History and Aims

The Haldane Society was founded in 1930. It is an organisation which provides a forum for the discussion and analysis of law and the legal system both nationally and internationally, from a socialist perspective. It is independent of any political party. Its membership consists of individuals who are lawyers, academics or students and legal workers, and it also has trade union and labour affiliates.

The Haldane Society is an active member of the European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and Human Rights (EALDH) and the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL).

Wigs and Workers: A History of the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers 1930-1980:

In 1980, to mark the Society's 50th anniversary, Nick Blake and Harry Rajak wrote "Wigs and Workers", a history of the Society's first 50 years.

Download pdf here.

History of the Haldane Society

Read a brief history of the Haldane Society in six sections:

• Origins
• Early programmes
• Post WWII: Progress vs. Red-Baiting
• The Sixties to Seventies
• Struggles of the Eighties
• New challenges, Old themes