As we celebrate the first Justice week, the shortlist gives a snapshot of the contribution that the firms, individual lawyers and pro bono clinics make to access to justice in an increasingly challenging environment for the justice system. The finalists represent the breadth and range of pro bono activity undertaken by LawWorks members and others in England and Wales.
To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Access to Justice Foundation, the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Access to Justice’ Award recognises the individual, project or organisation who has made a significant contribution to the access to justice field during the last ten years.
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony and reception at the Law Society on Monday 3rd December 2018. The annual Awards lecture will be given by Rt Hon David Lammy MP, and the evening will be hosted by Clive Coleman, the BBC's Legal Correspondent.
Alasdair Douglas, Chair of the LawWorks Board of Trustees, said:
“The LawWorks Pro Bono Awards acknowledge and celebrate the commitment of law firms, in-house teams and the many individuals who volunteer their time and expertise to improve the lives of others. I congratulate all the finalists and would also like to thank everyone who took the time to nominate, and to the judges.”
Christina Blacklaws, President of the Law Society of England and Wales and LawWorks trustee said:
“I am so proud of the scale and range of the pro bono activity undertaken by lawyers every year. The LawWorks awards recognise the often unsung work our profession does for the public good, making an important contribution for those in need of vital legal advice. On behalf of the Law Society I congratulate all the shortlisted nominees, and thank every lawyer undertaking pro bono for their commitment to justice.”
James Harper, Executive Sponsor of Rule of Law initiatives at LexisNexis commented:
“Advancing the Rule of Law is LexisNexis’s global central objective – including the principles that all should be equal in the face of the law and all should have access to justice – and this would be impossible without the pro bono efforts made by the legal community up and down the country. We are therefore delighted to continue our long-running association with LawWorks in sponsoring these Awards again. The Awards celebrate and promote the fantastic, selfless and inspiring actions of many and we warmly congratulate all those nominated and shortlisted for their tireless efforts. Looking forward to celebrating with you all on 3rd December!”
The judging panel for the 2018 Pro Bono awards comprised: Adele Edwin-Lamerton, Chair, Junior Lawyers Division; the Counsel General for Wales, Jeremy Miles AM; Chris Minnoch, Operations Director, Legal Aid Practitioners Group; Dame Janet Smith, Trustee, Access to Justice Foundation; and Paul Rogerson, Editor-in-chief, Law Society Gazette.
The shortlisted nominees are:
Best Contribution by a Small Firm
- Fry Law
- PAPA Legal
- Tyrer Roxburgh Solicitors
Best Contribution by a Firm with an English Head Office
- Bates Wells Braithwaite
- Duncan Lewis Solicitors
- Howard Kennedy
- Irwin Mitchell
Best Contribution by an International Firm
- Allen & Overy
- Ashurst
- Cooley
- Kirkland & Ellis
- Sidley Austin
Best Contribution by an In-House Team
- Barclays Bank plc
- Visa
Best Contribution by an Individual
- Jill Davies (Shoosmiths)
- Chris Fry (Fry Law)
- Gareth Keillor (Herbert Smith Freehills)
- Alexander Kolmakov (DLA Piper)
- Lynda Reid (Duncan Lewis Solicitors)
- David Warner (South Westminster Legal Advice Centre)
Junior Lawyers Division Pro Bono Award
- Lereesa Easterbrook (Baker McKenzie)
- Marios Kontos (Duncan Lewis Solicitors)
- Rachel Mathieson (Bates Wells Braithwaite)
- Sarah-Beth Neville (Ashurst)
- Louise Taylor (Anthony Gold)
- Louise Youngman (Ashurst)
The LawWorks Cymru Award
- Cardiff University School of Law Pro Bono Unit
- Duncan Lewis Solicitors (Cardiff Office)
- Swansea Law Clinic, Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law
Best Contribution by a Pro Bono Clinic
- Birmingham Peoples Centre
- BPP Legal Advice Clinic
- Dentons’ PopLaw Clinic
- University of Bristol Law Clinic
- University of Manchester Legal Advice Centre
Best New Pro Bono Activity
- Anglia Law School Law Clinic
- Bates Wells Braithwaite: Uber Employment Appeal Tribunal
- East Greenwich Legal Advice Clinic
- Kobre & Kim: First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support)
- Shoosmiths Trainee Pro Bono Challenge
- St Hilda's East Legal Advice Clinic
- The Open University: Open Justice Law Clinic
- Working Families’ pro bono email ticketing platform
Most Effective Pro Bono Partnership
- Allen & Overy and Simmons & Simmons: Five Lamps
- Cardiff University Law School Pro Bono Unit and Mencap Cymru: Mencap WISE student advice project
- Centrepoint, Goldman Sachs International, Herbert Smith Freehills, Intralinks and Shelter: Connect Legal Advice Clinic
- Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and Toynbee Hall’s Free Legal Advice Centre (women-only clinic)
- FNF Both Parents Matter Cymru with PAPA Legal, Emma Williams Family Law, Avery Naylor, Cameron Jones Hussell & Howe and Alun Jones Family Law
- Howard Kennedy and Toynbee Hall’s Free Legal Advice Centre
- Pro Bono Connect, Adam Kramer of 3 Verulam Buildings and Morrison & Foerster
Outstanding Contribution to Access to Justice
- Eddie Coppinger (University House Legal Advice Centre)
- Steve Cornforth (Steve Cornforth Consultancy)
- Kent Law Clinic
- Giles Peaker (Anthony Gold)
- Carol Storer (Legal Aid Practioners Group)
- David Warner (South Westminster Legal Advice Centre)
-Ends-
Notes to editors:
LawWorks (the Solicitors Pro Bono Group) promotes, supports and facilitates pro bono legal services that extend access to the law for individuals and communities in need and the organisations that support them. LawWorks supports a network of over 240 independent pro bono clinics across England and Wales, and facilitates free legal advice for smaller charities and social enterprises through its Not-For-Profits Programme.
The LawWorks Annual Pro Bono Awards event is on 3rd December 2018. To attend, please contact Peter at: peter.jackson@lawworks.org.uk
Nominees for the LawWorks Annual Pro Bono Awards must be, or include, a member of LawWorks or a Clinic on the LawWorks clinics network. Detail about LawWorks membership is available at: www.lawworks.org.uk/why-pro-bono/lawworks-membership-join-us. The ‘Outstanding contribution to Access to Justice’ award is open to all.
LawWorks is supported by the Law Society of England and Wales, the independent professional body for solicitors.
LexisNexis Legal & Professional is a leading global provider of legal, regulatory and business information and analytics that help professional customers make more informed decisions, increase productivity and serve their clients better. As a digital pioneer, the company was the first to bring legal and business information online with its Lexis and Nexis services. Today, LexisNexis Legal & Professional harnesses leading-edge technology and world-class content to help professionals work in faster, easier and more effective ways. Through close collaboration with its customers, the company ensures organizations can leverage its solutions to reduce risk, improve productivity, increase profitability and grow their business. LexisNexis Legal & Professional, which serves customers in more than 175 countries with 10,000 employees worldwide, is part of RELX Group, a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries.
Join the conversation about the awards on Twitter using #LawWorksAwards
Contact: Peter Jackson at: peter.jackson@lawworks.org.uk