The Law Society Charity
The Law Society Charity awards funding and works with other charitable organisations that aim to further justice, both in the UK and overseas.
A message from the Chair:
On 23 March, we announced that we were suspending some Law Society Charity activities from operating as usual. This is due to coronavirus (COVID-19) and the government's advice to organisations.
The Charity is very much alive and well and accepting donations, particularly of unclaimed client account balances. But its day-to-day operation has had to take second place to the day-to-day solicitors’ duty of supporting the rule of law and the legal system during these extraordinary times.
The Trustees will meet as soon as they can to consider the funding applications we've already received. We appreciate that many plans that may have been the basis for applications will have changed considerably since the onset of the virus.
We are unable to accept fresh funding applications at the moment. We'll announce on the website when we start to accept applications again.
Please bear with us and keep supporting us.
The Trustees would like to say thank you again to the many firms and individuals who have supported, and continue to support, the Law Society Charity in its valuable work for a cause we all believe in so passionately.
John Perry
9 June 2020
It is with great sadness that we report the death of our chairman John Perry who served the Charity faithfully for many years.
Joe Egan, Interim Chairman
13 October 2020
Who we are
The Law Society Trustees Ltd Charity is a small charitable fund that awards funding and works with other charitable organisations that aim to further justice, both in the UK and overseas.
Founded in 1974, the Charity acts independently of the Law Society but in close collaboration with it. Several of the trustees are members of the Law Society’s governing Council and committees.
What we do
We provide award funding and support to organisations working to promote human rights, access to justice and legal education in the public domain.
We also work with the Law Society’s Human Rights Committee, International team, the Access to Justice Foundation and Solicitors Regulation Authority Ethics team, to name a few of the cross-working relationships we’ve established with other organisations.
We participate in events at the Law Society with many of the communities, divisions and conferences.
We focus award support to registered charitable organisations who:
- are unable to obtain funding from elsewhere
- do not have established or significant income streams
- meet the needs of those from excluded, under-represented and disadvantaged groups
The Charity supports charitable organisations, objects or purposes. In accordance with our charter we're not allowed to support individuals seeking legal representation, support for their legal education or work experience.
We're unable to support requests from:
- Community Interest Companies
- start-ups without a year’s financial accounts
- concerns that are based outside the UK
- organisations that are already part of a larger network or foundation
How you can help
We need your support. We’re grateful to receive generous donations from law firms, private and public organisations, sole legal practitioners and anyone wishing to help. By donating residual or unclaimed client balances, you’ll be helping us to continue to support projects and services both in the UK and overseas.
We also accept personal donations as well as legacy donations.
Ways to donate
JustGiving
Visit our JustGiving page.
BACS Transfer
Barclays Bank account 00568449
Sort code 20 32 29
Email a breakdown of names and balances of the amount(s) to lawsocietycharity@lawsociety.org.uk, especially if they're over £500 for any single client balance(s).
No longer accepting cheques
We’ve had to change the way we work due to coronavirus (COVID-19). It’s easier for us to process your donation if you give through a BACS transfer or JustGiving and, as a result, we are no longer accepting cheques.
Download the donation form (Word 179 KB)
SRA rules on residual balances
However you choose to donate, if the amount is over £500 for a single client balance you need to get SRA approval by completing a withdrawal of residual client balances form. After you receive SRA approval, send a scanned copy of the approval to us with a list of names and balances. Single client balances over £500 are indemnified.
