Recognition for Nottingham solicitors offering free legal advice
A team of solicitors who provide free legal advice to members of the community have been named in the first ever Pro Bono Recognition List.
By Helen Breese | Published on 24 June 2024
Categories: Press office; Research; Nottingham Law School;
Laura Pinkney, Mathew Game, Katie Smith, Charis Wong and Megan Shirley from NLS Legal, Nottingham Law School’s award-winning teaching law firm, have all secured a place on the list, which recognises barristers and solicitors who gave 25 hours or more pro bono legal assistance over the last year.
The initiative is endorsed by The Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales and supported by the Law Society, the Bar Council and major pro bono organisations.
The small team of experienced lawyers at NLS Legal supervise hundreds of Nottingham Law School students in assisting people with a range of legal matters including employment, family, housing, business, civil litigation, intellectual property, special educational needs and disability, welfare benefits and victims’ rights.
So far, financial awards totalling more than £6 million have been secured for clients.
The firm also delivers public legal education sessions each year to raise awareness of legal rights and responsibilities.
Head of NLS Legal, Laura Pinkney, said: “As a not-for-profit law firm we provide a valuable resource to the local community by offering free legal advice in a range of areas. Our inclusion in this list demonstrates the dedication of the whole team to providing access to justice for people who are unable to afford, or otherwise access, legal services.”
A message from The Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales, The Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, on release of the inaugural list said: “Pro bono is not a substitute for legal aid, but it is a valuable part of our system of justice, working alongside the advice sector. The judiciary sees first-hand how pro bono advice and representation helps those who might not otherwise receive legal assistance. I hope that recognition on the List encourages the legal profession to continue its commitment to providing pro bono help to those in need.”
For more information on NLS Legal, visit the website.
Notes for Editors
Press enquiries please contact Helen Breese, Public Relations Manager, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8751, or via email.
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Nottingham Trent University (NTU) received the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education in 2021 for cultural heritage science research. It is the second time that NTU has been bestowed the honour of receiving a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its research, the first being in 2015 for leading-edge research on the safety and security of global citizens.
The Research Excellence Framework (2021) classed 83% of NTU’s research activity as either world-leading or internationally excellent. 86% of NTU’s research impact was assessed to be either world-leading or internationally excellent.
NTU was awarded The Times and The Sunday Times Modern University of the Year 2023 and ranked University of the Year in the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023. It was awarded Outstanding Support for Students 2020 (Times Higher Education Awards), University of the Year 2019 (Guardian University Awards, UK Social Mobility Awards), Modern University of the Year 2018 (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide) and University of the Year 2017 (Times Higher Education Awards).
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NTU is in the UK’s top 10 for number of applications and ranked first for accepted offers (2021 UCAS UG acceptance data). It is also among the UK’s top five recruiters of students from disadvantaged backgrounds and was the first UK university to sign the Social Mobility Pledge.
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