LEGAL AID LAWYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE DETAILS CONTACT CAROL STORER 020 7183 2269 or 07801 593 963
EIGHT ANNUAL LEGAL AID AWARDS SHORTLISTS ANNOUNCED
Three dogged and determined criminal defence lawyers are among the 28 stalwarts of the legal
aid profession who have been shortlisted for the 2010 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards.
The trio recognised for their criminal defence work are:

Sheffield solicitor Peter Mahy, whose landmark case before the European Court
established that the UK government’s policy of retaining the DNA of innocent people is
unlawful (S and Marper v UK).

John Weate from Birkenhead, who won a pardon last year for Michael Shields, the
Liverpool FC fan who was convicted of attempted murder in 2005 by a Bulgarian court.
Both Mr Shields and his parents wrote in support of John’s nomination.

Julian Young, a legal aid solicitor for 33 years, who last year won freedom for his client
Sean Hodgson, who had been wrongly convicted in 1982 of the murder of a barmaid in
Southampton.
LAPG director Carol Storer said: ‘Despite the pressures on the legal aid sector, the calibre of
entrants this year was higher than ever.’
Other finalists include Rabinder Singh QC (shortlisted in the Legal Aid Barrister category); and
Just for Kids Law/Lawrence & Co (in the Legal Aid Firm/Not-for-profit agency category), a unique
partnership between a charity and a law firm, which gives legal and other advice to young people
in trouble.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony in central London on 26 May.
NOTES FOR EDITORS.
1. LAPG is an independent grass roots movement, representing approximately 450 firms and not for profit
organisations at the heart of the provision of publicly funded legal services. Website www.lapg.co.uk The
awards are non-profit making.
+2. Full list of finalists:
1 Criminal Defence Lawyer sponsored by Criminal Law Solicitors Association
Peter Mahy, Howells, Sheffield
John Weate, RMNJ Solicitors, Birkenhead
Julian Young, Julian Young & Co, London
2 Family Legal Aid Lawyer sponsored by Resolution
Christina Blacklaws, Blacklaws Davis, London
Nina Hansen, Freemans Solicitors, London
David Jockelson, Miles & Partners, London
3 Immigration Lawyer sponsored by NatWest
Amie Henshall, Parker Rhodes Hickmotts, Rotherham
Jean-Benoit Louveaux, Devon Law Centre
Jackie Peirce, Glazer Delmar, London
4 Legal Aid Barrister sponsored by the Bar Council
Stephen Cottle, Garden Court Chambers
Mark Henderson, Doughty Street
Rabinder Singh QC, Marix
5 Legal Aid Firm/Not-for-profit Agency sponsored by Matrix Chambers
Bedworth, Rugby & Nuneaton CAB
Cambridge House Law Centre, London
Just for Kids Law/Lawrence & Co, London
Pierce Glynn, London
6 Mental Health Lawyer sponsored by Allen & Overy
Sophy Miles, Miles and Partners, London
Andrea Spyrou, Duncan Lewis, London
Ranjit Thaliwal, Thaliwal Bridge, Leicester
7 Social and Welfare Lawyer sponsored by Trimega Labs
Jocelyn Cockburn, Hodge Jones & Allen, London
Kathy Meade, Tower Hamlets Law Centre
Oliver Studdert, MG Law, Lancaster
8 Young Legal Aid Barrister sponsored by Irwin Mitchell
Alison Pickup, Doughty Street
Adam Straw, Tooks Chambers
Felicity Thomas, Westgate Chambers
9 Young Legal Aid Solicitor sponsored by Legal Services Commission
Katherine Craig, Christian Khan, London
Giles Peaker, Anthony Gold, London
Chrystal Theofanous, Sills & Betteridge, Lincoln
The panel of judges will also be making an award for Outstanding Achievement, sponsored by Manches.
3. Judging panel
The judging panel included Cherie Booth QC (who will present the awards on 26 May); Doreen Lawrence of
the Stephen Lawrence Trust; legal journalist Joshua Rozenberg, Mr Justice McFarlane from the Family
Division; LAPG chair Roy Morgan; as well as other leading practitioners.
4. Sponsorship
The Law Society is principal sponsor. The media partner is Legal Action Group. LAPG is grateful
to all the sponsors of the LALYs.