The significant and growing contribution of law students and law schools to pro bono legal advice will be celebrated at an awards ceremony to be hosted by the Attorney General, Jeremy Wright MP, on Wednesday 26th April.
Nominations for the LawWorks and Attorney General Student Awards, sponsored by Lexis Nexis, are now open, with a closing date of 20th March.
In the year to March 2016, more than 2,600 law students helped with over 16,000 enquiries from members of the public at clinics in the LawWorks Clinic Network. Over a third of clinics in the LawWorks Clinic Network are run or supported by law schools.
The Attorney General, The Rt Hon Jeremy Wright QC MP, will be presenting the Awards and the ceremony will be hosted by His Honour Sir Robin Knowles CBE.
The Attorney General Jeremy Wright QC MP said: “These awards are an opportunity for us to recognise the hardworking law students who have gone to great lengths to help increase access to justice in their community.
“Their work not only has a practical and beneficial effect on people’s lives it has a positive effect on our legal system as well.”
Martin Barnes, Chief Executive of LawWorks said: “The Student Awards celebrate the incredible commitment, passion and contribution of the many students and law schools providing pro bono legal advice in England and Wales.
While pro bono is not, and should not be seen as, an alternative to legal aid, law students and law schools make an important contribution to enabling people to access the advice and support they need.
As well as making a valuable contribution to local communities, pro bono volunteering can bring many benefits and opportunities for students, including personal development and gaining legal knowledge and skills. Early experience of pro bono can instil a passion and commitment to pro bono that can last a whole career”.
The judges for the 2017 awards are:
Joe Egan, Vice President, the Law Society;
Isla Grant, Senior editor, LawCareers.Net.
Tom Laidlaw, Head of Academic and Public Sector Marketing, LexisNexis; and
Alison Padfield, Co-Chair of the Bar Council Pro Bono Panel.
The awards celebrate the best pro bono activities undertaken by law students and law schools in the following categories:
- Best contribution by an individual student;
- Best contribution by a law school (undergraduate and postgraduate);
- Best contribution by a team of students; and
- Best new pro bono activity.
The winners of the LawWorks and Bar Pro Bono Unit Law School Challenge will be presented with an award at the event on 26th April. The awards will also include the Access to Justice Foundation award for an educational body or student who has made a significant contribution to promoting access to justice.
For more information please visit: https://www.lawworks.org.uk/solicitors-and-volunteers/get-involved/lawworks-attorney-generals-student-pro-bono-awards-2017
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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.
- Information about the 2017 Student Pro Bono Awards including the online nomination forms and guidance, can be found at: https://www.lawworks.org.uk/solicitors-and-volunteers/get-involved/lawworks-attorney-generals-student-pro-bono-awards-2017
- For further information about LawWorks visit: www.lawworks.org.uk
- Press Contact: Valerie Hudson t: 0207 092 3952 e: valerie.hudson@lawworks.org.uk