Rebecca Stevens, a family solicitor at Bath law firm Withy King, has been shortlisted for a major legal award for a third time this year in recognition of her pro bono work.
Her latest nomination is in the Legal Personality of the Year category of the Law Society Excellence Awards, having been selected by a panel of senior industry experts for her outstanding achievements. 
Already this year Rebecca, pictured, has been a finalist in the Ethical Initiative of the Year category at the Lawyer Awards 2015 and the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year (LALY) Awards run by the Legal Aid Practitioners Group. She was also included in The Lawyer’s Hot 100 list for 2015.
The recognition follows her tireless work on behalf of a father with learning difficulties who had been denied legal aid to try and prevent Swindon Borough Council from having his young son adopted.
Rebecca, a senior associate solicitor-advocate in Withy King’s family team, said: “It is a real honour to be recognised by the Law Society in this way. Times are changing for law firms and cuts to legal aid have had a devastating impact on the most vulnerable members of society.
“Being a viable business while continuing to offer legal aid is becoming increasingly difficult for most firms. I am very privileged to work with a team who are dedicated to undertaking legal aid work to help others and to work for a firm who is committed to upholding the traditional morals and ethics of the legal profession.
“Being a legal aid lawyer is not a job. It is a vocation and I am proud to work for a firm which values this.”
Rebecca, who provided more than 100 hours of her time free of charge to help her client, was praised by the Head of Family Justice in England and Wales, Sir James Munby, in a court judgment in which he threw a spotlight on the lack of funding available for legal representation.
Law Society president Jonathan Smithers said: "It is inspiring and motivating to read of the fantastic work being done by solicitors across the country and the profession. I congratulate this years’ finalists and look forward very much to meeting them at the awards ceremony in October."
The Law Society Excellence Awards 2015 take place in London on October 22.
