Alumni
Established in 2018, the Alumni Relations Department is one of CULS's fastest growing branches. The Alumni Relations Department was founded on a simple premise: a CULS member's relationship with the Society should not end at graduation. In under a decade, the department has grown tremendously, amassing a database of nearly 3,800 alumni spanning every Cambridge college, and has expanded from hosting a single annual gathering into running a full programme that connects current students with alumni at every stage of the legal profession.
The department's flagship event is the Annual Alumni Student Dinner, a black tie evening bringing together CULS members and distinguished alumni over a formal three course dinner. The Annual Alumni Student Dinner has a strong track record of attracting senior figures from the bench as guests, including Lord Justice Stephen Males, an alumnus of St John's College who returned to Cambridge as guest speaker in 2026, as well as Baroness Hale, former President of the UK Supreme Court, who joined the dinner in 2023. Other guests have included judges from the Court of Appeal, prominent King's Counsel from chambers such as Blackstone Chambers, Fountain Court and Essex Court, and partners from leading law firms including Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, Weil, White & Case, Travers Smith and Hogan Lovells Cadwalader. Demand from students has grown alongside the calibre of guests, with the department receiving dozens of thoughtful applications each year from students keen to secure a seat at the event.
The department also runs the Student Mentorship Scheme, which pairs incoming freshers, whether they are studying law or a non-law subject, with seniors who can help them settle into life and study at Cambridge. In 2025/2026 alone, the scheme matched over 100 mentees with more than 65 mentors, reflecting strong engagement from students across the university. The Alumni Relations Department also oversees the Career Mentorship scheme, which pairs second and third year students with recent graduates, including trainees, pupils and junior barristers, who were in the mentee’s shoes not long ago. Our alumni mentors play a pivotal role in helping existing students in their vacation scheme and training contract or pupillage applications.
Underpinning both initiatives is the department's growing alumni network, maintained through continuous outreach to CULS's most distinguished graduates across the judiciary, the Bar and the solicitors' profession. Looking ahead, the department is focused on introducing regular alumni exclusive socials, as well as more frequent chances for students to meet and network with alumni, further strengthening the sense of community for CULS members from fresher, to graduate, to Silk.
Pro Bono
The Pro Bono Department reflects CULS's commitment to using legal knowledge in the service of the wider community. By connecting members with meaningful volunteering opportunities and public interest initiatives, the department seeks to promote access to justice while fostering a lasting commitment to professional responsibility and public service.
The department coordinates CULS's growing portfolio of pro bono projects, enabling members to apply their legal skills beyond the classroom while making a tangible contribution to individuals and communities. Current initiatives include death penalty casework research with Amicus ALJ, the International Law Book Facility's global legal textbook donation programme, and Law Corner internships, each providing valuable practical experience alongside meaningful social impact.
Alongside these established projects, the department continues to develop new partnerships with legal charities, advice clinics, and public interest organisations both within Cambridge and beyond. A key long-term ambition is the establishment of a community legal advice clinic in Cambridge, creating a lasting opportunity for CULS members to serve the local community while developing practical legal skills.
The department also delivers a flagship Pro Bono Speaker Series, welcoming leading practitioners, academics, and advocates working in legal aid, human rights, and public interest law. These events showcase the many ways in which legal careers can contribute to the public good while encouraging members to consider the broader social impact of the profession.
Each year, the department also hosts the CULS Pro Bono Awards, recognising the exceptional voluntary contributions made by members across the Society. Together, these initiatives reinforce CULS's belief that excellence in law is defined not only by academic achievement, but also by service to others.
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International Law Book Facility (ILBF): In partnership with the ILBF, we collect and ship legal books to not-for-profit organisations around the world, promoting access to legal education. In 2023-24, we packaged 111 boxes (around 700 books) for the Library of the Bolivian Senate; in 2024-25, we donated over 700 books to the West Ukrainian National University; and in 2025-26, we prepared around 50 boxes for two universities in Argentina.
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IPSEA: In 2025-26, we launched a new collaboration with IPSEA, a charity supporting families of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Our volunteers staff the Advice Line, assisting with general SEND enquiries, with the opportunity to support IPSEA's Tribunal work.
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Amicus ALJ: We work closely with Amicus, a UK legal charity supporting lawyers representing clients on death row in the United States, through two strands: the Amicus Missouri Project and Fundraising & Awareness. Through the Missouri Project, our student volunteers analyse homicide cases to document the disproportionate application of the death penalty, research that will underpin future advocacy. Our awareness events explore how capital punishment intersects with race, poverty, and mental illness.
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Citizens Advice Cambridge: In 2022, 2024, and 2025, we ran a partnership volunteering scheme with Citizens Advice Cambridge, creating student volunteer roles in social media and in Research & Campaigns.
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The Law Corner: Our longstanding partnership with the Law Corner most recently included organising internship training sessions.
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Pro Bono Awards: Since 2021, we have hosted an annual Pro Bono Awards ceremony celebrating the pro bono contributions of Cambridge students.
Our recent Pro Bono projects
Speakers
The Speakers Department delivers CULS's flagship lecture programme, continuing a tradition that has defined the Society since 1921. Through lectures, panel discussions, and debates featuring leading judges, practitioners, academics, and public figures, the department provides members with opportunities to engage with the legal issues shaping the profession today.
Our events are designed to complement and enrich the academic experience of both law and non-law students. Alongside keynote addresses from distinguished legal figures, the department hosts discussions exploring contemporary developments across the Law Tripos, providing valuable insight into how legal principles continue to evolve in response to new challenges and emerging areas of practice.
CULS has welcomed an exceptional range of speakers over the years, including Lord Richards of the UK Supreme Court, Baroness Hale, former President of the UK Supreme Court and Honorary President of CULS, and Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch. These events offer members the opportunity to hear directly from individuals at the forefront of legal practice, policymaking, and academic scholarship.
The department is committed to ensuring that its programme reflects the breadth and diversity of the modern legal profession. By bringing together speakers from a wide range of professional backgrounds, practice areas, and perspectives, we seek to foster informed discussion while exposing members to the many paths available within the law.
Particular emphasis is placed on the legal questions shaping contemporary practice, from constitutional developments and human rights to the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. Through these discussions, the Speakers Department aims to encourage thoughtful debate, intellectual curiosity, and a deeper understanding of the law beyond the classroom.
Suggestions for future speakers and topics are always welcomed, and we look forward to continuing CULS's long tradition of hosting some of the legal profession's most distinguished voices.
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