|
|
 |
|
|
 |
Current News |
|
| LAPG celebrates its silver jubilee with Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards |
Date: 25 Jun 2009
|
 Five awards for outstanding achievements in the field of legal aid were awarded at a ceremony in London this week. The occasion marked LAPG's silver jubilee and the 60th anniversary of the legal aid scheme. The LALY award winners were Michael Burdett, Edward Fitzgerald QC, David Gray Solicitors, Angela Jackman and Young Legal Aid Lawyers. Mr Fitzgerald was the barrister who acted for the Gurkhas in their recent legal battle against the British government. The LALY judging panel, chaired by Cherie Booth QC, praised Mr Fitzgerald's "intellectual and imaginative brilliance" and his unstinting work to protect the rights of the weak and the dispossessed. Gurkhas who have now won the right to settle in the UK, including two holders of the Victoria Cross, were at the ceremony to see their lawyer receive his award. Michael Burdett, a criminal defence solicitor for 45 years, was instrumental in setting up the court and police station duty solicitor schemes. Young Legal Aid Lawyers is a group of young solicitors and barristers committed to publicly-funded work, whose drive and enthusiasm has helped reinvigorate the entire legal aid profession. David Gray Solicitors in Newcastle has provided a wide range of the highest quality legal aid services to its local community for 30 years. Angela Jackman, partner at Fisher Meredith, has spearheaded the development of education law to ensure justice for many disadvantaged children. The sponsors of the award were Allen & Overy, Bindmans, CLSA, the Law Society, Legal Services Commission, Matrix Chambers, Resolution and Trimega Labs. The media partner was Legal Action Group.
|
|
|
| | | |
|
