Student Pro Bono Awards: shortlist announced
updated on 09 April 2018
The shortlist of nominees for the 2018 LawWorks and Attorney General’s Student Pro Bono Awards has been announced.
The prestigious awards celebrate the outstanding contributions of students and law schools to pro bono work, an increasingly vital area that is too often the only safety net stopping a vulnerable person having to represent themselves in court without help, or abandon a legitimate claim altogether, due to the government’s cuts to legal aid.
The ceremony will take place on Wednesday 25 April at the House of Commons, with the Attorney General, Jeremy Wright QC MP presenting students with their awards. The shortlist of nominees in each category is:
Best contribution by a law school
- Birmingham Law School - University of Birmingham
- Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice - Sheffield Hallam University
- Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law - Swansea University
- Nottingham Law School - Nottingham Trent University
- Plymouth University Law Clinic - Plymouth University
- Ulster University Law Clinic - Ulster University
- Queen Mary University of London, School of Law
Best contribution by an individual student
- Andrea Garvey - Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law - Swansea University
- Catherine Ruta - University of Birmingham
- Georgia Steaton – London South Bank University
- Maddison Redgwell - University of Westminster
- Niki Mehta - BPP Law School
- Rebecca Smith - University of Greenwich
- Samantha Maher - Manchester Metropolitan University
Best contribution by a team of students
- Birmingham Free Legal Advice Group Coordinators - University of Birmingham
- Legal Advocacy Support Project Team - Manchester Metropolitan University & Greater Manchester Law Centre
- Student Advice Team – London South Bank University legal advice clinic
- University of Exeter Access to Justice Clinic - University of Exeter Law School
- Employment Team project – The University of Manchester, Legal Advice Centre
Best New Pro Bono Activity
- Autism Law Service - Nottingham Law School Legal Advice Centre, Nottingham Trent University
- BPP Enterprise Legal Advice Clinic - BPP University
- Children's Social Care and SEND Clinic - University of Liverpool Law Clinic
- Liverpool Law Clinic Family Court Project - University of Liverpool
- The BPP Law Ambassadors Programme - BPP Pro Bono Centre
- The Family Justice Project - Northumbria Law School, Northumbria University
- The Miscarriages of Justice Review Centre - The University of Manchester
Access to Justice Foundation Award
- Edinburgh University Free Legal Advice Centre
- Plymouth Law Clinic
The judges for this year’s awards were:
- Christina Blacklaws, vice-president of the Law Society;
- Josh Richman, senior editor, LawCareers.Net;
- James Harper, executive sponsor, Rule of Law and CSR for LexisNexis UK & Ireland;
- Alison Padfield QC, co-chair of the Bar Council Pro Bono Panel; and
- Peter Farr, trustee of CILEx Pro Bono Trust.
Alasdair Douglas, chair of LawWorks commented: “The Student Awards recognise the incredible commitment and contribution of the many students and law schools providing pro bono legal advice. As well as making a valuable contribution to local communities, pro bono volunteering can bring many benefits and opportunities for students, including personal development and gaining legal knowledge and skills. Well done all those shortlisted – we look forward to seeing you at the Awards ceremony on 25 April.”
Congratulations to all the nominees from LCN – and if you think pro bono could be one of your passions, be sure to get involved and submit your activity for next year’s awards!
