The Holdsworth Club is the University of Birmingham Law School’s student law society. The Holdsworth Club was founded in 1927 and named after Sir William Holdsworth, by Professor C.E. Smalley-Baker who served as the first Dean of the University of Birmingham’s Faculty of Law between 1928 and 1949. Sir William Holdsworth was Smalley-Baker's mentor and had been an External Examiner at the University for several years.

After giving his name to the Law Faculty's Student Club (the names of Bacon, Coke and Blackstone having been considered and rejected) Sir William Holdsworth became its active Patron. In this role he attended and spoke at the Club's annual dinner, and he gave an annual presidential address. The establishment of the presidency of the Holdsworth Club as an annual office, involving the sole obligations of attending a dinner and giving a lecture, led to the Faculty gaining a distinguished line of visiting speakers, (which by 1948 already included two Lord Chancellors and two Masters of the Rolls).

Sir William Holdsworth remained Patron of the Club until his death in 1944 (after which there have been two more Patrons: Dean Smalley-Baker 1949-72; and Professor O Hood-Phillips 1974-86). The list of distinguished Presidents includes Lord Chancellors, such as Hailsham, father and son, Master of the Rolls, Denning (three times); Donaldson; Bingham; Green, the majority of the great Law Lords of the 20th Century and academic lawyers such as the International Lawyer Sir Arnold McNair and the American jurist Dean Roscoe Pound to whom the Golden Medal of the American Bar Association was awarded for 'conspicuous service to the cause of American jurisprudence' was presented in 1940. This medal is still worn by Holdsworth Presidents when delivering their Address. The vice president of the club is Mr George Applebey, Lecturer at Law. Its current chair is Christopher Snell.

 

The Holdsworth Club is made up of eleven committee members, who themselves are all current students of law. They are assisted by Mr George Applebey, Lecturer at Law and Holdsworth Vice President. The Club also has an annual President, a title reserved for those who are pre-eminent in the field of law. In the 80th year of the Holdsworth Club we were honoured to announce that Lord Walker of Gestingthorpe QC, senior Law Lord and former British barrister shall be our President. This year, our 81^st, we are proud to annouce that Lord Hope of Craighead is our President.

The role of the Holdsworth Club is that of a lawyer specific society based at the University of Birmingham. Not only does it enrich the experience of students whilst they are here, but it also benefits students by providing connections for when they graduate.

2008/2009 has undoubtedly been the best year ever.

Take a look at some of the events that The Holdsworth Club hosted in 2008/2009:
• The 5 Day Long Christmas Trip to Amsterdam
• Phantom of the Opera – The Law Ball 2009

• Bona Fide Weekend Event with Leeds, Manchester and UEA Universities
• Law Association Initiation Drinks (LAID) – THE UNIVERSITY WIDE INFAMOUS BAR CRAWL
• The Christmas Party 2008
• Alton Towers – The Halloween Fancy Dress Extravaganza
• “Call to the Bar”

This is just a sample of the social calendar of a lawyer. This year boasts to be bigger and better than ever! The Club ensures all major events are scheduled outside of busy academic points in the year (such as exams and essay deadlines).. meaning there is no excuse not to get involved with everything it has to offer.