News - News - Fifth Annual Legal Aid Award 2007 Launched

The Legal Aid Practitioners Group is calling for nominations for the fifth Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year (LALY) Awards 2007, which celebrate the work of solicitors and barristers who have dedicated their careers to the service of some of the most vulnerable members of society.

LAPG Director Richard Miller said: “We are delighted to have reached our fifth anniversary. Despite all the problems facing Legal Aid practices at the moment, all the fears caused by the proposed reforms, there are still thousands of lawyers across the country determined to continue providing an invaluable service to their local communities. They believe that everyone should have their rights protected and enforced, no matter how poor or vulnerable they are, and no matter how rich and powerful their opponent.

“Every year, tens of thousands of people have the problems in their lives resolved by the skill and hard work of these lawyers. They are the unsung heroes without whose dedication, justice in this country would be a sham.”

He added: “The purpose of these awards is to celebrate the commitment of these dedicated professionals, and to remind the country what we stand to lose if the Legal Aid system is undermined by poorly thought-out and under-resourced reforms.”

Nominations are being sought in 10 categories:

• Mental Health – sponsored by Allen & Overy

• Immigration and Asylum – sponsored by the Law Society

• Young Solicitor – sponsored by Legal Services Commission

• Barrister – sponsored by the Bar Council

• Family – sponsored by Resolution

• Criminal Defence – sponsored by Criminal Law Solicitors Association

• Young Barrister – sponsored by Natwest Legal Centre

• Solicitors’ Organisation – sponsored by Matrix Chambers

• Social and Welfare – sponsored by Clifford Chance

• Chambers of the Year – sponsored by New Law Journal

 The panel of judges, chaired once again by Cherie Booth QC, will also be making an award for Outstanding Achievement, which is sponsored by DG Legal.

The deadline for nominations is 5th April 2007. The awards will be presented at a ceremony in London in June 2007.

Nomination forms can be requested from Kate Comyn on 020 7960 6844 or downloaded from the LAPG website at:www.lapg.co.uk/legalaidlawyer.cfm.

For information about the 2006 LALY award winners see the BLD coverage of the event.