This year’s Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards shortlist includes Shauneen Lambe, the solicitor behind the landmark decision forcing police to treat 17-year-olds in custody as children, and Margaret Gordon, who acted for protestor Alfie Meadows, the student acquitted of violent disorder after suffering life-threatening injuries allegedly from a police baton blow.

The LALYs are now into their 11th year and run on a not-for-profit basis by the Legal Aid Practitioners Group to ‘recognise excellence among access to justice lawyers’.

Shauneen Lambe, from Just for Kids Law, was described as giving ‘a voice to the voiceless,’ by the uncle of Hughes Cousins-Chang, the 17 year old, whose arrest and detention led to the successful judicial review ensuring better protections of under 18s in police custody. Margaret Gordon’s nomination was supported by Alfie Meadows. ‘She clearly has a strong moral and political commitment to legal aid and the right of everyone to equal access to justice,’ the student wrote.

Shortlist:

Criminal Defence (sponsored by Accesspoint)

• Ruth Bundey – Harrison Bundey & Co, Leeds
• Margaret Gordon – Imran Khan/Christian Khan, London
• Shauneen Lambe – Lawrence & Co/Just for Kids Law, London
• Andrew Sperling – Scott-Moncrieff & Associates, London

 

Family Legal Aid Lawyer (sponsored by Resolution)

• Jerry Bull – Atkins Hope, Croydon
• Rachel Carter – Wollen Michelmore, Torquay
• Colin Mackey – Churchers, Hampshire
• Ann Thompson – Goodman Ray, London

 

Legal Aid Firm/Not-for-profit Agency (sponsored by Matrix/Legal Aid Link)

• Goodman Ray, London
• Makin Dixon, Keighley
• Swain & Co, Hampshire

 

Legal Aid Barrister (sponsored by DNA Worldwide)

• Jane Hoyal – 1 Pump Court
• Ranjiv Khubber – 1 Pump Court
• Amanda Weston – Tooks Chambers

 

Social & Welfare Lawyer (sponsored by Tikit)

• Russell Conway – Oliver Fisher, London
• Paul Im Thurn – Kenworthy’s Chambers, Manchester
• Sue James – Hammersmith & Fulham Law Centre, London

 

Mental Health Lawyer (sponsored by Law Society)

• Tam Gill – Gledhill Solicitors, Brighton
• Richard Nicholas, RMNJ Solicitors, Birkenhead
• Corinne Singer – Scott-Moncrieff & Associates, London

 

Immigration Solicitor (sponsored by John M Hayes)

• Ish Ahmed – Bankfield Heath Solicitors, Leeds
• Stuart Elliott – Jason Nicholson Solicitors, Doncaster
• Rakesh Singh – Luqmani Thomson, London
• Hilton von Herbert – Hackney Law Centre, London

 

Legal Aid Newcomer: Lawyer (sponsored by Co-operative Legal Services)

• Rebecca Foley – Bolitho Way, Portsmouth
• Nadia Salam – GT Stewart Solicitors, London
• Natalie Sedacca – Hodge, Jones & Allen, London

 

Legal Aid Newcomer: Barrister (sponsored by Irwin Mitchell)

• Katy Chokowry – 1 Kings Bench Walk
• Leonie Hirst – Tooks Chambers
• Sarah Daley – Garden Court North