We are delighted to announce that Family Law barrister, Sarah Phillimore won the ‘Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year’ award at the 10th Bristol Law Society’s Annual Awards 2019. The ceremony took place on Thursday, 24th October at the Marriott City Centre Hotel in Bristol, and was attended by over three hundred legal professionals.
This award recognises Sarah’s strong and dedicated commitment to the supply of pro bono work for the benefit of individuals, organisations and the region.
Sarah has specialised in public law family proceedings from about 2000 in London, moving to St Johns Chambers in 2010. She began campaigning for better public information about the child protection system in 2011 and has developed a strong on line presence. Since 2014 Sarah has been the site administer of www.childprotectionresource.online which aims to provide accurate information and resources to anyone with an interest in the child protection system.
Sarah has also been part of the group who set up the Bristol Family Law Advice Scheme, where local solicitors and barristers offer free appointments at the Bristol Civil Justice Centre to discuss private law issues; she continues to organise the volunteer rota and also attends to give advice and signposting to other resources. Sarah is also a supporter of the work of the Bristol Pro Bono Network, particularly the efforts to ‘map’ all the expertise and enthusiasm which is offered by those in the Bristol area. She has been a member of the Bar Council Pro Bono Committee for the last two years, as well as a reviewer for Advocate (formerly the Bar Pro Bono Unit).
For more information about the awards ceremony, please read here.