Student Pro Bono Awards 2021 nominations revealed

The shortlist of students and law schools nominated for the 2021 LawWorks and Attorney General’s Student Pro Bono Awards has been announced.

The awards, sponsored by LexisNexis, celebrate the efforts of law students and law schools to provide access to legal assistance to those in need who cannot afford to pay for it themselves. This year’s nominees undertook a vast variety of important work, from providing family law and benefits appeals assistance in their local communities, to business advice to start-ups launched by refugees.

The nominees will be celebrated at a virtual awards ceremony on 12 May at 5:00pm, with the Attorney General, Michael Ellis QC MP.

The 2021 nominees are:

Best contribution by a team of students

• Streetlaw Online Student Team, BPP University Law School Pro Bono Centre
• Cardiff Innocence Project Student Team Leaders, Cardiff University
• Talking Legal Student Society Committee, The University of Law (Nottingham)
• The Family Law Clinic team, University of Plymouth Law Clinic
• Initial Advice Clinic, University of Strathclyde Law Clinic

Best new pro bono activity

• Legal Advice Centre, University of Bolton
• Dads House Legal Clinic
• King's IP Clinic, King's Legal Clinic, King's College London
• The Protea Clinic, King's Legal Clinic, King's College London
• The Justice Hub Virtual Vacation Scheme, The University of Manchester
• Midlands Employment Rights Advice Line, The University of Law
• University of London Refugee Law Clinic
• Staffordshire University Legal Advice Centre, Staffordshire University

Best contribution by an individual

• Molly Brown, Nottingham Trent University
• Sonia Gandhi, University of Leicester
• Natasha Godsiff, University of Cambridge
• Amanda Ignatia, Dickson Poon School of Law, King’s College London
• Annabel Pike, University of Essex

Best contribution by a law school

• Aston Law Clinic, Aston University
• Hertfordshire Law School
• University of Law
• Nottingham Law School Legal Advice Centre, Nottingham Trent University
• University of Plymouth Law Clinic
• Refugee Rights Hub, Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice at Sheffield Hallam University
• UCL Centre for Access to Justice
• Ulster University Law Clinic

Access to Justice Foundation Award

The Access to Justice Foundation award for an educational body or student making a significant contribution will also be announced at the ceremony; the shortlist is:

• Cambridge University Law Society (Pro Bono Department)
• School of Law, University of Leeds
• Pro Bono Centre, BPP University
• John Watkins, The University of Law (Guildford)
• University of Plymouth Law Clinic
• Ulster University Law Clinic

The judges for the 2021 Awards are:

• Simon Davis, former president the Law Society of England and Wales;
• Peter Farr, head of civil law policy, Ministry of Justice;
• James Harper, executive sponsor, Rule of Law and CSR for LexisNexis UK & Ireland;
• Joshua Richman, senior editor, LawCareers.Net;
• Leanne Targett-Parker, chair, Bar Council Pro Bono Committee; and
• Rohini Teather, head of Parliamentary affairs, Legal Aid Practitioners Group.

Alasdair Douglas, chair of LawWorks said: “Congratulations to all those shortlisted for the LawWorks and Attorney General Student Pro Bono Awards – it's been clear from the large number of nominations that, despite the pandemic, pro bono initiatives are thriving at UK law schools. I'd like to thank the judges for their time – choosing from so many excellent and high-quality nominations is a difficult task. But, above all, thank you to all those nominated for their commitment to helping those in need of legal support."