Founded in 1835, Dorset Law Society is one of the oldest local law societies in the country and pre-dates the national Law Society in London. Our coat of arms is the old county badge of Dorset, acknowledging the society’s heritage.
Dorchester, the county town, is an historic legal centre. In 1685 Judge Jeffreys held his ‘Bloody Assizes’ here after the suppression of the Monmouth Rebellion and the ‘Tolpuddle martyrs’ were tried at Dorchester Crown Court and sentenced to be transported to Australia for swearing an oath of allegiance other than to the King.
The Dorset Law Society archive dates back to the mid-nineteenth century and is on permanent loan to the national Law Society’s library. The Society has a fine reputation for the quality of its annual dinner and the menu book records the foods and wines consumed over the years.
A democratic organisation. The President, office-holders and committee are elected at the AGM each year. Dorset Law Society is an active member of the Southern Area Association of Law Societies, and is represented on the national Law Society Council through its elected Council member.