A trio of public law solicitors who were behind some of last year's most significant legal challenges have been selected as finalists for this year's Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year.
Finalists in the Public Law award category include:
- Harriet Wistrich, from Birnberg Peirce, who acted in the landmark judicial review of the parole board's decision to release black cab rapist John Worboys;
- Emma Norton, from Liberty, who represents families in the Deepcut Barracks inquests into the deaths of four young army recruits, where judgment is expected in June 2018;
- Nancy Collins, from Hodge Jones & Allen, who represents people who seek to hold to account those acting on behalf of the state. Her recent work has focused on the needs of those with learning disabilities who are caught up in the criminal justice system and representing the families of people with learning disabilities at inquests.
There are 12 LALY award categories in total (see full list here), including Children's Rights, Criminal Defence, Family Legal Aid, and, new for 2018, Practice Management.
Finalists in the Practice Management award include Adam Makepeace, from Tuckers, the biggest criminal defence firm in the country; Richard Prust, from Watson Woodhouse Solicitors in Middlesbrough, which successfully mixes legal aid work with privately funded and conditional fee work; and Sally Thompson, from immigration specialists Luqmani Thompson, who is credited with ensuring the firm's survival, despite swingeing cuts to legal aid.
LAPG director Carol Storer says: 'The LALYs are known for celebrating those lawyers whose skills and commitment directly transform the lives of so many vulnerable people - and rightly so. However, this year, we also wanted to recognise those practice managers who do vital work behind the scenes so firms and agencies can stay afloat and keep providing a service to clients, and whose contribution is rarely publicly acknowledged. As one nomination said, "practice managers do not get cards or flowers from clients at the end of each success".'
The winners will be announced by Baroness Doreen Lawrence OBE at a ceremony in central London on 17 July.
The LALYs are organised by the Legal Aid Practitioners Group, and are into their 16th year.
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