**REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 282719**
**Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 May 2024 for Society of Legal Scholars in the United Kingdom and Ireland**
The Kelvin Partnership Ltd Chartered Accountants The Cooper Building 505 Great Western Road Glasgow G12 8HN
## **Society of Legal Scholars in the United Kingdom and Ireland**
**Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 May 2024**
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Page
Report of the Trustees 1 to 2
Independent Examiner's Report 3
Statement of Financial Activities 4
Balance Sheet 5 to 6
Notes to the Financial Statements 7 to 12
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities 13 to 14
29/01/25 09:34
DRAFT
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## **Society of Legal Scholars in the United Kingdom and Ireland**
## **Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 May 2024**
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 May 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Objectives and aims**
The main object of the Society is the advancement of legal education and scholarship in the United Kingdom and Ireland. During 2023/24, membership fluctuated at around 2,800 as new members joined and a number of deemed and other resignations took place. The membership comprises some 2,300 staff at law schools in the United Kingdom and Ireland and Associate members in overseas law schools, usually in common law institutions, and a smaller number of Emeritus and Honorary members. Legal practitioners who are involved in legal scholarship are eligible to join the Society as Ordinary members, or Associate members if overseas. In addition, barristers' chambers, solicitors' firms and law publishers may join the Society as Patrons.
- fluctuated at around 2,800 as new members joined
- membership comprises some 2,300 staff at law schools overseas law schools, usually in common law Legal practitioners who are involved in legal members if overseas. In addition, barristers'
- journal 'Legal Studies' (recognised as one of
- the SLS Annual Seminar Series, a high-profile series Prize, named after Professor Peter Birks FBA, a
- SLS Research Activities Fund to assist members to
- SLS Small Projects Fund to assist legal scholarship academic legal profession in discussions and negotiations
## **ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE**
## **Charitable activities**
The Society successfully pursued its primary functions throughout the year. These included:
• managing 28 subject sections, providing networks for those interested in the same specialist areas of legal study;
• hosting its Annual Conference, which in 2023/24 took place at Oxford Brookes University in July 2023;
• publishing the Society's peer-reviewed journal 'Legal Studies' (recognised as one of the leading UK academic law journals);
• publishing its biannual members' journal, The Reporter;
• providing financial support for the SLS Annual Seminar Series, a high-profile series attracting leading scholars on specialist subjects from home and abroad; • awarding the annual Birks Book Prize, named after Professor Peter Birks FBA, a former Hon Secretary and President of the SLS; • providing grants through the SLS Research Activities Fund to assist members to undertake research or other scholarly activity;
• providing grants through the SLS Small Projects Fund to assist legal scholarship other than is covered by the Research Activities Fund; • representing the interests of the academic legal profession in discussions and negotiations with Government and the professional legal bodies on matters as diverse as the provision of resources to law schools, judicial appointments, legal education and training, law reform, and its relationship with legal practitioners and training.
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
## **Financial Review**
The net result for the year was a net outflow of funds of £24,628 (2022/23 - outflow of £875), resulting in a decrease in reserves to £364,641 (2022/23 - £389,269).
Policy on Reserves: The Society's reserves policy is to hold in its capital account a sum that is sufficient to meet three months' expenditure assuming no further income. At present this would not exceed £84K and so the reserves substantially exceed the required amount.
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Governing document**
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust and constitutes an unincorporated charity.
Page 1
## **Society of Legal Scholars in the United Kingdom and Ireland**
**Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 May 2024 REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number** 282719 **Principal address** PO Box 3017 BRISTOL BS6 9HJ **Trustees** Professor N Gravells Professor S Worthington Professor A Paterson **Independent Examiner** C M Fotheringham BSc CA The Kelvin Partnership Ltd Chartered Accountants The Cooper Building 505 Great Western Road Glasgow G12 8HN **Bankers** National Westminster Bank plc Tavistock House Tavistock Square London WC1H 9JA Approved by order of the board of trustees on ............................................. and signed on its behalf by: ....................................................................... Professor N Gravells - Trustee
Page 2
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Society of Legal Scholars in the United Kingdom and Ireland**
## **Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Society of Legal Scholars in the United Kingdom and Ireland**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Society of Legal Scholars in the United Kingdom and Ireland (the Trust) for the year ended 31 May 2024.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
- exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member
- the examination because I am a member of the Institute I confirm that no material matters with the applicable requirements concerning the form and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any
- across no other matters in connection with the
## **Independent examiner's statement**
Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
C M Fotheringham BSc CA
The Kelvin Partnership Ltd Chartered Accountants The Cooper Building 505 Great Western Road Glasgow G12 8HN
Date: .............................................
