Shortlist announced for Student Pro Bono Awards 2019

The shortlist of nominees for the LawWorks and Attorney General Student Pro Bono Awards 2019 has been announced.

The awards celebrate the vital work of students and law schools in providing free legal advice to those in need who cannot afford to pay for it. Without student volunteers, the gaps left by cuts to legal aid funding would leave millions of people unable to access any form of justice.

Supported by the Attorney General, Geoffrey Cox QC MP, the awards ceremony will take place at the House of Commons on Wednesday 1 May. The nominees across the five awards categories are below:

Best contribution by a law school

• Brunel Law School, Brunel University, London
• Leicester Law School, University of Leicester
• Nottingham Law School, Nottingham Trent University
• School of Law, Queen Mary University of London
• School of Law, Ulster University
• School of Law, University of Manchester
• School of Law, University of South Wales

Best contribution by a team of students

• Access to Justice Advice Clinic and Immigration Law Clinic, University of Exeter Law School
• Cardiff Law School Innocence Project, Cardiff University
• Liverpool Law Clinic Family Court Project, University of Liverpool
• Refugee Family Reunion Project, Plymouth Law Clinic, University of Plymouth
• Swansea Law Clinic, Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law, Swansea University
• University of Strathclyde Law Clinic

Best contribution by an individual student

• Abigail Fernandes – Aston University
• Anthony Dillon – BPP Law School (London Holborn), BPP University
• Catherine Duggan – School of Law, University of Essex
• Giulia Mazzu – Dickson Poon School of Law, King’s College London
• Jessica Latham – Law School, Staffordshire University
• Martyna Proczek – School of Law, Aberdeen University
• Mozes Salvatore – Westminster Law School, University of Westminster

Best legal tech contribution

• Online Project, University of Strathclyde Law Clinic
• Open Justice Law Clinic, The Open University Law School

Best new student pro bono activity

• Anglia Law School Law Clinic, Anglia Ruskin University
• Anti-Trafficking Legal Project, Liverpool Law Clinic, University of Liverpool
• Business Law Clinic, University of Central Lancashire
• St Hilda’s East Legal Advice Clinic, St Hilda’s East Community Centre
• Staffordshire University Legal Advice Clinic, Staffordshire University
• University of South Wales Legal Advice Clinic, University of South Wales

The judges for the 2019 awards are:

• Christina Blacklaws, president, Law Society;
• Peter Farr, trustee, CILEx Pro Bono Trust;
• James Harper, executive sponsor, Rule of Law and CSR for LexisNexis UK & Ireland;
• Josh Richman, senior editor, LawCareers.Net; and
• Leanne Targett-Parker, chair, Bar Council Pro Bono Committee.

James Harper, executive sponsor of Rule of Law, CSR for LexisNexis UK & Ireland and chair of the awards judging panel said: "It is an honour to continue our long running support of these awards, as part of our central objective of advancing the rule of law. The standard of entries this year was incredibly high and is a reflection of the impressive, innovative and vital pro bono work being delivered across the country by students and law schools. We were particularly pleased to see entries for the new LegalTech contribution, reflecting the role that technology should play in improving how we address gaps in access to justice. Our heartfelt congratulations to all those nominated and shortlisted!"