History
The Cayman Islands Law Society was formed on 3 October 1967 by Arthur B. Hunter, Clifton Hunter, W.A. McLaughlin, W.S. Walker, Warren Conolly, Annie Bodden and J.D. Macdonald. The business of the Law Society is managed by the Council, which originally consisted of a President, Vice President and three members. The first members of the Council were Arthur B. Hunter (President), W.S. Walker (Vice President), Warren Conolly, Clifton Hunter and Annie Bodden. There were about 7 members of the Law Society on its inception in 1967 and at the beginning of 2007 the membership had increased to over 300 members, representing the growing number of attorneys in the Cayman Islands.
The Law Society was formed to support and protect the character, status and interest of the Legal Profession in the Cayman Islands; to promote honourable practice in the Legal Profession; to repress malpractice therein and to decide all question of professional usage or courtesy amongst Legal Practitioners; to consider all questions affecting the interests of the Legal Profession; to initiate and watch over general measures affecting the profession; if necessary to petition to the Government and Legislature of the Cayman Islands, the Judges and other persons and bodies in or out of the Cayman Islands; to promote and appoint deputations in relation thereto and to procure any changes of Law or practice relating to legal matters and the promotion of improvements in the principles and administration of the Law; to encourage the study of Law; to promote information on legal subjects; and among other things to create, maintain and/or manage a Benevolent Fund for the advancement or improvement of the status of Legal Practitioners in the Cayman Islands and of the persons employed by them.
In addition to the growth of its membership, the Law Society has also seen significant developments in its function. The Law Society, under the guide of its former President, Mr. Ramon Alberga, QC, initiated the publication of the Cayman Islands Law Reports, the first volume of which covered cases decided between 1984 and 1985.
