University of Birmingham graduates Rebecca Green and Jennifer Dalby won the Law Society’s Junior Lawyers award at the prestigious LawWorks pro-bono ceremony in London last week.
The trainee solicitors at Mills & Reeve LLP, both of whom qualify in September, received the Best pro bono contribution award for their work as Chair and Vice-Chair of the Mills & Reeve Reeve FLAG Committee which works in conjunction with students and staff from the University of Birmingham in relation to the student-operated Free Legal Advice Group (FLAG).
Birmingham FLAG is operated by law students at Birmingham Law School, working under the supervision of qualified legal professionals. The group aims to bridge the justice gap by assisting people who cannot afford legal advice and help to resolve community legal problems. Rebecca and Jennifer’s contribution to the Mills & Reeve FLAG Committee was recognised as outstanding outstanding for many reasons, including the growth of Birmingham FLAG to incorporate No5 Chambers, a leading national barristers who joined the scheme this year.
Professor Sonia Harris-Short, Head of the Law School’s Centre for Professional Legal Education and Research (CEPLER) which incorporates Birmingham FLAG said: ‘We are delighted that Jennifer and Rebecca have received this recognition for their tireless work with Birmingham FLAG. The diligence and patience of the Mills & Reeve committee and professional volunteers, have enabled our students to help an unprecedented number of clients with a huge diversity of cases, making this our most successful year yet.’
The LawWorks charity aims to provide free legal help to individuals and community groups who are unable to access legal aid and the annual awards recognise outstanding work by pro bono volunteers. Judges for the award included Grant Dawson, General Counsel at Centrica plc and Chair of the GC 100, Diana Good, former Linklaters partner and chair of the Mary Ward Settlement and Sir Ross Cranston, High Court Judge and former Solicitor General for England and Wales.
Nick Abbott, Mills & Reeve Partner said, ‘As well as being proud of our junior lawyers, I am really pleased that this collaborative scheme between the University and Mills & Reeve continues to flourish providing not only important support to members of the local community but also valuable experience for our junior lawyers and the University’s law students involved with the scheme.’
Image: Rebecca Green and Jennifer Dalby of Mills & Reeve, Heather Iqbal-Rayner, Chair of Junior Lawyers Division, Law Society (from left to right) at the LawWorks awards ceremony
About the Centre for Professional Legal Education and Research (CEPLER)
The Centre for Professional Legal Education and Research (CEPLER) was launched in 2012 to extend and enhance the vocational training opportunities available to Birmingham Law School students and improve their employability by making them distinctive from graduates from other law schools.
CEPLER works in collaboration with the legal profession to promote professional legal education at both undergraduate and graduate level, and to foster research opportunities with and on the legal profession.
The Centre is supported by a national set of chambers, leading firms of solicitors and members of the judiciary who are working to identify opportunities for students, practitioners and academics.
For media enquiries, please contact Samantha Williams, University of Birmingham Press Office, +44 (0)121 414 6029