The Bar Council of England and Wales will sponsor the category for Legal Aid Barrister at the 14th Legal Aid Practitioners Group Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year (LALY) awards.

Previous winners of the Legal Aid Barrister award include S Chelvan from No5 Chambers, and Alison Pickup from Doughty St Chambers.

Chairman of the Bar, Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC, said: "Recent times have highlighted the relentless commitment of legal aid lawyers and the hard work they put in to ensure access to justice, despite substantial cuts to funding and many challenges along the way. We are very proud to sponsor the Legal Aid Barrister category at this year's awards, and to support members of the Bar being recognised and celebrated for their contribution."

The LALYs were set up in 2002 to sing the praises of those lawyers who go the extra mile for their clients. LAPG Director, Carol Storer said: "They have always been ground breaking and it is fitting that our 14th year sees us continuing to innovate. The introduction of crowdfunding is entirely in keeping with the grassroots, inclusive spirit of the LALYs that sets us apart and engenders such loyalty and support from all sectors of the legal aid profession."

ENDS

Notes to Editors 

  1. Further information is available from the Bar Council Press Office on 020 7222 2525 and [email protected].

  2. The 2016 award categories in full can be found here. The Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards are organised on a not-for-profit basis by Legal Aid Practitioners Group. Nominations close on 25 April, and the winners will be announced at a ceremony in central London on 7 July 2016. To assist with the crowdfunding initiative, please visit this page.

  3. The Bar Council represents barristers in England and Wales. It promotes: 

  • The Bar's high quality specialist advocacy and advisory services

  • Fair access to justice for all

  • The highest standards of ethics, equality and diversity across the profession, and

  • The development of business opportunities for barristers at home and abroad.

The General Council of the Bar is the Approved Regulator of the Bar of England and Wales. It discharges its regulatory functions through the independent Bar Standards Board.