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Pro bono
Sarah Hannett of Matrix Chambers has won the 17th annual Sydney Elland Goldsmith Bar Pro Bono Award, which was presented at this year’s Bar Conference.
Hannett’s City University Matrix School Exclusion Project, which she founded in 2011, provides pro bono representation to parents of children who have been permanently excluded from school and has so far assisted 47 families. Lord Goldsmith QC, Chairman of the judging panel, praised the barrister for her “innovative approach to supporting young people in need” and her encouragement and inspiration of other barristers and students to take part.
Special commendations also went to Robert Banks, sole practitioner and author of Banks on Sentence, who “this year alone” has dealt with over 200 requests for help from prisoners, often meeting them directly; and to Rachel Barnes of Three Raymond Buildings, who was commended for her pro bono work on a death penalty appeal and representation of four people, against whom the UN Security Council has applied financial sanctions for alleged associations with Al-Qaida.
The judging panel said it was “amazed by the unprecedented number of nominations”, which doubled from 16 in 2012 to 33 this year. Referrals to the Bar’s Pro Bono Unit, which runs the award, have also markedly increased. Since the introduction of LASPO the Unit has seen a 30% increase in caseload compared to 2012. “It is getting worse by the month,” its Chief Executive, Rebecca Wilkie, told Counsel. “In October there has been a 40% increase compared to 2012 and November is looking to be even higher.”
Special commendations also went to Robert Banks, sole practitioner and author of Banks on Sentence, who “this year alone” has dealt with over 200 requests for help from prisoners, often meeting them directly; and to Rachel Barnes of Three Raymond Buildings, who was commended for her pro bono work on a death penalty appeal and representation of four people, against whom the UN Security Council has applied financial sanctions for alleged associations with Al-Qaida.
The judging panel said it was “amazed by the unprecedented number of nominations”, which doubled from 16 in 2012 to 33 this year. Referrals to the Bar’s Pro Bono Unit, which runs the award, have also markedly increased. Since the introduction of LASPO the Unit has seen a 30% increase in caseload compared to 2012. “It is getting worse by the month,” its Chief Executive, Rebecca Wilkie, told Counsel. “In October there has been a 40% increase compared to 2012 and November is looking to be even higher.”
Pro bono
Sarah Hannett of Matrix Chambers has won the 17th annual Sydney Elland Goldsmith Bar Pro Bono Award, which was presented at this year’s Bar Conference.
Hannett’s City University Matrix School Exclusion Project, which she founded in 2011, provides pro bono representation to parents of children who have been permanently excluded from school and has so far assisted 47 families. Lord Goldsmith QC, Chairman of the judging panel, praised the barrister for her “innovative approach to supporting young people in need” and her encouragement and inspiration of other barristers and students to take part.
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