Now in their 16th year, the awards celebrate the best pro bono activities undertaken by law students and law schools. They incorporate the Access to Justice Foundation award for an educational body or student which has made a significant contribution to promoting access to justice. Supported by the Attorney General, the Rt Hon Suella Braverman QC MP, the awards were presented by Lubna Shuja, Vice President, The Law Society of England and Wales at a ceremony held in the House of Lords on Wednesday 4th May.
The Attorney General, the Rt Hon Suella Braverman QC MP said:
“I would like to congratulate everybody who was nominated for this year’s awards. I am sure that you will all go on to have excellent careers in the law and would urge you to keep up the excellent pro bono work when you’re in practice. I would also like to thank LawWorks for organising a wonderful event and continuing to highlight the excellent pro bono work done by students across the U.K.”
Alasdair Douglas, Chair of LawWorks said:
‘LawWorks again received a large number of high-calibre nominations and the quality and impact of the projects nominated was hugely impressive and inspiring – all those nominated or shortlisted deserve congratulations and appreciation for their work. We were delighted to be able to hold the awards event in-person at the House of Lords and are grateful for the Attorney General’s support. The judges had a difficult if enjoyable task – but special congratulations to this year’s winners of the LawWorks and Attorney General Student Pro Bono Awards.’
James Harper, Legal Director (Global Projects) and Senior Counsel for LexisNexis said:
“As a company which centres itself on the Rule of Law, we are privileged to have been able to stand alongside those nominated for this year’s Student Pro Bono Awards. Our heartfelt congratulations to the winners, and their fellow nominees, for their selfless dedication to others and to the protection of justice. We strive at all times to ensure the Rule of Law is advanced around the world, whether through our products or our own charitable work. In that light, we can only hope that this afternoon’s event serves to shine a light on the incredible work carried out, and the deep need across the country for this type of support.”
The winners are:
Best New Pro Bono Activity: Windrush Justice Clinics at London South Bank University, King's College London and University of Westminster
The Windrush Justice Clinic was launched in October 2020. It is a collaborative partnership made up of community organisations, law centres and university legal advice clinics striving to help victims of the Windrush scandal receive the compensation they deserve.
The clinic provides several layers of support utilising the strengths of the various partners. Staff and volunteers engage in advocacy and feed into ongoing discussions in respect of the Windrush schemes and help identify gaps in legal provision. Working from start to completion on claims with clients who are often vulnerable, the scheme can offer additional employment, immigration and housing advice.
The innovative and collaborative nature of the scheme has had a direct beneficial impact on the community affected with over 100 clients being assisted to claim Home Office compensation with 20 being awarded a total of £1,151,000.
The judges recognised as highly commended the School Programme, The Aberdeen Law Project, Aberdeen University.
Best Contribution by an Individual: Samantha Howlett, University of Essex
From the very start of her clinic life, Sam’s positivity, enthusiasm and professionalism made her stand out as an exceptional volunteer. Her passion for family law is fuelled by her direct experience of what it is like to be a vulnerable person, having left home and school at 16. Her commitment to pro bono is huge. She has been a highly effective and active Student Director, despite also managing her studies, a family and a home, taking on extensive client casework and formal and ad-hoc roles in assisting staff and students. She has chaired regular student forums, enabling and encouraging peer-to-peer feedback from volunteers about their clinical experiences and she plays an active role in student recruitment and training.
Sam’s clinic work has consistently shown her passion for helping people in need, particularly in relation to domestic abuse matters and cases concerning children. She is highly empathetic and provides clear, straightforward advice. Through her dedication, positivity and hard work, she is a real role model for students.
Graham Herschel, University of Chester was highly commended by the judges.
