Sky News presenter Anna Jones and domestic abuse campaigner David Challen whose mother Sally was freed from prison in a landmark case, hosted the 2020 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards. The audience tuned in from the comfort of their sofas.
It was a good night for housing lawyers, including: Siobhan Taylor-Ward, Merseyside Law Centre, who was crowned Legal Aid Newcomer; Spike Mullings, Edwards Duthie Shamash, who won Social Welfare Lawyer; and Garden Court North’s James Stark, who won Barrister of the Year.
Housing specialist Mike McIlvaney, of the Community Law Partnership, received the award for outstanding achievement and highlighted the worsening ‘culture of refusal’ from the Legal Aid Agency in his speech.
Other awards included South West London Law Centres (Firm), the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (Team) and Kate Hammond, Miles & Partners (Family).
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