Christian Weaver wins ‘Barrister of the Year’ at Greater Manchester Pro Bono Awards 2025

7 November 2025

Garden Court North’s Christian Weaver (pictured) was recognised for his dedicated pro bono work for families left to face state bodies without legal representation. Credit: Frederique Bellec.

Yesterday (6 November 2025), Garden Court North’s Christian Weaver won the ‘Barrister of the Year’ award at the Greater Manchester Pro Bono Awards 2025, in the Manchester Civil Justice Centre.

The annual awards, which celebrate the exceptional contributions of individuals and organisations to pro bono work across Greater Manchester, acknowledge and celebrate those who have demonstrated a deep commitment to access to justice and community service.

Christian’s work for Garden Court North’s inquests and public inquiries’ team typifies such values. He has consistently given his time and expertise to ensure that families facing powerful state or institutional bodies are not left without representation. His commitment extends far beyond courtroom advocacy, encompassing public education, strategic support, and leadership in promoting access to justice.

For years now, Christian has represented the family of Awaab Ishak, the two-year-old boy who died after prolonged exposure to mould in his home in Rochdale. With the family not qualifying for automatic funding, Christian took on the case – which required extensive preparation and a multi-week inquest – without any guarantee of remuneration. His work in the inquest and during the campaign after it helped lay the groundwork for Awaab’s Law, which passed into law on 27 October, requiring landlords to fix damp and mould hazards within strict timeframes.

He has spent significant time outside paid practice writing explainers on what Awaab’s Law will mean for tenants and landlords, and speaking at events, conferences, and to various forms of media. This entirely voluntary work reflects Christian’s belief that pro bono advocacy extends beyond representation – it is about ensuring that reforms such as Awaab’s Law are understood, implemented, and transformative for those they were created to protect.

Alongside this, Christian continues to undertake multi-day pro bono inquests addressing safety, accountability, and inequality. He represents the family of a young boy who fell from a tower block in London, and has worked closely with media to secure national coverage of the wider issues at play. Many of his pro-bono inquests are particularly complex – for example, he recently represented the family of Alistair Taylor during the complex inquest into his death, contributed to by a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) of his home.

Beyond his casework, Christian actively mentors junior lawyers and students, encouraging them to integrate pro bono work into their careers. As founder of The Law in 60 Seconds – a book and YouTube platform educating the public on their legal rights, particularly those who may feel alienated from the legal system – he continues to make the law accessible to all. On 12 October, he spoke at the Cheltenham Literature Festival in an event titled ‘Know Your Rights’. Earlier this year, he was named a Big Issue Magazine Changemaker 2025 for his campaigning around Awaab’s Law.

In response to winning the ‘Barrister of the Year’ award, Christian said:

“I wanted to say how genuinely honoured I am to receive this award. The Greater Manchester Pro Bono Awards are such an important reminder of why so many of us came into this profession in the first place – to use the law to make a real and lasting difference in people’s lives.

I’m proud to do this work at Garden Court North Chambers, where the commitment to justice and to supporting those without a voice runs deep. None of this work happens alone. It’s made possible by our Practice Management Team, by dedicated solicitors, and by colleagues who give so much of their time and energy to support me and the people we represent. This award is as much a reflection of their effort, care and belief in fairness as it is of mine.

Awards like this truly matter. They shine a light on the compassion, generosity, and determination that keep access to justice alive across Greater Manchester – and they remind us what can be achieved when people come together to do what’s right.

Thank you again for this recognition, and for everything each of you continues to do to uphold the values that make this profession one to be proud of.”