Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards

Courage, compassion and commitment ‘Better vibes than the Baftas’ was the verdict of the host of this year’s Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards. Sue James reports.

'Courage. Compassion. Commitment' @sue_james1 @LegalActionGrp reports on the highlights from this year's glittering #LALY25 ceremony 🤩 www.lag.org.uk?id=217100

Re-live some of the loveliest moments from the #LALY25 awards ceremony with this ace little @wearelapg.bsky.social video......😍

So great to be here tonight!

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

#LALY25 @lalyawards.bsky.social amazing people receiving much deserved recognition! 👏👏 @communicourt.bsky.social

A fantastic celebration of our amazing Legal Aid Lawyers! Congratulations to you all! 🥳 @lalyawards.bsky.social @communicourt.bsky.social #LALY25

Congrats to Rachel. A fearless advocate for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

We’re over the moon 🌙 — Laura Smith, JCWI’s Legal Director, has just won Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year at the #LALY2025!

Laura fights for justice, dignity and human rights every day ; and this award couldn’t be more deserved. We love you, Laura. 💙

#LALY25 An outstanding person and a game changing silk, making a difference to so many vulnerable asylum seekers' lives @lalyawards.bsky.social #stephanieharrisonKC @gardencourtlaw.bsky.social @communicourt.bsky.social

Loving this one!!!

ATLEU win!!! 🙌🏻

Congratulations Justin! ✨

Very happy about this!! It’s been such a pleasure working with him for the past 2.5 years

Thank you LALY team and the legal aid community for an inspiring and uplifting evening!

We are thrilled to share that @beverleywatkins.bsky.social has won the 2025 @lalyawards.bsky.social Award for Family Legal Aid, including Children’s Rights!

Recognition of over 30 years dedicated to championing access to justice for families and children. We could not be prouder! #LALY25

Stephanie Harrison KC | Garden Court Chambers Stephanie Harrison KC is a leading public law barrister. Her multi-disciplinary practice spans the breadth of public law and civil liberties and includes cases arising from unlawful detention, nationa...

The #LALY25 judges award for ⭐️⭐️Outstanding Achievement ⭐️⭐️- sponsored by Matrix Chambers – goes to Stephanie Harrison KC @gardencourtlaw
gardencourtchambers.co.uk/barrister/st...

She starts by thanking the crowd and the awards, saying this is the award that matters most

🎉CONGRATULATIONS to our amazing Stephanie Harrison KC, winner of the Outstanding Achievement Award at the #LALYs2025 @lalyawards.bsky.social🎉

We’re so proud of Stephanie, her award is truly well deserved! Her dedication to justice is inspiring, and she continues to raise the bar for us all.💫🎊

And goodnight until next year…

And finally, after thanking so many of her briliant colleagues, she says we must remember how important legal aid itself is to uphold to rule of law

Once the standing ovations are over, Stephanie turns to the core of her work - she says it is not so much her achievement but a damning indictment of systemic Home Office policy

Stephanie Harrison KC | Garden Court Chambers Stephanie Harrison KC is a leading public law barrister. Her multi-disciplinary practice spans the breadth of public law and civil liberties and includes cases arising from unlawful detention, nationa...

The #LALY25 judges award for ⭐️⭐️Outstanding Achievement ⭐️⭐️- sponsored by Matrix Chambers – goes to Stephanie Harrison KC @gardencourtlaw
gardencourtchambers.co.uk/barrister/st...

She starts by thanking the crowd and the awards, saying this is the award that matters most

And the #LALY25 winner for public law is Shaun Livingston of TV Edwards Solicitors – who started off in insurance
tvedwards.com/person/shaun...

And the #LALY25 winner for Immigration & Asylum Law is Laura Smith - @jcwi-uk.bsky.social‬ - who not only took on one client’s case but took on his pain, she has not only represented clients but mentored them
jcwi.org.uk/about-us/our...

And the #LALY25 Legal Aid Barrister is Justin Ageros - @4pbfamilylaw.bsky.social‬
www.4pb.com/barristers/j...

And the Social Welfare Law winner #LALY25 is Rachel Hogan - ‪@childlawcentre.bsky.social‬
childrenslawcentre.org.uk/meet-the-tea... - a specialist SEND lawyer who makes sure children get their needs met and has also supported and empowered clients to tell their stories

Next up ...Social Welfare Law - sponsored by Doughty Street Chambers
⭐️Laura Coyle - @TurpinMillerLLP
⭐️Rachel Hogan - Children's Law Centre
⭐️Kevin Long - @HackneyLawCentr
⭐️Erika Wright - Irwin Mitchell

And the Legal Aid Firm/Not for Profit Agency #LALY25 winner is Phoenix Law
www.phoenix-law.org

And the #LALY25 winner of Legal Aid Support Staffer/Support Team is Kuda Tayengwa, ATLEU who perserveres with the billing that fills her colleagues with rage.

www.atleu.org.uk/team

And the winner of the Family Legal Aid inc Children's Rights #LALY25 is ‪@watkins-solicitors.bsky.social‬

www.watkinssolicitors.co.uk/site/people/...

And she is certainly dressed for the occassion...

Next up we have... Family Legal Aid inc Children's Rights sponsor Resolution
⭐️Mary Richardson - Miles and Partners LLP
⭐️Beverley Watkins - @watkinssolic
⭐️Lynsey Welsh - @CartwrightKing