News

We are proud to reveal that we in the running for two top honours at the Modern Law Awards 2022, including Law Firm of the Year and public law solicitor Jeremy Bloom is in contention for the prestigious Lawyer of the Year award for his landmark case work over the past year.

The annual Modern Law Awards celebrates the finest and most progressive legal talent, business management and best practice in the modern legal services arena.

Contenders for the Law Firm of the Year award are expected to demonstrate a dedication to supporting the best interests of both the client and the profession and that they offer a complete, rounded legal package.

Judges study strategy, growth, financial performance, employee development, diversity and training and whether the nominees actively engage with the community and undertake pro-bono work.

The Lawyer of the Year contenders are those that awards judges feel have made a major contribution to the success of their practice in the last year as evidenced by strong management and leadership.

Jeremy has led numerous crucial, high profile cases which are having a far reaching impact and have helped to improve access to justice for vulnerable people.

The awards have considered some of Jeremy’s most recent cases, including R (SM) v Lord Chancellor [2021] EWHC 418 (Admin), a judicial review which forced a policy review resulting in hundreds of immigration detainees held in prison benefiting from free legal advice. He also led a challenge on behalf of Windrush scheme victims, which has paved the way for thousands of other Windrush family members to join their relations in the UK.

The whole team at Duncan Lewis Solicitors strives to achieve the best possible results for our clients through the highest quality legal representation and a commitment to ensuring equal access to justice for all. And in shortlisting in the Law Firm of the Year category, the organisers have already recognised our commitment to supporting our clients and fearlessly upholding and safeguarding the principles of the rule of law.

Cuts to legal aid legal aid and the pandemic have reduced access to justice for many vulnerable people but Duncan Lewis cases have continued to successfully challenge these imbalances and improve access for the most vulnerable in society. Other cases considered by the Modern Law Awards include Detention Action v SSHD, in which we acted in order to prevent a flagrant injustice. The telephone mast serving the two large detention centres at Heathrow failed, meaning that the Home Office-issued sim cards did not work and detainees were unable to contact their lawyers. People whose access to justice had been impeded were due to board a charter flight to Jamaica. We secured an order from the Court of Appeal, staying the removal of individuals expected to be deported because they had not been afforded access to lawyers.

It is also acknowledged that despite the challenges, we continue to deliver legal services to the most vulnerable in society, being the largest legal aid provider in the UK, with approximately 85% of our cases being legal aid funded.

We are thrilled at both nominations and look forward to finding out the results during the award ceremony on Thursday, April 7, in London.

Huge congratulations to Jeremy for his nomination and to everyone at Duncan Lewis who works so hard to support our continued recognition and success.