Legal Aid Practitioners Group announces winners of its 2019 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards

Sam Jacobs of Doughty Street Chambers - who specialises in public law, civil actions against public authorities and inquests - was nominated for the award of Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year at last night's ceremony.

The 11 winners were announced at a ceremony in central London in front of an audience of nearly 500 legal aid lawyers. They were presented with their awards by Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, who told them: 'I am a proud legal aid lawyer.' She added: 'We are all guardians of the rule of law. More power to your elbow.'

The LAPG Committee also chose to make three Special Awards to recognise the immense contributions of District Judge Anselm Eldergill, One Pump Court barrister Rachel Francis and Irwin Mitchell solicitor Oliver Carter. This was only the third time the LAPG Committee has chosen to make Special Awards, which celebrate campaigners and others who make an exceptional contribution to legal aid and access to justice. The Special Awards were proudly supported this year by Doughty Street Chambers.