Winners of the 2009 Junior Lawyers Division Pro Bono Awards
Date Published: 13-11-2009
WINNERS OF THE JUNIOR LAWYERS DIVISION 2009 PRO BONO AWARDS
The outstanding achievements of young lawyers throughout England and Wales were celebrated at the Junior Lawyers Division [JLD] Pro Bono Awards last night.
Lord Phillips of Sudbury presented the awards at a ceremony at the Law Society in London. The annual awards celebrate the outstanding pro bono work undertaken by LPC students, trainee and newly admitted solicitors and qualified solicitors with up to 5 years experience. They recognise individual pro bono activities.
This year the event took the form of a panel debate with the JLD asking the question: should pro bono be compulsory for all lawyers?
Panellists included Lord Phillips of Sudbury and David Howarth, Liberal Democrat Shadow Justice Secretary, took part in the topical debate and Heidi Sandy, Chair of the JLD. Jason Hadden, of Kaplan Law School, chaired the debate.
The debate highlighted the excellent work done by pro bono lawyers across the country and the real difference pro bono legal advice makes to the lives of ordinary people. Heidi Sandi argued that lawyers who do pro bono work do not view it as a fast-track route to good PR, but hold a genuine belief that using professional skills to support individuals and communities is the best way to put something back into the community.
The debate was followed by the presentation of the JLD Pro Bono Awards 2009.
WINNERS:
- JLD pro bono lawyer of the year - Bobby Kensah
Bobby is a trainee solicitor at Norton Rose and has been the driving force and initiator behind many volunteer community and pro bono projects over a number of years. He has contributed countless hours to a variety of pro bono initiatives this year including advising and supporting vulnerable individuals in police custody as an Appropriate Adult Legal Adviser, as well as volunteer adviser, coordinator and organiser of the Norton Rose Tooting Legal Advice Centre. He is currently setting up a website to provide information on pro bono initiatives that trainee solicitors can get involved in, as well as pro bono networking events.
- Highly Commended - Birchlyn Conte
During her time as a student on the Legal Practice Course Birchlyn participated in a number of voluntary legal advice and assistance schemes. These included the College of Law’s Legal Advice Centre and employment advice team, the National Centre for Domestic Violence and the Royal Courts of Justice Advice Bureau. Not only has she undertaken an impressive number of pro bono cases over the year, many of which are normally managed only by qualified lawyers, but she has delivered work of outstanding quality and shown enthusiasm and dedication to clients.
- International Human Rights Award in memory of Nick Webber (a special award) - Ben Spencer
Whilst studying the Legal Practice Course Ben was a volunteer with the College of Law Legal Advice Centre Triage Team. The Director of Pro Bono Services said, “Ben is a quiet hero, just the sort of dedicated lawyer the profession needs”. He also assisted at the Royal Courts of Justice Advice Bureau (RCJAB). On one occasion he agreed to a special assignment for the Miscarriages Of Justice Support Service. Unbeknown to him, it required additional commitment and some long hours. According to RCJAB’s Chief Executive, “Ben was a great help in very difficult circumstances”. As an intern at the Law Society, Ben was instrumental in implementing a new project involving more than three hundred law students, practitioners and activists – the International Action Team. Ben supervised research into human rights violations around the world and the drafting of intervention letters requesting compliance with international law. He worked on fifty-one international intervention cases during the course of the year.
- Wig & Pen Prize - Michael Spencer
Michael Spencer is an associate in the dispute resolution practice at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. He qualified in August 2008. As a trainee, Michael spent three months on secondment at Liberty, where he assisted on several human rights cases (including the McKinnon extradition case and the Sarika Singh discrimination case) and gave free legal advice to the public on human rights issues. As part of a team at Freshfields, Michael also assisted in drafting a US Supreme court amicus brief, which was mentioned favourably by the Justices in an historic ruling on the unconstitutionality of the death penalty for non-murder offences (Kennedy v Louisiana). Michael also took part in two Freshfields schemes for giving free legal advice, at the Tower Hamlets Law Centre (on housing issues) and the RCJ Citizens Advice Bureau (on civil procedure).
Kevin Poulter, Chair of the JLD Pro Bono Awards Committee, said; "Junior lawyers are consistently involved in undertaking Pro Bono work at home and abroad. The commitment and enthusiasm of junior lawyers in securing access to equality and justice and setting an example for future lawyers and the profession is to be commended"
Ends
Notes to editors:
1. Entries were judged by;
Vera Baird QC, MP for Redcar and Solicitor GeneralDominic Grieve QC, MP for Beaconsfield and Shadow Secretary of State for JusticeDavid Howarth, MP for Cambridge and Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for JusticeLinda Lee, Vice President of the Law Society and Lord Phillips of Sudbury
2. Digital photographs of winners receiving their Pro Bono Awards will be available from Yvonne Treacy (0207 320 5794) after the event.
3. Nick Webber was a newly qualified solicitor in the Litigation Department at Ashurst when he tragically lost his life in a car accident in Malawi five years ago. He was working for a human rights organization at the time and had been a passionate advocate for human rights. He had also been heavily involved with the Ashurst Community Involvement Programme. Ashursts decided to honour Nick’s memory and demonstrate their commitment to pro bono by sponsoring the large firm award. This award symbolises everything that Nick believed in but most especially, that one person can make a difference; one person can make their mark on the world and make someone else’s life better in the process, whatever the cost to them personally.
4. The Wig & Pen Prize is awarded by the City of London Law Society and the City of Westminster and Holborn Law Society to a solicitor up to five years qualified in their constituencies who undertakes pro bono work.
5. National Pro Bono Week is a nationwide campaign to celebrate the extensive range and impact of free services (pro bono) provided by lawyers, often in collaboration with other professionals.
6. Further information on the winners can be obtained from the Law Society Press Office on 0207 320 5902
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