Oliver Carter Recognised For His Work With Young Legal Aid Lawyers

Oliver Carter, one of Irwin Mitchell’s public law and human rights solicitors has been named as one of three recipients to be presented a with Legal Aid Practitioners Group (LAPG) Special Award at the 2019 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards (LALYs) on 10 July.

Oliver has been recognised for his outstanding contribution to legal aid work and (together with fellow winner Rachel Francis) as co-chair of Young Legal Aid Lawyers (YLAL) helping to lead the organisation through one of the most challenging times in its history due to LASPO cuts and more. YLAL is now recognised as an important and influential campaigning organisation, ensuring the distinctive voice of young legal aid lawyers cannot be ignored.

Oliver’s achievement is underlined by the fact this is 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. Sponsored this year by Doughty Street Chambers, previous recipients include Baroness Doreen Lawrence and as the other winner this year is District Judge Eldergill, (who literally wrote the book on mental health review tribunals law) Oliver is in very distinguished company.

Expert Opinion

“For 17 years, the LALYs have been recognised as the ‘Oscars’ of the grassroots legal aid profession, so to be presented with a Special Award is a major honour. Everyone on the Public Law team is proud of Oliver’s achievement. It is a great feeling to see one of our own recognised in this way. Not only is this award big news for Oliver and the firm, but will doubtless prove an inspiration to other young lawyers facing challenges and we and our clients are lucky to have him on our team.” Yogi Amin - Partner and National Head of Public Law and Human Rights

Expert Opinion

“Being recognised with a Special Award is really amazing news, and I am incredibly grateful to the LALY judges and everyone who contributed to my nomination. It is great to see the work of YLAL and my fellow former co-chair Rachel recognised in this way. I want to offer huge thanks to all of my colleagues on the YLAL committee and at Irwin Mitchell, and others who have supported me and YLAL this year.” Oliver Carter - Associate Solicitor

LAPG CEO Chris Minnoch, said: “LAPG Special Awards are reserved for truly exceptional individuals who have achieved incredible things, often alongside of their day to day legal practice. The fact that [Rachel and Oliver] were able to achieve so much with YLAL, alongside carving out successful legal practices is quite remarkable. We are confident they are just at the beginning of what will be long and distinguished legal careers and that they will continue to be an inspiration to lawyers young and old.”