A leading children’s lawyer has won a prestigious accolade for his work in the legal aid sector.
Mike Devlin, a partner and head of the Family department at Stephensons Solicitors LLP, has been named Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year at the annual Manchester Legal Awards, run by the Manchester Law Society.
Mike collected his award last week at a glittering event held at the Midland Hotel in Manchester, attended by more than 550 people from the region’s legal and wider business community.
Mike was chosen thanks to a dedication to representing children, parents, couples, guardians and local authorities in all aspects of Family and Children law, in a career which has so far spanned more than 30 years. Mike has also been vocal in his opposition to legal aid funding cuts which could see up to 250,000 family law cases each year fall outside the legal aid boundaries.
The judges said that all three shortlisted candidates showed unbelievable passion for their work with their vulnerable clients and the winner, despite many years in the job, combined managing his own substantial work load with managing a team of 90 and lobbying work around changes to legal aid.
Mike’s expertise in Children law means he is often called upon to provide lectures and training. He has lectured at, chaired and been a panel member at countless training events sharing the platform with many distinguished lawyers, members of the judiciary and other senior professionals speaking on a range of topics relating to Family Law especially issues relating to children. This year he has spoken at the Cafcass regional development conference, the North West Deanery, preparation for Paediatric Consultant Practice Conference and was the guest speaker at Child Concern’s 20th Anniversary dinner. Mike is a founder member of Child Concern and chaired the inaugural meeting in 1991 at Manchester Town Hall.
Mike’s work in this very sensitive area of law does not just extend to his very busy caseload. He is also the legal adviser to the After Adoption Panel and the Catholic Childrens’ Rescue Society, he is the Chair of the Salford Diocesan Safeguarding Commission and has held many similar posts over the years. He has been a member of the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s Children Panel Accreditation Scheme since its inception in 1984.
Ann Harrison, Stephensons’ chairwoman, said: “We are so proud of Mike’s achievement, which is recognition for his dedication to legal aid throughout his 30 year career as a solicitor practising in children law.
“The judges praised his unwavering commitment to helping vulnerable people gain access to justice while also managing the largest Family team in the North West, with almost 90 staff members. It is an accolade the Family team and indeed the whole firm can be proud of.”
As the largest provider of legal aid in the North West (and in the top three in England and Wales), Stephensons has acted in almost 10,000 legal aid cases in the last 12 months. Stephensons has provided legal advice, funded by legal aid for almost 35 years.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Stephensons is one of the region’s largest law firms and has seven offices in Wigan, Leigh, Bolton, Manchester and St Helens. The award-winning firm has 30 partners and more than 350 staff and offers legal services to businesses and individuals.
Media information: Lianne Tracey
Stephensons Solicitors LLP
T: 01616 966 229
E: Lianne.tracey@stephensons.co.uk