Michael George, one of the partners at Huddersfield Solicitors Ridley and Hall was named as one of the top 3 Family Legal Aid lawyers in the country in the prestigious Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards 2011.

The winners in the nine award categories were to be announced by Cherie Booth QC at a ceremony in London on 28 June. When she was held up by a flight delay, Doreen Lawrence stepped in.

Doreen Lawrence OBE is the prominent British human rights campaigner dedicated to securing justice for the victims of racially motivated crime and police misconduct. She first came to public attention in 1993 as the mother of Stephen Lawrence, a black British teenager who was murdered in a suspected racial attack in south-east London.

Hundreds of lawyers and celebrities were present at The Globe Theatre in London. The judges highlighted the fact that “Michael is praised for his ability to develop a rapport with his young, often distressed, clients. One client writes: ‘Despite my background which, to be frank, is quite colourful, he has always made me feel important.’

Michael joined Ridley and Hall in October 2010. Nigel Priestley Senior Partner at Ridley and Hall said “When Michael merged his own firm with Ridley and Hall, Huddersfield’s vulnerable children and parents were given a real boost. He has practised as a Solicitor in the Kirklees area for over 25 years. He is a longstanding member of the Children Panel.
To be short listed for this major national award is a real feather in the cap for him. It’s long overdue! Nominations attracted support from clients, charities, judges, social workers, psychiatrists, journalists and broadcasters, among others.

Michael represents children, as well as parents and other family members. He also deals with Residence, Special Guardianship and Contact Matters as well as Adoption Law. He has an excellent reputation for representing the victims of child abuse.

Michael, formerly had his own long-running family law practice in Dewsbury for almost 14 years, prior to that he was a partner at Whitfield Hallam Goodall in Batley.  His firm merged with Ridley & Hall LLP on 1st October 2010.

He has previously practised in many aspects of law, including criminal, employment and family but in more recent years has focused on specialist child care law, acting for children, parents, grandparents and extended family in complex care proceedings.

For more information contact Nigel Priestley 01484538421

This award follows Nigel Priestley’s award as Law Society Private Practice National Lawyer of the Year 2010 and Sarah Young  won the Association of Women Solicitors (AWS) Award for Managing a Small Practice in September 2009.