Best Contribution by a Law School: BPP Pro Bono Centre, BPP University
Utilising online technology, BPP worked to secure and improve accessibility of pro bono services for clients and volunteers. In 2020/21, the virtual BPP Legal Advice Clinic advised 30% more clients than they had the previous year. There was also a significant increase in volunteer engagement. In addition to running the Housing, Family, General Litigation and Enterprise Clinics, BPP also launched a Welfare Rights Clinic that provided invaluable support to individuals navigating the benefits system. BBP recently joined the Environmental Law Foundation network and has recruited their first cohort of volunteers to support the new BPP/ ELF Legal and Policy Clinics.
Though their extensive Streetlaw project consisting of live and recorded online sessions, podcasts and broadcasts, students have worked with schools, prisons and community groups to improve access to justice by demystifying complex areas of law. 3,950 people have benefitted from the remote Streetlaw project. In the last 16 months, students and volunteer lawyers have provided initial advice to 600 clients through their Employment Law Telephone Advice Line.
The Hertfordshire Law School, University of Hertfordshire were highly commended by the judges.
Best contribution by a Team of Students: Shelter Court Runner Team, Hertfordshire Law School
The court runner scheme is a collaboration between Hertfordshire Law School and national housing charity Shelter. Ten law school students help Shelter’s own in-house solicitor Ruth Camp to support defendants facing possession orders at Watford and Hertford County Courts. Many of the defendants have never had any legal advice before; many of them are anxious; and all of them are at risk of homelessness. Under Shelter’s supervision, the students interview the defendants, gathering information to support their case and sometimes drafting initial advice letters. This has increased by 20% the number of people that Ruth Camp is able to support. Furthermore, feedback from District Judges has included: “…any assistance provided by the scheme is invaluable, not only to those receiving their assistance, but to the other parties involved in the hearings and to myself as judge”; while Polly Toynbee of The Guardian stated: “I was impressed with the way the student talked with the Defendants… helping to put them at their ease”.
The Support Through Court Manchester Team, Manchester Metropolitan University were highly commended by the judges.
The judges for the 2022 Awards were:
- Peter Farr, Head of Civil Law Policy, Ministry of Justice
- James Harper, Executive Sponsor, Rule of Law and CSR for LexisNexis UK & Ireland
- Olivia Partridge, Content Producer, LawCareers.Net
- Lubna Shuja, Vice President, The Law Society of England and Wales
- Leanne Targett-Parker, co-Chair, Bar Council Pro Bono and Social Responsibility Committee
- Rohini Teather, Head of Parliamentary Affairs, Legal Aid Practitioners Group
Amelia Quince, Cambridge University was also announced as the winner of the Access to Justice Foundation award for an educational body or student which has made a significant contribution to promoting access to justice, with a commendation to Gabriella Barnes, University of Edinburgh.
LawWorks would like to congratulate all the shortlisted nominees and everyone who submitted nominations. LawWorks would also like to thank the judges for their hard work in drawing up the shortlist from a very impressive list of nominations, and LexisNexis for their sponsorship of the Awards.
You can find out more about all those shortlisted and the winners in 
the awards programme.
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Notes to editors:
- LawWorks (the Solicitors Pro Bono Group) is a charity working in England and Wales to connect volunteer lawyers and law students with people in need of legal advice, who are not eligible for legal aid and cannot afford to pay, and with the not for profit organisations that support them and their communities. LawWorks supports a network of independent pro bono advice clinics across England and Wales, and facilitates the provision of free legal advice for smaller charities and not-for-profit organisations. For further information about LawWorks visit: https://www.lawworks.org.uk/
- LawWorks is supported by the Law Society of England and Wales, the independent professional body for solicitors.
- LawWorks are extremely grateful for the sponsorship of the awards by LexisNexis Legal & Professional. LexisNexis Legal & Professional is a leading global provider of legal, regulatory and business information and analytics that help customers increase productivity, improve decision-making and outcomes, and advance the rule of law around the world. As a digital pioneer, the company was the first to bring legal and business information online with its Lexis® and Nexis® services. LexisNexis Legal & Professional, which serves customers in more than 130 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.
- For further information about the Awards contact Peter Jackson, Communications Officer, peter.jackson@lawworks.org.uk, 07961 522042