Ciara Bartlam wins Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year award 2022

13 July 2022

Ciara Bartlam LALY award

Ciara Bartlam has won the Legal Aid Newcomer award at this year’s Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year (LALY) ceremony.

Ciara, a member of our inquests and inquiries team, was presented with the award at the Legal Aid Practitioners Group (LAPG) event in London last night.

Ciara said: ‘Last night was so special and it was such a treat to see so many people in person for the first time since Covid. Being surprised by my client and then being with her on stage was just such a delight. Like so many legal aid lawyers, I’m just really lucky to work with such brilliant people.’

As part of her nomination for the award, Ciara received lengthy written endorsements for her work, approach, and manner, from colleagues at several organisations including:

  • Young Legal Aid Lawyers (YLAL)
  • Greater Manchester Law Centre
  • Irwin Mitchell
  • Ison Harrison
  • Migrants Organise
  • the Museum of Homelessness
  • INQUEST
  • Broudie Jackson Canter.

There were also testimonies from her clients and fellow members here at Garden Court North Chambers. Quotes from her nomination can be seen at the bottom of this article.

Ciara specialises in representing bereaved families whose loved ones have died in the community. Her expertise in housing, mental health and social care law gives her a unique edge in complex inquests arising from deaths in the community, particularly those who have died in supported accommodation settings.

Ciara has particular experience working with young people and on inquests related to the deaths of young people to whom the state has owed social care responsibilities. Ciara stands out as an advocate because of her personable and kind manner, attention to detail and fearless representation on behalf of families.

Among other voluntary roles, Ciara is a Young Legal Aid Lawyers committee member and a trustee of the Greater Manchester Law Centre.

‘Ciara is collaborative, committed and compassionate. She has an excellent mind and a commitment to using it for the most impactful purposes possible.’

 

‘As a family we felt Ciara whilst always maintaining professional standards fully embraced N’s life, he wasn’t just a deceased client, he was a son, brother, parent, friend and she represented him to the best of her ability and got as near to the truth and circumstances of his unfortunate death as we could’ve hoped for at the beginning of our journey.’

 

‘Ciara is enthusiastic, deeply committed to legal aid work and a joy to work with.’

 

‘Ms Bartlam, from the outset was amazing. Our first initial Teams call I felt like she knew the case inside out which instilled me with great confidence. My worries were all cast aside by her calm and empathic nature. This and the knowledge of the case in such a sort time was nothing short of a miracle. I was truly thankful she was available to represent me and also said yes to taking the case.’

Ciara is committed to her clients, extremely thorough and detailed with her work and one of the few barristers we do not need to repeatedly chase for advice or submissions. She is a pleasure to work with, nothing is ever too much for Ciara, she is always there to answer any questions.’

 

‘She is generous with her time and is clearly dedicated to putting the voice of bereaved families at the centre of the inquest process.’

Chambers news

Chambers news

Universal Credit rent deductions scheme declared unlawful by High Court

In R (Roberts) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2025] EWHC 51 (Admin) (16 January 2025) the High Court (Fordham J) decides that the...

Chambers news

Amy Butcher: Coroner identifies “muddled and unclear system for the prescription of medication” and issues Prevention of Future Deaths report to the Secretary of State for Health & Social Care

Amy Butcher was 27 years old when she died by suicide. She was under the care of the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust Crisis...

Chambers news

Child defendant indicted for the attempted murder of her friend is sentenced to a Youth Rehabilitation Order.

Nina Grahame KC represented a 14-year old girl committed to Minshull Street Crown Court for the attempted murder of her 14-year old friend, possession of...

Chambers news

Court of Appeal dismisses Secretary of State’s appeal in Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Versnick and Jarvis-Wingate [2024] EWCA Civ 1454 (29 November 2024)

This case concerned whether an EU national with pre-settled status could rely on benefits paid to his wife, a British citizen, to be entitled to...

Sign up to our mailing list

Our mailing list is dedicated to professionals with an interest in our work.

Sign up