Page 3
## **Society of Legal Scholars in the United Kingdom and Ireland**
**Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 May 2024**
|**DRAFT**
**29/01/25 09:34**
31.5.24
Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
90
**Charitable activities**
Direct charitable income
117,330
Other trading activities
2
181,188
Investment income
3
11,475
**Total**
310,083
**EXPENDITURE ON**
**Charitable activities**
4
Direct charitable expenditure
334,895
Net gains/(losses) on investments
184
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
(24,628)
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
389,269
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
364,641|31.5.23
Total
funds
£
106
124,530
182,720
6,881
314,237
310,936
(4,176)
(875)
390,144
389,269|
|---|---|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 4
## **Society of Legal Scholars in the United Kingdom and Ireland**
**Balance Sheet 31 May 2024**
|**DRAFT**
**29/01/25 09:34**
31.5.24
Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
8
266
Investments
9
170,008
170,274
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Debtors
10
27,568
Cash at bank
169,439
197,007
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due within one year
11
(2,640)
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
194,367
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT**
**LIABILITIES**
364,641
**NET ASSETS**
364,641|31.5.23
Total
funds
£
622
169,824
170,446
18,957
208,466
227,423
(8,600)
218,823
389,269
389,269|
|---|---|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 5
continued...
## **Society of Legal Scholars in the United Kingdom and Ireland**
**Balance Sheet - continued 31 May 2024**
**FUNDS** Unrestricted funds
## **TOTAL FUNDS**
|12|364,641
364,641|389,269|
|---|---|---|
|||389,269|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on ............................................. and were signed on its behalf by:
............................................. S Worthington - Trustee ............................................. N Gravells - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 6
## **Society of Legal Scholars in the United Kingdom and Ireland**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 May 2024**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **Basis of preparing the financial statements**
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with the exception of investments which are included at market value, as modified by the revaluation of certain assets.
convention, with the exception of investments which are included at market value, as modified by the revaluation of certain assets. **Income** All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. **Expenditure** Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. **Tangible fixed assets** Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life. Computer equipment - 33% on cost **Taxation** The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
## **Investments**
Investments are carried in the balance sheet at market value.
The statement of recognised gains or losses includes gains and losses on the revaluation of investments.
continued...
Page 7
## **Society of Legal Scholars in the United Kingdom and Ireland**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 May 2024**
|**DRAF**
**29/01/25 0**
**2.**
**OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES**
Conference
**3.**
**INVESTMENT INCOME**
Deposit account interest
Dividends
**4.**
**CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS**
Direct charitable expenditure
**5.**
**DIRECT COSTS OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES**
Journals
Administration
Postage and stationery
Insurance
Seminars
President's reception
Conference costs
Research activities fund
Business meetings
SLS prizes
Website
Small projects and events fund
Archiving and storage
Subscriptions
Survey costs
Depreciation|**T**
**9:34**
Direct
Costs (see
note 5)
£
320,956|31.5.24
£
181,188
31.5.24
£
2,643
8,832
11,475
Support
costs
£
13,939
31.5.24
£
8,436
30,838
837
1,096
9,029
5,282
185,408
31,405
3,306
2,600
17,921
23,699
743
-
-
356
320,956|31.5.23
£
182,720|
|---|---|---|---|
||||31.5.23
£
1,267
5,614
6,881
Totals
£
334,895|
||||31.5.23
£
499
31,610
653
606
5,876
4,709
195,233
12,966
2,890
2,200
16,630
18,990
364
893
2,000
356|
||||296,475|
continued...
Page 8
## **Society of Legal Scholars in the United Kingdom and Ireland**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 May 2024**
## **6. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 May 2024 nor for the year ended 31 May 2023.
## **Trustees' expenses**
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 May 2024 nor for the year ended 31 May 2023.
**COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (2021/22)** Unrestricted fund £ **INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM** Donations and legacies 106 **Charitable activities** Direct charitable income 124,530 Other trading activities 182,720 Investment income 6,881 **Total** 314,237 **EXPENDITURE ON Charitable activities** Direct charitable expenditure 310,936 Net gains/(losses) on investments (4,176) **NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)** (875) **RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS** Total funds brought forward 390,144 **TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD** 389,269
## **7. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (2021/22)**
continued...
