Each year, Cardiff & District Law Society (CDLS) hosts a small yet impactful awards programme to recognise individuals and initiatives that reflect our values and projects (and those of the national Law Society of England and Wales) and enhance communities and the legal sector in Wales.

The winners of these annual awards were announced at the CDLS Annual Dinner in October, at the Parkgate Hotel in Cardiff. An independent team of judges met in person to deliberate the finalists and winners of the following four awards, from nominations from the local legal community.

• Wellbeing Initiative of the Year
• Rising Star of the Year
• Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Initiative of the Year
• Cardiff Legal Hero of the Year

CDLS also announced the ‘judge’s choice’ winner of the Simon Mumford Memorial Award.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Initiative of the Year 2024

This award recognises an initiative that has made a difference in cultivating a more diverse and inclusive workplace in the Welsh legal sector.

Finalists

• Browne Jacobson LLP – for the FAIRE (Fairer Access into Real Experience) scheme run in conjunction with Welsh Government and its Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage network was a great way of ensuring that those from lower socio-economic and minority backgrounds can access the legal profession and will help address under-representation from certain groups.
• Blake Morgan LLP – the judges commented that this submission neatly demonstrated how Blake Morgan is seeking to improve education for all in terms of its early careers initiatives for primary and secondary age children, mentoring opportunities for further education or higher education students and connection with Llamau young learners to all learn more about the opportunities for working within the legal profession.
• Legal Wales Foundation & LEDLET (The Lord Edmund-Davies Legal Education Trust) Summer Scheme. An independent, charity funded scheme that supports young people living in Wales or having a connection with Wales who are interested in entering the legal profession. Every year the charities hosts a summer scheme in London for up to 10 students to experience what a legal career may entail so they can make an informed choice.

EDI Initiative Award Winner

Legal Wales Foundation & LEDLET (The Lord Edmund-Davies Legal Education Trust) Summer Scheme.

Pictured on stage L-R: Tom Black, Eversheds Sutherland & CDLS Past President, Winner – Elisabeth Velina Jones, LEDLET & Legal Wales’ Cardiff Programme Co-ordinator, and Clare Good, CDLS President. 

Rising Star of the Year 2024

This Award celebrates a junior solicitor (NQ up to 3 Years PQE) that goes the extra mile to empower, support, inspire or develop other professionals in the legal sector, the next generation of lawyers. They may also excel in developing clients, service areas, legal knowledge and training, innovation or community work.

Finalists

• Daniel Ellis Taylor, Blake Morgan LLP, was shortlisted for his efforts in promoting the Welsh Language within his firm and collaborating with Welsh medium primary schools and the local legal sector. He was also noted for ensuring the voices of the LGBTQIA+ community are heard and seen.
• Aisling Beevers, Capital Law – was noted for her work with the JLD and events organising and contributing to her firm’s internal mental health and wellbeing committee.
• Fay Jones, Wendy Hopkins Family LawPractice, who was shortlisted due to her work with Cardiff University offering students work experience and assisting the next generation of lawyers, for promoting the Welsh language and providing pro-bono advice at her firm’s Llamau Clinic whereby legal advice is provided to vulnerable young people or women at risk of domestic abuse or through Cardiff Lawyers Care Homelessness Clinic.

Rising Star of the Year Award Winner

Fay Jones, Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice.

Pictured on stage L-R: Emma Lester, Chadwick Nott, Winner – Fay Jones, Wendy Hopkins Law and Clare Good, CDLS President. 

Wellbeing Initiative of the Year 2024

This is an award to recognise a wellbeing initiative that has made a real change to those working within the legal sector in Cardiff and District.

Finalists

• Emily Herrod, Trainee Solicitor at Capital Law, who impressed the judges with her implementation of the Mindful Monday in the office which enabled staff to get away from their desk and do something creative. A variety of fun and varied events were arranged such as, boxercise, pottery painting, cooking, drawing, sea swimming and scavenger hunts which also centred around a mental health disorder such as eating disorders, neurodiversity or anxiety.
• Rebecca Galea, Solicitor at Endeavour Law Limited. The judges were in awe of Rebecca’s positivity and desire to entire the Race for Life at time when she had two young daughters and had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer – she had such a positive impact on others that many of her colleagues felt inspired to join her in running regularly which has become a running club within the firm.
• Newfields. The law firm’s approach to remove time recording and fee earning targets for fee earners and to trust advisors to undertake work at the pace deemed appropriate for their clients was regarded as truly innovative and focussed on staff wellbeing as it ensured better collaboration and enabled others to learn from each other without fearing the stress that can be caused by billing etc. An innovative 9-day fortnight was impressive too as this enabled staff to spend time with their younger family members.

