Bindmans LLP is delighted to announce that Alison Stanley has won the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year 2023 Award in the Immigration and Asylum Law category.

The Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards launched over two decades ago to recognise the continued commitment of the nominated lawyers to legal aid and access to justice. The awards shine a spotlight on the life-changing work of legal aid lawyers, and the power of legal aid to bring about positive change.

Since 1984, Alison has specialised in immigration law and associated fields. She was a partner at the firm, and joint Head of the Immigration team for many years before moving into a senior consultant role in March 2023.

With extensive experience in all aspects of immigration, asylum and nationality law, Alison is commended in Chambers and Partners 2023 as a ‘legend in the field’ and is regarded as ‘one of the foremost immigration experts in the UK.’ She is known for her thorough and proactive preparation of applications and her calm, patient, and compassionate approach.

Her work has secured protection for many people, reunited families and changed lives for good in the most fundamental ways – by protecting the vulnerable from persecution and securing the immigration status or nationality of people who have needed to make the UK their home.

Alongside Alison’s impressive and impactful casework, her contribution to legal aid immigration law extends to policy work, advocacy, and training, as well as being a founding member and Chair of the Law Society’s Immigration Law Committee, founding member of the Refugee Women’s Legal Group, and a vital and active member of ILPA for whom she has delivered training, and campaigned for changes to the law. Alison was also on the Law Society’s Access to Justice Committee for many years, and worked as a peer reviewer for the Legal Aid Agency.

We are delighted that Alison has been recognised for her significant career in this year’s awards.

Liz Barratt, Head of our Immigration, Asylum and Nationality team, comments:

We are delighted that Alison has been awarded the 2023 LALY Award for Immigration and Asylum Lawyer of the Year. 

This award is a truly deserved recognition of her tireless advocacy on behalf of her clients and the law over the past 40 years. We are very grateful to the LALY judges for acknowledging her immense contribution to the field and longstanding commitment to legal aid work. Congratulations also to the other very talented lawyers who were nominated in the same category.