FAQ

1. Who is eligible to be nominated for a LALY award?

The LALYs are generally open to all lawyers who are committed to legal aid work.

With the exception of the Barrister and Young Barrister awards (see below), nominees must work in a private practice solicitors’ firm, law centre or other not-for-profit agency employing a solicitor or barrister, which holds a Legal Services Commission specialist level contact. Solicitors, legal executives, employed barristers, paralegals and trainee solicitors are all eligible.

Self-employed barristers in private practice doing legal aid are eligible for the Barrister and Young Barrister awards. The Young Barrister award is open to trainee barristers and those of under seven years’ call on 1 September 2008.

2. Can anyone make a nomination - or do you need to be a lawyer?

We prefer the lead nominator to be a fellow professional (for example, solicitor, barrister or judge, etc). However, we actively encourage nominations which include supporting statements, etc, from non-lawyers  - such as clients, community groups or expert witnesses - who have close-hand knowledge of a potential nominee.

3. Can I nominate myself for an award?

Self nomination is not allowed for the individual awards: Mental Health Lawyer; Immigration Lawyer: Young Solicitor;  Barrister; Young Barrister; Family Lawyer; Criminal Defence Lawyer; and Social & Welfare Lawyer. However, it is acceptable for a nomination to come from another member of the nominee’s firm (for example, a head of department can nominate a member of his or her team - but not him or herself).

Organisations can nominate themselves for the Legal Aid Firm/Not-for-profit Agency award.

Ideally, where an entry comes from within a particular organisation, it should also include supporting statements from outside the organisation, say, from clients, other solicitors’ firms, barristers, judges, etc. The LALY judges will generally give extra weight to support from external organisations.

4. Can I nominate someone in more than one category of award?

Yes. It is acceptable to nominate one individual for more than one category of award where their experience warrants it - say, Young Solicitor and Immigration Lawyer; or, the Family award and the Mental Health award. You should tick the relevant boxes on the nomination form and the entry will be given consideration in each of the indicated categories (there is no need to send multiple forms).

5. Is there a charge for entering?

No. Entry is free.

6. What qualities are the LALY judges looking for?

The judges are looking for entries which demonstrate legal excellence as a lawyer and exceptional commitment to legal aid clients. This can be manifested in many ways, across all levels of publicly-funded work. The LALYs are principally intended to celebrate the unsung heroes of legal aid, those doing perhaps small, legally unremarkable cases which have the power to transform the lives and protect the rights of the poor and the powerless. We number among previous winners many lawyers whose work at the legal aid coalface otherwise goes unrecognised. Previous LALY winners have also included leading lawyers doing high-profile and ground-breaking work and we continue to welcome these kinds of entries, as well.

7. What is your preferred format for nominations?

We aim to be reasonably flexible in terms of the format of nominations we will accept and all entries will be read. Our preferred format is for a single completed nomination form from the lead nominator (whom we can contact for clarification, etc, if necessary), together with whatever supporting statements and other documents you would like to submit. We prefer supporting material to be typed, but handwritten letters from clients are acceptable.  If the nomination includes reference to reported cases, we need the reference and any extract from the judgement only, rather than the full report. We will accept supporting  material being submitted separately from the main nomination, provided the name of the nominee is clear. Please do not laminate your nominations as this makes photocopying entries for distribution to the LALY judges difficult.

8. How and when will I know if a nomination has been successful?

Those selected for the awards short-list will be informed by the organisers by mid November 2008. We will contact both the successful nominees and the specified lead nominator. It is not possible for us to contact those who do not make the short-list.

9. Who is eligible for the Legal Aid Firm/Not-for-profit Agency award?

This award category is open to private practice firms, law centres, and all other qualifying advice agencies which hold a Legal Services Commission specialist level contract (see question 1, above).

10. What is covered by the Social & Welfare Law award?

This is probably the widest category of award - encompassing all areas of specialist legal aid work that are not covered by an individual award (see nomination form for details of categories). It covers areas like housing and welfare benefits, but could also extend to education, employment, clinical negligence, actions against the police and human rights, etc. The LALY judges will take the broadest possible view when considering entries for this award.

11. If an individual lawyer or organisation has been entered for the LALYs previously, is that a bar to entering again this year?

Not at all. There is nothing to stop previous entrants – or indeed winners – being entered this year. However, the judges would expect the 2008 nomination to highlight achievements during the past 12 months, rather than simply rehashing the content of any previous nominations.

12. Can I make more than one nomination?; Can my organisation nominate more than one of our lawyers?

Yes. You can make as many nominations as you like, in as many categories as you like.

13. Do the winners receive a prize?

All finalists in each of the nine award categories receive a certificate and logo, for use on their marketing material and website. The winners are presented with a ‘Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year 2008’ trophy and will also receive a winner’s logo.

14. What happens next?

The closing date for nominations is 31 October 2008. The LALY judges meet in November to consider all qualifying nominations and draw up the short-list. Finalists will be notified by mid November and invited to attend the presentation ceremony in central London on 1 December 2008, where the winners will be announced.