Law School

The Hamlyn Trust

About the Hamlyn Trust

The Hamlyn Trust was created in 1948, by Miss Emma Hamlyn in memory of her father, a solicitor and Justice of the Peace in Torquay, Devon. The object of the Trust is to further knowledge and understanding of the law; this is achieved through an annual series of public lectures by distinguished judges, legal practitioners, academic lawyers and other eminent speakers. 

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Hamlyn Lectures

A red book with a white band across part of it. The words say The Hamlyn Lectures first series. Freedom under the Law. Sir Alfred Denning. Stevens.

The Hamlyn Lectures date back to the late 1940's. According to the Trust's chairman at the time, John Murray, the Hamlyn Trustees decided 'to organise courses of lectures of high interest and quality, by persons of eminence under the auspices of co-operating Universities with a view to the lectures being made available in book form to a wide public'. 

This first series was of four lectures given by the Rt. Hon. Lord Justice Denning in the Senate House of London University in October and November 1949 and they have continued every year since. 

The 2025 lectures will be delivered by Dame Sarah Worthington DBE, KC (Hon), FBA, FRSA, the details of which are on the Hamlyn Lectures webpage.

 

Lecture archive

Three books from the Hamlyn Lecture series featuring one by Jack Straw, Norman Anderson and Alfred Denning

Due to the generosity of Cambridge University Press, selected Hamlyn Lectures are available to read on this website.

The text of the 2017 lecture, ‘Thinking about Statutes: Interpretation, Interaction, Improvement’, delivered by Professor Andrew Burrows is now available.