Tuesday 7 October 2025
To mark the sixtieth anniversary of the Law Commissions Act 1965, Lord Justice Bean, a former Chair of the Law Commission, will deliver a lecture to the Middle Temple Historical Society on October 7, 2025.
Lord Justice Bean will proffer a historical assessment of the Law Commission’s work since its establishment that will be relevant to practitioners, judges, and academics involved in statutory reform and the development of the law in England and Wales.
The lecture will provide a concise overview of the legislative background to the Law Commissions Act 1965, followed by an examination of the Commission’s early substantive reform initiatives. Particular attention will be given to the enduring influence of these foundational projects, as evidenced by Commission reports subsequently enacted into law.
Lord Justice Bean will provide insights into how the Law Commission develops a programme of law reform, drawing on consultation papers and the final reports produced by the Commission. He will also examine how these reports are enacted through the Special Public Bill Committee Procedure.
Upon the conclusion of the lecture, Prof. Jeremy Horder, LLD, FBA and Honorary Bencher of Middle Temple, and a former Law Commissioner will lead a discussion with Lord Justice Bean on the topics discussed within the lecture. The event will conclude with a question-and-answer session.