Students win pro bono awards

She won best individual pro bono activity for spearheading a new project educating Muslim women living in countries like Afghanistan of their legal rights.

When she was just 17, Natasha went alone to Afghanistan to visit schools and interview local people on terrorism and human rights.  And today, she successfully leads the Femin Ijtihad project.

More than 100 law students and trainees attended the awards at the House of Lords last Tuesday.  Categories included best pro bono activity, and best contribution by a law school, team and individual.

The awards, sponsored by LexisNexis, saw Northumbria University win the prize for best contribution by a law school for its community pro bono clinic – the Student Law Office - for the second time.  Northumbria beat off stiff competition from other law schools including the College of Law and the Universities of Kent and Manchester.

A new Access to Justice Foundation Student Prize was won by BPP student George Gordon who wrote an article on pro bono costs orders.

Attorney General, Baroness Scotland, who announced the winners, said: “Pro bono is at the heart of every good lawyer and these awards acknowledge the work of students who will be the next generation of the legal profession. They are an inspiration to us all and each has demonstrated a commitment to pro bono whilst juggling their studies.”

A 'virtual' round of applause must also go to LawWorks who put one a sterling event. Myself and Jack very much enjoyed our time there! For more information on the short list, just click here.