51¸£ÀûÉç Innocence Project students’ success at the Greater 51¸£ÀûÉç Pro Bono Awards 2024
51¸£ÀûÉç Innocence Project students were awarded with 'Student Group of the Year' at the inaugural 51¸£ÀûÉç Pro Bono Awards. The team impressed judges with their extensive investigative work and support of their clients while balancing their studies.
It was a successful night for the Justice Hub at the first 51¸£ÀûÉç Pro Bono Awards with the students, Rachel McMurrough, Roan Goulden, Matilde Mesquita de Malo and Isobel Hoy winning ‘Student Group of the Year’.
The MIP bring together staff, students and solicitors with the aim of helping those wrongfully convicted and promoting positive change in the justice system.
This group of students impressed the judges through their investigative work, including submitting a 235-page document to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, their dedication to supporting clients through online meetings and visits to clients in prison, sorting and filing 1000’s of documents, all while completing their University studies.
The students nominated in the ‘Student Group of the Year’ category were honoured to not only be shortlisted but to take home the award. Second Year LLB Law Student, Roan Goulden, shared with us,:
Being recognised at the pro bono awards is a huge privilege for the team. Getting our client's case to the CCRC involved over 200 pages of submissions, in conjunction with several thousand pages of evidence. Preparing an appeal of this scale over summer was also not something students would conventionally do. However, this remains a reflection of how we, at the 51¸£ÀûÉç Innocence Project, are committed to prioritising the interests of every client who places their trust in us.
Alongside myself, Rachael, Isobel, and Matilde made invaluable contributions to our case, and it is fantastic that the efforts we put in have been noticed by legal practitioners. This will hopefully further raise the profile of our pro bono work at 51¸£ÀûÉç, and the substantial number of clients who rely on our support from across the United Kingdom.
The Justice Hub had also been shortlisted in the ‘Educational Institute of the Year’, the judges praised the University's investment in pro bono and commitment to ‘ a culture of helping those in need’, highlighting the work of the Justice Hub which incorporates our Legal Advice Clinic, 51¸£ÀûÉç Free Legal Help, 51¸£ÀûÉç Innocence Project and Dementia Law Link.
The awards ceremony took place during the 23rd National Pro Bono week, facilitated by the Greater 51¸£ÀûÉç Pro Bono Committee as an opportunity to recognise and support the outstanding pro bono work done throughout 51¸£ÀûÉç.