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Durham Law Students Recognised at House of Lords Following Award-Winning Fundraising Campaign

15 May 2026
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Durham Law School Pro Bono has been recognised at the House of Lords following an exceptional year of fundraising for access to justice initiatives.

The team raised more than £3,900 for legal charities LawWorks and Advocate as part of the national Law School Challenge 2025/26, placing second against more than 20 other law schools across the UK.
Three of the team’s top fundraisers were invited to receive an award at the annual Attorney General's Student Pro Bono Awards. The ceremony was held on 28 April at a private reception in the Cholmondeley Room and Terrace at the House of Lords. The invitees were William Allen, who raised £880, Mamatha Shastri, who raised £641, and Thea Blackmore, who raised £470.
The ceremony was attended by senior figures from across the legal profession, including Mark Evans, President of the Law Society (pictured), Catherine Smith, Attorney General for Scotland, and Lord Peter Goldsmith KC, former Attorney General for England and Wales, alongside executive officers from both charities.
Team Founder and Captain Mamatha writes:
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 "The team's fundraising success was driven by a range of creative initiatives, such as tea-time networking with trainee solicitors and selling coffee in University buildings without cafés. The dedication shown by our individual fundraisers was truly inspiring, with one teammate even rocking a shaven head in support of their campaign!
The most rewarding part was speaking with fellow students about the importance of access to justice. This achievement reflects the hard work of an exceptional team, for whom I am very grateful. I would also like to sincerely thank the Dean of the Law School, Professor Volker Roeben, for his unwavering support and encouragement throughout the Challenge."
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The Attorney General's Student Pro Bono Awards celebrate the contributions of law students in the UK who create significant impact by fundraising and volunteering.
Durham Law School Pro Bono's national recognition reflects the team's growing impact and its strong commitment to advancing student-led engagement with access to justice.
Notes:
More about Durham Law School here https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/law/