Nominations for 2024 awards close: 22 April; winners announced: 5 July.

 

LAPG is proud to launch the 2024 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year (LALY) awards, the only annual event solely dedicated to celebrating the work of grassroots social justice lawyers.

This year marks the 22nd anniversary of these non-profit-making awards, which continue to go from strength to strength despite the unrelenting challenges facing lawyers doing this life-changing work. This year sees the addition of new award categories, new sponsors, and a distinctive new logo for this well-supported event.

Nominations close on 22 April 2024.

Winners in the 12 award categories will be announced at a ceremony in central London on 5 July in front of a 500-plus strong audience. Baroness Helena Kennedy KC will be presenting the LALY trophies for the fourth time.

 

LAPG CEO Chris Minnoch says:

‘Over the years, the LALYs have been likened to the legal aid profession’s Oscars or our Baftas, but the reality is that these awards are unique, and they rightly hold a unique place in the hearts of social justice lawyers.  LAPG is proud to organise this grassroots event on behalf of the entire legal aid community and to be able to give them a small measure of the recognition, admiration and respect that they so richly deserve. There is no finer accolade than to be recognised by your peers – the people who truly understand what an uphill battle it can be to continue to deliver access to justice for our clients – which is why I encourage as many of you as possible to make nominations. Tell us about your colleagues, the lawyers and non-lawyers, who inspire you with their expertise and commitment, and who always go that extra mile.  

Make your love for the LALYs official!

Once again, we are crowdfunding for sponsorship of our Legal Aid Newcomer award, which celebrates the solicitors, barristers, paralegals and caseworkers who are the future of this profession. Donations are from £10, and all money will go towards keeping ticket prices affordable so we can encourage the widest possible attendance at the ceremony. The names of donors will be included as Friends of LALY24 in our ceremony programme, shown on stage on the night, and feature on social media in the run up to the July event.

LALY24 award categories

  1. Legal Aid Newcomer (sponsor – Friends of LALY24 – see below)
  2. Legal Aid Support Staffer/Support Team (sponsor – Accesspoint)
  3. Housing Law (sponsor – Leigh Day)
  4. Family Legal Aid, including Children’s Rights (sponsor – Resolution)
  5. Criminal Defence (sponsor – One Pump Court)
  6. Legal Aid Barrister (sponsor – The Bar Council)
  7. Legal Aid Firm/Not-for-Profit Agency (sponsor – The Law Society)
  8. Disability Rights (sponsor – Communicourt)
  9. Regional Firm/Not-for-Profit Agency (sponsor – The Legal Education Foundation)
  10. Social Welfare Law (sponsor – Doughty Street Chambers)
  11. Public Law (sponsor – DG Legal)
  12. Outstanding Achievement* (sponsor – Matrix Chambers)

Media partner – Legal Action Group

General Sponsor – 39 Essex Chambers

* We do not accept nominations for this award

To make a nomination

http://lapg.co.uk/laly-nomination

Awards criteria and guidance

http://lapg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/LALY24-Guidance-Notes.pdf

LALY24 flyer

http://lapg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/LALY24-Flyer_WEB.pdf

To book tickets for the 5 July ceremony

http://lapg.co.uk/laly-tickets

To donate to become a Friend of LALY24 and help sponsor the Legal Aid Newcomer award

http://lapg.co.uk/laly-crowdfunding

The LALY awards are non-profit-making and would not be possible without our generous sponsors.

 

For further information, contact:

LAPG CEO Chris Minnoch: chris.minnoch@lapg.co.uk

LALY founder and co-organiser Fiona Bawdon: fiona.bawdon@gmail.com

#LALY24   @LALYawards