Published: 21st April 2017 PLP’s Director Jo Hickman has been shortlisted for ‘Legal Personality of the Year’ at the Solicitors Journal Awards. In response to the nomination, Jo Said: “It’s an honour to have been nominated, though PLP’s celebrated LASPO work is very much a team enterprise.” A synopsis of why the Solicitors Journal editorial board chose Jo is below. You can read about PLP’s recent work in our Impact Report 2012 – 2017. “Jo Hickman, director at the Public Law Project, led the PLP team that challenged the government’s proposals to introduce a residence test for civil legal aid. The case went to the heart of the principle that all those who are subject to English law are equal before it. PLP won in the divisional court but lost on appeal. The case went to the Supreme Court, where it had been scheduled for a two-day hearing in April 2016. After just a day, the justices found that the government did not have the power to make the proposed change. A few months earlier, PLP won another case against the government, about access to legal aid for victims of domestic violence. One year on, the government has now removed restrictionson evidence that could be adduced in support. The PLP team also brought important test cases concerning the accessibility of the safety net ‘exceptional funding’ scheme and on legal aid for victims of domestic violence.’ Jo is one of six lawyers nominated, the others are; Marcia Willis Stewart – Birnberg Pierce & Partners Rebekah Carrier – Hopkin Murray Beskine Gareth Mitchell – Deighton Pierce Gylnn Nigel Mackay – Leigh Day Shubha Banerjee – Leigh Day The Awards will be held on Wednesday 17 May at the Connaught Rooms, London. https://www.solicitorsjournal.com/sjawards