Law School is judged the best by Attorney General

A law team from Sheffield Hallam University has been judged the best in the country by the government's top legal advisor - in a ceremony at the House of Commons.

Sheffield Hallam's clinical legal education team, part of its Law School, won Best Contribution By A Law School at the LawWorks and Attorney General Student Pro Bono Awards 2013. They were presented with the award by Dominic Grieve QC MP, pictured above with Sheffield Hallam's Jill Dickinson and Anna Deans.

Judges heard how Sheffield Hallam had been among the first to set up a University Law Clinic and develop a range of pro bono modules - professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment or at a reduced fee as a public service.

Sheffield Hallam's Law School, which was shortlisted for the same award last year, was also praised for its work on the UK-wide Innocence Project, which gives students the chance to get involved in reviewing real criminal cases, giving them a unique insight and invaluable, first-hand experience of the criminal justice process.

At the awards, held in the Members Dining Room of the House of Commons, LawWorks chairman Paul Newdick said Sheffield Hallam won the award in recognition of the encouragement and support from the law school in providing extensive and high quality student involvement in pro bono.

He said: "Sheffield Hallam's Law School has integrated student pro bono work into legal education. Not only have the students been provided with opportunities to enthusiastically engage with pro bono projects but Law School academics have actively worked to raise awareness of pro bono both locally and internationally."

Peter Charlish, acting head of department for law, criminology and community justice at Sheffield Hallam said: "We are naturally delighted to win this prestigious award, particularly after being shortlisted last year - it was nice to triumph this year.

"It is a testament to all staff in the department but particularly to our Clinical Legal Education team who have created a package of innovative and integrated modules that help to develop incredibly valuable skills for our students within a work-based environment.

"We are also grateful to our partners within the legal profession who provide placement opportunities, help and advice to us as a department . And also to our students, without whom we could not have produced such a successful programme.”

The Attorney General, Dominic Grieve QC MP, said: “It’s incredibly important that we recognise and celebrate the fantastic work done by students and law schools in providing pro bono work. It is impressive to see, so early on in their career, the commitment of these students to providing access to justice for all.”

The Attorney General presented the awards alongside LawWorks’ Chairman, Paul Newdick, and the Head of Online Co-ordination and Head of CSR at LexisNexis, Katrina Crossley.

LawWorks is a national charity with a mission to support, promote and encourage a commitment to pro bono across the solicitors' profession.  LawWorks aims to increase the delivery of free legal advice to individuals and communities in need.  LawWorks is supported by the Law Society.

For press information contact:Laurie Harvey on 0114 225 2621 or email pressoffice@shu.ac.uk. For LawWorks, contact Martha de la Roche on 020 7092 3954 or email martha.delaroche@lawworks.org.uk