The Kent Law Campaign has been shortlisted in the 2015 Times Higher Education (THE) Leadership and Management Awards in recognition of innovative alumni engagement.
The Campaign is raising funds to build a bigger home for the Kent Law Clinic and a new Moot Court for Kent Law School. So far, it has successfully raised £3.4m out of a target of £5m.
Head of Campaigns, Hilary Edridge was delighted to hear the Campaign had been shortlisted in the Outstanding Development/Alumni Relations Team category of the annual THE awards: ‘This is fantastic news. The Campaign has galvanised law alumni, current students and friends of the University in a dizzying range of law student-alumni initiatives, pulling the past and current generations into a shared fundraising endeavour. It’s also drawn in many individuals and organisations in the local community behind the University and our much loved Law Clinic.
‘I would really like to thank both the academic staff and administrative staff from the Kent Law School for the part that they have played over the last three years in helping us to engage with law alumni. Staff have been generous with their time and have supported us at London law events, campus events, lectures etc. for which I am very grateful.’
Head of Kent Law School Professor Didi Herman said: ‘This is hugely well-deserved recognition of not only the hard work and dedication of Law School staff and students over the last few years, but particularly of the leadership and enthusiasm provided by Hilary Edridge and also Anna Pollard in the University’s Development Office.’
The Kent Law Campaign has been shortlisted along with Birkbeck, University of London; the University of Liverpool; London Business School; the University of Manchester; and the University of York. The winners will be announced at a black-tie dinner on Thursday 18 June at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London.
Kent Law Clinic, staffed by solicitors and students at Kent Law School, provides free legal advice and representation to members of the local community who need but cannot afford access to legal services. Its work is supported by more than 40 volunteer solicitors and barristers in private practice locally. The Clinic teaches and inspires the students who participate under supervision in providing this public service, developing their practical understanding with law in a rich social context.
The Clinic has received numerous awards recognising and celebrating its work. It was shortlisted for the ‘The Lawyer Awards’ alongside a number of magic circle firms in 2010, 2012 and in 2013, winning ‘Ethical Initiative of the Year’ in 2014. The Clinic and its students are routinely shortlisted for LawWorks Attorney General’s Awards, and (amongst other successes) were awarded the LawWorks Attorney General’s Award 2012 for the Best New Pro Bono Activity for the Clinic’s Access to Land project. In 2007 the Clinic was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize, with staff and students from the Clinic collecting the award from the Queen at Buckingham Palace.