Page 9
## **Society of Legal Scholars in the United Kingdom and Ireland**
**Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 May 2024**
## **8. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**
Computer equipment £ **COST** At 1 June 2023 and 31 May 2024 1,067 **DEPRECIATION** At 1 June 2023 445 Charge for year 356 At 31 May 2024 801 **NET BOOK VALUE** At 31 May 2024 266 At 31 May 2023 622 **9. FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS** Listed investments £ **MARKET VALUE** At 1 June 2023 169,824 Revaluations 184 At 31 May 2024 170,008 **NET BOOK VALUE** At 31 May 2024 170,008 At 31 May 2023 169,824
There were no investment assets outside the UK.
continued...
Page 10
## **Society of Legal Scholars in the United Kingdom and Ireland**
**Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 May 2024**
|**DRAFT**
**29/01/25 09:34**
**10.**
**DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Trade debtors
Other debtors
Prepayments
**11.**
**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Other creditors
**12.**
**MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
At 1.6.23
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
389,269
**TOTAL FUNDS**
389,269
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming
Resources
resources
expended
£
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
310,083
(334,895)
**TOTAL FUNDS**
310,083
(334,895)|31.5.24
31.5.23
£
£
27,555
18,016
13
-
-
941
27,568
18,957
31.5.24
31.5.23
£
£
2,640
8,600
Net
movement
At
in funds
31.5.24
£
£
(24,628)
364,641
(24,628)
364,641
Gains and
Movement
losses
in funds
£
£
184
(24,628)
184
(24,628)|
|---|---|
continued...
Page 11
## **Society of Legal Scholars in the United Kingdom and Ireland**
**Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 May 2024**
## **12. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
## **Comparatives for movement in funds**
|**DRAFT**
**29/01/25 09:34**
At 1.6.22
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
390,144
**TOTAL FUNDS**
390,144
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming
Resources
resources
expended
£
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
314,237
(310,936)
**TOTAL FUNDS**
314,237
(310,936)
**13.**
**RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES**
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 May 2024.|Net
movement
At
in funds
31.5.23
£
£
(875)
389,269
(875)
389,269
Gains and
Movement
losses
in funds
£
£
(4,176)
(875)
(4,176)
(875)|
|---|---|
Page 12
## **Society of Legal Scholars in the United Kingdom and Ireland**
## **Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 May 2024**
||**Detailed Statement of Financial Activities**
**for the Year Ended 31 May 2024**|||
|---|---|---|---|
|||31.5.24|31.5.23|
|||£|£|
|**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS**||||
|**Donations and legacies**||||
|Seminars - Royalties||90|106|
|**Other trading activities**||||
|Conference||181,188|182,720|
|**Investment income**
Deposit account interest
Dividends
**Charitable activities**
Subscriptions - members
Legal studies
Reporters/journals
Advertising
**Total incoming resources**
**EXPENDITURE**
**Charitable activities**
Journals
Administration
Postage and stationery
Insurance|**DRAFT**
**29/01/25 09:34**|2,643
8,832
11,475
104,865
11,069
900
496
117,330
310,083
8,436
30,838
837
1,096|1,267
5,614
6,881
96,537
26,110
900
983
124,530
314,237
499
31,610
653
606|
|Seminars||9,029|5,876|
|President's reception||5,282|4,709|
|Conference costs||185,408|195,233|
|Research activities fund||31,405|12,966|
|Business meetings||3,306|2,890|
|SLS prizes||2,600|2,200|
|Website||17,921|16,630|
|Carried forward||296,158|273,872|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 13
## **Society of Legal Scholars in the United Kingdom and Ireland**
||**Detailed Statement of Financial Activities**|||
|---|---|---|---|
||**for the Year Ended 31 May 2024**|||
|||31.5.24|31.5.23|
|||£|£|
|**Charitable activities**||||
|Brought forward||296,158|273,872|
|Small projects and events fund||23,699|18,990|
|Archiving and storage||743|364|
|Subscriptions||-|893|
|Survey costs||-|2,000|
|Computer equipment||356|356|
|**DRAFT**
**29/01/25 09:34**
**Support costs**
**Governance costs**
Independent examiner's fee
Administration
Bank charges
Total resources expended
**Net (expenditure)/income before gains and**
**losses**
**Realised recognised gains and losses**
Realised gains/(losses) on fixed asset
investments
**Net expenditure**||320,956
2,640
10,279
1,020
13,939
334,895
(24,812)
184
(24,628)|296,475
2,520
10,536
1,405
14,461
310,936
3,301
(4,176)
(875)|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 14