Sarah Hannett—Sydney Elland Goldsmith Bar Pro Bono Award

Sarah Hannett of Matrix Chambers has won the Sydney Elland Goldsmith Bar Pro Bono Award. The award was presented by the chairman of the Bar, Maura McGowan QC, at the Annual Bar Conference on 2 November. 

The award was set up in 1996 to recognise individual barristers or sets of chambers who demonstrate an inspirational commitment to pro bono work. Run by the Bar Pro Bono Unit, this year’s panel of judges was led by Lord Goldsmith QC.

Sarah is the founder of the City University Matrix School Exclusion Project, which provides pro bono representation to parents of children who have been permanently excluded from school. Since starting in 2011, the project has assisted 47 parents whose children face exclusion. 

Maura McGowan QC, says: “The Bar is extremely proud of the nominees’ tireless work to ensure that vulnerable people, who cannot afford representation or cannot access legal aid, have an avenue to justice.”