Angela Jackman, a partner at London firm Fisher Meredith, received an award for outstanding achievement at last night’s Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards.
Jackman was recognised for her work in the development of education law to ensure justice for disadvantaged children, as well as her commitment to the inner London law centre, her pro bono activities and her work in mental capacity and community care law.
Five outstanding achievement awards were made. Other recipients were Edward Fitzgerald QC, the barrister who acted for the Gurkhas in their recent legal battle with the British government, and Michael Burdett, a criminal defence solicitor for 45 years who was instrumental in setting up the court and police station duty solicitor schemes.
Young Legal Aid Lawyers, a group of young solicitors and barristers committed to publicly funded work, was recognised for its drive and enthusiasm in helping to reinvigorate the legal aid profession.
Newcastle firm David Gray received an award in recognition of its 30-year provision of high quality legal aid services to its local community.
The awards, organised by the Legal Aid Practitioners Group, celebrate the work of legal aid practitioners who have dedicated their careers to the service of some of the most vulnerable members of society.
The ceremony marked the Silver Jubilee of the organisation and 60 years since the inception of legal aid. Receiving her award, Jackman said: ‘The catalogue of past and imminent changes in legal aid funding has left the future uncertain for disadvantaged individuals whose full access to justice is genuinely under threat.
‘While events such as this are marking the 60th anniversary of legal aid, it is ironic that in this very year, it is not at all apparent that the principles underlying the Legal Aid and Advice Act 1949 will continue into the future.’
Unlike in previous years, nominations were not requested. Instead the judging panel chaired by Cherie Booth QC selected the winners.
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