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From 1858 to today: The story of The Solicitors’ Charity

The Solicitors’ Charity has been supporting solicitors and their families for nearly 170 years. What began as a small benevolent association in Victorian Britain has grown into a charity supporting the financial, emotional, physical and professional wellbeing of solicitors across England and Wales.  

Our history reflects how both the legal profession and the challenges facing its people have changed.

A profession looking after its own.

The story begins in Liverpool in 1856, when members of the legal profession first discussed creating an organisation to help solicitors and their families experiencing hardship. By 1858, the Solicitors’ Benevolent Association had held its first meeting in Blackfriars, London. Nearly 200 members joined during that first year, raising £2,000 to get the work started.  

The first grants followed in 1861, and by 1863, support had been extended to solicitors and their families who weren’t members of the Association. It was an early recognition that difficult circumstances could affect anyone in the profession. 

Helping families through difficult decades. 

As the years passed, the Charity’s work reflected the pressures of the time. During the First World War, many members joined the armed forces and demand for assistance grew. In 1927, the Charity introduced school fee grants to help children continue their education when their families faced hardship. 

During the Second World War, international support networks provided food parcels for elderly and vulnerable solicitors struggling to access supplies. By 1958, the Charity had reached its centenary, with over 8,000 subscribers and more than £1 million distributed in relief since its founding. 

Recognising the changing needs of solicitors.

Financial assistance remained central to the Charity’s work, but the challenges facing solicitors were becoming increasingly varied. A significant development came in 2012, when a formal partnership with LawCare began, providing specialist support for solicitors experiencing mental health challenges. In 2020, the organisation adopted the name The Solicitors’ Charity and introduced emergency grants during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Two years later, support expanded further to address four areas of wellbeing: emotional, physical, professional, and financial. This brought additional services, including access to therapy, money management advice and career coaching. 

Continuing the work today.

The Charity has continued to strengthen its partnerships and develop the support available to the profession. In 2025, its longstanding partnership with LawCare received the Association of Charitable Organisations’ Collaboration of the Year Award. In 2026, Dr I. Stephanie Boyce CBE, former President of The Law Society, was appointed Chair. 

Much has changed since those first conversations in Liverpool. The profession looks different, the pressures have evolved and the support available today goes far beyond the original grants. But the reason The Solicitors’ Charity was established remains just as relevant: to make sure solicitors and their families have somewhere to turn when they need help. 

Explore our interactive timeline to discover more of the milestones that have shaped The Solicitors’ Charity since 1858.  

Find out more and see our timeline