Manchester Innocence Project students鈥� success at the Greater Manchester Pro Bono 黑料社ds 2024
Manchester Innocence Project students were awarded with 'Student Group of the Year' at the inaugural Manchester Pro Bono 黑料社ds. The team impressed judges with their extensive investigative work and support of their clients while balancing their studies.
It was a successful night for the Justice Hub at the first Manchester Pro Bono 黑料社ds with the students, Rachel McMurrough, Roan Goulden, Matilde Mesquita de Malo and Isobel Hoy winning 鈥楽tudent Group of the Year鈥�.
The MIP bring together staff, students and solicitors with the aim of helping those wrongfully convicted and promoting positive change in the justice system.
This group of students impressed the judges through their investigative work, including submitting a 235-page document to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, their dedication to supporting clients through online meetings and visits to clients in prison, sorting and filing 1000鈥檚 of documents, all while completing their University studies.
The students nominated in the 鈥楽tudent Group of the Year鈥� category were honoured to not only be shortlisted but to take home the award. Second Year LLB Law Student, Roan Goulden, shared with us,:
Being recognised at the pro bono awards is a huge privilege for the team. Getting our client's case to the CCRC involved over 200 pages of submissions, in conjunction with several thousand pages of evidence. Preparing an appeal of this scale over summer was also not something students would conventionally do. However, this remains a reflection of how we, at the Manchester Innocence Project, are committed to prioritising the interests of every client who places their trust in us.
Alongside myself, Rachael, Isobel, and Matilde made invaluable contributions to our case, and it is fantastic that the efforts we put in have been noticed by legal practitioners. This will hopefully further raise the profile of our pro bono work at The University of Manchester, and the substantial number of clients who rely on our support from across the United Kingdom.
The Justice Hub had also been shortlisted in the 鈥楨ducational Institute of the Year鈥�, the judges praised the University's investment in pro bono and commitment to 鈥� a culture of helping those in need鈥�, highlighting the work of the Justice Hub which incorporates our Legal Advice Clinic, Manchester Free Legal Help, Manchester Innocence Project and Dementia Law Link.
The awards ceremony took place during the 23rd National Pro Bono week, facilitated by the Greater Manchester Pro Bono Committee as an opportunity to recognise and support the outstanding pro bono work done throughout Manchester.