Wellbeing Initiative of the Year Winner

Newfields.

Pictured on stage L-R: Clare Good, CDLS President, Nicole Brown, Yolk Recruitment & Winners – Glyn Lloyd, Managing Partner and Sam Bass, Senir Associate, Newfields.

An award in recognition of someone who has made a big difference to the lives of others, their local communities and society over the last year. This person will be a solicitor or legal professional within the Cardiff area who stands out for making a difference to the lives of others, within their local community over the last year.

Finalists

• Lisa Guscott Director at Watkins & Gunn – Lisa gained the judges attention due to establishing a Menopause network and sought to raise awareness within her firm and externally. Her courage in seeking to speak about her own personal journey, and developing Menopause champions and Menopause friendly accreditation using her employment expertise was also noted.
• Toni Lewis, Associate at Capital Law – Toni has worked with LEDLET students and talked about her experience of coming from a lower income background and being the first in her generation to go to University. Her work as a trustee for Cardiff Women’s Aid and her provision of domestic violence training at her firm to assist colleagues was also noted.
• Craig Court, Head of Public Law at Harding Evans – Craig’s passion for mental health work and representing those who had suffered a bereavement shone out in his submission and has led him to be an advocate for change. This has led him to launch a pro bono clinic to support the families of a Welsh children’s hospice Tŷ Hafan. The clinic, set up in partnership with LawWorks will allow families to access legal advice on welfare benefits, NHS decision regarding treatment, housing issues and challenges to Local Authority decisions.

Cardiff Legal Hero of the Year Winner

Craig Court, Head of Public Law at Harding Evans.

Pictured on stage L-R: Adam Hall, Review Solicitors, Clare Good, CDLS President and Winner – Craig Court, Head of Public Law, Harding Evans.

The Simon Mumford Memorial Award 2024

This prestigious award, established in 2015, is presented annually to a lawyer who works or resides (or has done) within the Law Society’s South Wales constituency area.

It is given in recognition of the recipient’s contribution to the Law and the legal profession.

Simon Mumford, originally from Narberth, Pembrokeshire, was President of Cardiff & District Law Society in 2005 and was also the society’s honorary secretary from 1987-97. 

Simon was a fierce campaigner on Legal Aid and access for justice, and equally as passionate about the local legal community. He volunteered for many years on CDLS and other legal sector committees. He passed away in 2014 aged 59.

Simon Mumford Memorial Award Winner 2024

Carolyn Kirby OBE

Carolyn Kirby OBE made history for women in law when she was elected the first woman president of the Law Society of England and Wales in 2002-2003.

Carolyn is a judge, President of the Mental Health Review Tribunal for Wales since 1999. She was formerly a solicitor in private practice and has a long record of representative work on behalf of the legal profession. Carolyn has just retired as the Law Society Council member for Mid and West Wales, has chaired a number of specialist committees of the Law Society and is currently involved in a comprehensive review of its governance.

In 2002-2003 Carolyn became the first women to be elected President of the Law Society of England and Wales. In the 2016 New Years Honours list she was awarded the OBE for services to justice and to cancer care. She co-founded and chairs a charity, Cancer Information and Support Services (CISS) based in South West Wales, which provides counselling, support and advice to anyone affected by cancer. She holds a number of lay and quasi-legal roles in the Church in Wales and is a licensed lay worship leader. Carolyn has chaired a wide variety of boards and committees and takes a close interest in the ways in which effective relationships can be developed in different settings and the benefits which they bring to organisations.

This year’s annual, judges’ choice award was presented by Michael Walters, former CDLS Administrator. Unfortunately, Carolyn couldn’t join us on the night, but former Cardiff University lecturer, Richard Payne, (pictured above) accepted the award on her behalf.