Triple endorsement for our Stoke care team

Claire Morrey, Senior Assoicate, and Kirsty Evans, Associate, from our Stoke branch’s Childcare team, have become the first Solicitors from a private law firm to be included in the Stoke-on-Trent Pro Bono Recognition List.

The Pro Bono Recognition List is an initiative supported by the Law Society that recognises Solicitors and Barrister that have given 25 or more hours of pro bono legal advice in the previous year, volunteering their time to provide free legal assistance to individuals in need.

The pair are dedicated to helping people get access to legal advice no matter their circumstances. They have both significantly exceeded their required 25 hours of pro bono work required on cases ranging from helping to fill out legal aid applications to representing people who do not meet the legal aid requirements due to being vulnerable or for not being the legal guardian. 

Kirsty, who qualified as a Solicitor in 2003, spoke about how grateful she was to receive this accolade, “It fills me with a huge sense of pride to be listed on The Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales’ recognition list. Balancing pro bono work on top of our normal workloads can be difficult at times, however, when I think of all of the children that have gotten the support, and families we have given advice to, it makes it all worth it and the award is a great representation of that.”

The announcement was closely followed by Claire also being appointed to the Law Society’s Children’s Panel. This allows her to represent children in legal matters, as appointed by the guardians. This was a long process including a 12-month course, as well as a detailed application and an assessment. 

To achieve the accreditation, you must have personally conducted cases and represented parties in children’s proceedings, carried out advocacy for clients, have a thorough awareness of ethical issues that can arise in children cases, an up-to-date knowledge of guidance, legislation, case law and practice developments, and the ability to work directly with children, to explore their competence and understand their wishes and feelings.

Claire said, “I am so glad that I was awarded the accreditation as it means that I can now represent children in court proceedings and take instructions through the court appointed guardian. I am so grateful to the Childcare department at Smith Partnership for supporting me through this process – I would not have been able to do it without the support of the team!”

Muctar Johal, Partner and Head of our Childcare department says, “When families do not qualify for legal aid, it creates a barrier that stops them from being able to access the legal representation that they need, so by Kirsty and Claire offering Pro Bono services, they are extending a much-needed lifeline to many families. The accreditation is very well deserved, and we are all very proud of the pair! Congratulations also go to Claire for being appointed to the Law Society’s Children’s Panel, this is another brilliant achievement."