180 years of the Worcestershire Law Society - part two

180 years of the Worcestershire Law Society (founded 1841)

Summary of Worcestershire Law Society Minutes from 1947 to 1978 by David Hallmark

There is a p e r s o n a l dimension to this essay in that at the beginning of the period my father RS

David Hallmark Hallmark is admitted to the Society and at the end I am; thus covering two generations in one family whilst also covering the careers of many local lawyer personalities. Throughout this period of the history of the Society it was known as the Worcester and Worcestershire Incorporated Law Society. Under my Presidency we adopted the name change to the present Worcestershire Law Society. That emphasis of continuing evolution and of change is represented in the records under this review. Others will cover earlier years from 1882 and later years to today.

The opening Minutes relate to 15 April 1947. In historical context World War 2 had been ended only two years previously and many members had served in uniform overseas in military combat. This included Col. Roy Harrison and my father Captain Robert Hallmark who was decorated by Mentioned in Despatches for his bravery. My father had to complete his qualification and articles as he had joined in 1939, the year he had graduated from Birmingham University. Those six years ended with his final military role assembling evidence of war crimes related to the conditions in Belsen Camp which he had entered to liberate with others from 43 Wessex Div. He would not speak of the horrors he witnessed. For all those returning to civilian life and professional lawyer work it must have seemed like a new beginning and in very different circumstances. Some members had served in the First World War such as J Lionel Wood and WL Curtler.

The names at the Committee Meeting are names of the history of firms, such as Johnston as President and FW Stallard and EC Harrison and FR Russell and WL Curtler and Huzzey as Hon Sec. More names will arrive as the story unfolds.

1947 – Roy Harrison was appointed Deputy Lieutenant – “unique for member of the profession in Worcestershire”; the Committee debate was whether the same solicitor could act for seller and buyer.

1948 – Hugh McNaught was accused of touting and blamed his clerk; the West Midlands Association of Law Societies became operational; the Law Library was at Pierpoint Street; the Companies Act 1948 needed lectures in Birmingham; the use of newspaper advertisements naming law firms needed Law Society consent.

1949 – the Legal Aid Bill was discussed; articled clerks wanted law lectures but this was considered too expensive; the issue of recovery of costs by a nonassisted litigant against an assisted legal aid litigant was discussed; the 1949 Conditions of Sale were noted; at the 64th AGM 1949 RS Hallmark and AD Clark were admitted members; the Law Library was to move to the Shire Hall.

1950 – the Committee focused on Minimum Scale Fees and Press Announcements being used as advertising; AGM in 1950; the formation of a Law Students’ Society; the Poor Persons Committee dealt with 61 applications and the Legal Aid Act to come into force in October; on 28 May 1951 the Committee dealt with a complaint that bank managers were pressuring their customers to appoint banks as executors; the Committee resolved to tell the Banks “to restrain the enthusiasm of the managers”.

1953 – the Worcestershire Law Society made grants to professional students; the Town Clerk wrote about the revised form of Local Searches. 1954 – the Solicitors Benevolent Association was recommended.

1957 – John Stallard attended a meeting to celebrate his 100th birthday and the oldest practising solicitor in the country.

1958 – topics were Conveyancing Scale fees, the Royal Commission on assizes, Touting by Estate Agents and the merit of institutional advertising; Law Society Refresher Courses Tapes at £ 1.00 each.

1961 – this saw the death of John Stallard; a dinner was organised at the Worcestershire Hotel.

1963 – there were 78 members.

1964 – the plea for provincial schools of law and the success of the Institute of Legal Executives; several firms were closing on Saturday mornings; new members Hickman Suckling, Thursfield Holyoake and Simpson Soper.

1966 – new members Bill Stallard, Sam Driver White, Adrian Gaynor Smith; Basil Edwards takes chair; Eric Dickinson Hon Sec.

1967 – Annual Dinner tickets are £2.15.

1967 – extra GM resolves to resist reduction in scale fees for divorce or members will decline to participate.

1968 – Legal Aid hourly rate 3-4-5 guineas.

1969 – lecture on the Theft Act by Clerk EC Crangle; 115 members; recommended scale wages £8 per week graduates and £6 per week non-graduates, increasing £2 yearly.

1970 – AGM; Magistrates’ Courts costs proposed at £25 for dangerous driving, £25 for careless driving and £18 for inquests; more firms were noted as using telex; the Severn and Wye Law Students Society began.

1971 – Duncan and David Harrison