1879 |
The Law Society was created on 13
October 1879 as an unincorporated association. The committee was formed
on this day and present were Messrs Bundey (Chair), Ayers, Moulden,
Labatte, Barlow, Bakewell, Sheridan and Hardy. |
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1880 |
First Annual General Meeting held on 30 June at
Malborough Chambers, Waymouth St. |
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1883 |
First Rules repealed by the New Rules
operational 1 January.
Law Society with the University of Adelaide established a Faculty of
Law.
Membership: Over 60 members. |
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1885 |
Meetings of the Law Society held at Central
Chambers, King William St until 1893. |
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1894 |
Meetings of the Law Society held at the office
of the Honourable Secretary, James Henderson, 14 Waymouth St |
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1904 |
Meetings of the Law Society held at the office
of Honourable Secretary, PE Johnstone, 38 Currie St until 1908 |
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1909 |
Meetings held at the office of the Honourable
Secretary, CA Edmunds, Bank of New Zealand Chambers, Pirie St |
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1911 |
The Female Law Practitioners Act was
passed, permitting women to practise law in South Australia. |
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1915 |
The Society gained statutory incorporation in the Law
Society Act 1915 improving the Society’s status and providing for
the appointment of a Statutory Committee to investigate complaints
against practitioners |
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1917 |
Membership: Approx 120 members |
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1920 |
The Lawbook Company takes over the publication
of the State Law Reports |
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1924 |
Membership: 153 members |
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1933 |
Meetings of the Society held at the Commercial
Bank Chambers, King William St.
The Law Society reaches an agreement with the State Government to
administer a legal assistance scheme and is implemented in 1936 when the Poor
Persons Legal Assistance Act is passed. This scheme was in place
until the Legal Services Commission was established in 1979. |
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1936 |
Membership: 182 members |
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1938 |
Sir George Murray gifts 10,000 pounds to
establish for the members of the Society a library. The library is
named ‘The Murray Law Library’. |
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1940 |
The Law Society once again undertakes to
maintain the Red Cross Bureau for Wounded, Missing and Prisoners of
War. 55 members engaged in war service in 1940 and by 1942 the
number had risen to over 100. A number of law students were also
engaged in war service. The Law Society provided free legal aid to
members of the active forces (mainly in the preparation of wills).
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1941 |
Membership: 243 members |
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1942 |
When the threat from the Japanese was at its
height some of the library’s collection was moved to the Sleeps Hill
Tunnel for safe keeping. |
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1947/1948 |
The first woman Secretary of the Society, Miss
Sesca Anderson (later Mrs Zelling) was appointed. She resigned upon her
marriage but continued for sometime as acting Secretary. |
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1948 |
From about 1948 the premises of the Society were
at the Exchange Building, 26 Pirie St (renamed the Commercial Union
Building in 1952).
The first edition of the Law Society Judgment Scheme published. |
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1962 |
Membership: 381 members
The Law Society moves to Mutual Life Chambers, 44 Grenfell St. |
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1963/1964 |
Roma Mitchell appointed Vice President for two
years 1963/64 to 1964/65 but does not become the Society’s first woman
as she is appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court. |
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1968 |
Membership at 475 members. |
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1967 |
The Law Society Bulletin was published
for the first time. |
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1972 |
The new Legal Practitioners Act. |
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1979 |
The Law Society purchases its own premises in
Gilbert Street. |
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1982 |
Opening of Law Society House, Gilbert Place. |
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1988 |
The Law Society purchases new premises in
Waymouth Street. |
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1989 |
The Society relocates to 124 Waymouth Street. |
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1989 |
The Murray Law Library celebrates its 50 year
anniversary |
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1990 |
In May 1990 the Chief Justice officially opens
Law Society House |
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1992 |
Membership: 1723 |
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1994 |
The Practical Legal Training course commences |
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1994 |
The Legal Practitioners Professional Indemnity Insurance Scheme established, pursuant to s 52 of the Legal Practitioners Act |
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1998 |
The Law Society’s website is launched |
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1999 |
The Law Society President’s Points of Law Column
is published in The Advertiser |
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1999 |
The Law Society is given accreditation for its
GDLP course and the the Legal Practice Centre at Franklin St opens |
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2000 |
The Law Society premises at Waymouth St are sold |
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2001 |
Membership: 2324 |
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2004 |
The Law Society celebrates its 125th year
anniversary |
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2008 |
Membership: 3061 |
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2012 |
Christopher Kourakis is appointed as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of South Australia - he is the first past Law Society President to be appointed Chief Justice |
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2014
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The Society moves to new premises at 178 North Terrace |
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2017 |
Publication of the Law Society Judgement Scheme ceases |
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2018 |
Membership: 4091 |