall on 16 June 1908 at which it was resolved "to form a Company of City Solicitors practising within the City be formed on the model of the Ancient City Guilds". The proposals were approved and the Company was registered in March 1909. Early records show that professional matters were at the heart of the Company from the outset with regular lectures being held and a law library being established. A number of Committees were also formed to comment on a wide range of legal matters.

The Company's Arms were granted in 1926 by the College of Arms. The Arms are used by the Company on its official correspondence and appear on the Master's badge worn on all official occasions and when representing the Company at City functions.
The Company also appointed St. Yves as its patron saint. St. Yves is a Breton saint who lived between 1253-1303. He was born in Treguier in Northern Brittany and studied law in Paris and Orleans. His gratuitous services earned him the title of "Advocate of the Poor". Every year in May great festivities are held in Treguier in the honour of St. Yves and over the years representatives of the Company have regularly attended.

The Company began awarding prizes to Trainees. These have subsequently been amalgamated into the Company Prize which is awarded annually to the most promising trainee solicitor working at a City firm.
Sir William Waterlow Lord Mayor of the City of London.

Sir William P Neal Lord Mayor of the City of London.

One of the aims in forming the Company was that it would become a City Livery Company and this was duly achieved on 24th May 1944 when the Court of Aldermen approved The City of London Solicitors' Company as the second of the modern livery companies (No.79). In December a motto was added to the Coat of Arms being "Lex Libertatis Origo" which may be freely translated as "Freedom's foundation is the Law".

In 1945 the Company appointed an honorary Chaplain and when he moved to become Chaplain of the Royal Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula at the Tower of London, the Company was granted the privilege of holding its annual guild service there and has done so every year since.

Sir Cullum Welch Lord Mayor of the City of London.

The Company petitioned for and received its Royal Charter on 21st June 1957.

The Charitable Fund was set up which, although slow to develop initially, has now grown to have a significant capital base thus enabling annual donations to be made to several charities covering the City and its neighbouring areas and to the legal sector.

Although the Company did not operate formally as a Local Law Society it was always involved in professional matters and in 1969 this was formalised with the development of The Professional Business Committee.

Created a voluntary legal advice scheme in Hackney, succeeded in 1978 by extensive support from member firms for Tower Hamlets Law Centre.

The Wig and Pen Prize for Pro Bono work by a young solicitor was introduced. Find out more here.

Creation of Whittington Committee to look after interests of younger members.
First CLSC float appeared in Lord Mayor's Show on 8th November. Unbroken record of participation ever since.
First CLSC Revel on 11th December.

Charity Ball at Guildhall to celebrate 75th Anniversary of CLSC.

The Professional Business Committee became The City of London Law Society. The reason for the change was to make the professional operations of the Company more transparent.

Associate membership extended to trainee solicitors.

First Carbolic Smoke Ball held at Hurlingham Club.

Supplemental Royal Charter granted on 29th May.

The Company became the Trustee of the City Solicitors' Educational Trust which was established by a number of the City firms to promote the study of law at universities in order to sustain and increase the number of law graduates available. Over the years the Trust has contributed over £9 million as grants to approx. 70 higher educational establishments.

Sir Christopher Walford Lord Mayor of the City of London.

Sir Richard Nichols Lord Mayor of the City of London.

The Company bought the Freehold of 4 College Hill, London EC4 and operated its office from this address in conjunction with The City of London Law Society.

Affiliate membership extended to include overseas lawyers in the City, barristers, the judiciary and Fellows of the Institute of Legal Executives.

Sir Robert Finch Lord Mayor of the City of London.

Karen Richardson became the first lady Master of the Company.

City of London Law Society introduces Corporate Membership.

The City of London Law Society (CLLS) was established as an unincorporated association being separate but closely linked to the Company. This enabled the CLLS to offer corporate membership to City firms thus allowing it to represent the 15,000 solicitors practising in the square mile.
Sir David Lewis Lord Mayor of the City of London.

The Company celebrated its centenary with a Banquet at Mansion House.

Sir David Wootton Lord Mayor of the City of London.

Dame Fiona Woolf became the second Lady Lord Mayor for the City of London.

Alderman Vincent Keaveny CBE Lord Mayor of City of London.