Shortlist for 20th LawWorks & Attorney General’s Student Pro Bono Awards revealed

Alasdair Douglas, Chair of LawWorks said: “It has been 20 years since LawWorks began celebrating the significant contribution made by students and law schools from across the UK.  It was humbling to read the nominations setting out what you have been doing over the last year.  Doing pro bono work, in addition to studying, some of you having to work at the same time to make ends meet and fitting in a social life tells me that we have some very special people studying law. You all deserve wider recognition and praise for enabling those without means to have access to justice.”

James Harper, Executive Sponsor for Rule of Law and CSR at LexisNexis, said: "We are immensely proud to sponsor the Attorney General Student Pro Bono Awards, a relationship which stretches back some 17 years.  Access to justice is more crucial now than ever over that period of time, and it remains no less inspiring to see the dedication and passion of law students who are committed to making a difference. Their pro bono work not only supports those in need but also strengthens the fabric of our society by promoting fairness and equality. We are honoured to support these future leaders, and the fantastic institutions behind them, in their journey to uphold justice and serve the community."

This year, more than fifty nominations were received representing thirty-seven law schools, universities and law clinics from across the UK. The shortlisted nominees are:

Best New Pro Bono Activity

• Bangor University Legal Advice Clinic, Bangor University
• City Welcome Immigration Service, The City Law School, City, University of London
• Emma Ritch Law Clinic, University of Glasgow School of Law
• University of Hertfordshire Parole Clinic
• Windrush Community Law Clinic, Liverpool John Moores University

Best Contribution by an Individual Student

• Julius Balchin, BPP University
• Mia Beckford-Brown, University of Surrey, School of Law
• Susie Brown, University of Dundee
• Eli Goldsobel, City Law School, City, University of London
• Megan McLennan, The Aberdeen Law Project
• Maddy Nicholl, University of Southampton
• Chintankumar Parmar, University of Hertfordshire

Best Contribution by a Law School (undergraduate and postgraduate)

• City Law School's Law in real life, City, University of London
• Community Law Clinic, University of Exeter
• Glasgow Open Justice Centre, University of Glasgow School of Law
• Pro Bono Network, Manchester Law School, Manchester Metropolitan University
• Justice Hub, University of Manchester
• Hallam Legal Advice Centre and Justice Hubs, Sheffield Hallam University
• The University of Law Pro Bono Team, The University of Law

Best Contribution by a Team of Students

• BPP's Public Legal Education student team, BPP University
• University of Derby CLAS - Refugee Law Clinic
• LSE European Court of Human Rights Intervention Clinic, LSE Law School
• Employment Law Clinic, University of Plymouth
• Bethan Lloyd and Elli Bainton, Support Through Court Cardiff
• School Tasking Student Team, Warwick Law School

The Law School Challenge 2024-25

The winners of the Advocate and LawWorks Law School Challenge 2024 – 2025 will also be recognised with a presentation to the winning team. The Challenge ends next week, the current top three teams are:

• De Montford University Law School
• Birmingham City University
• Swansea University

The Law School Challenge is a fundraising initiative created to raise awareness of pro bono and to raise money for free legal advice. To date, the teams taking part in the challenge this year have raised more than £13,000 to support free legal advice.

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at the House of Lords on Wednesday 23 April with the Attorney General, The Rt Hon. Lord Hermer KC. 

For further information on the Student Pro Bono Awards see here.