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Irwin Mitchell bolsters Public Law and Human Rights Team with honorary QC hire

Claimant law firm Irwin Mitchell has strengthened its Public Law and Human Rights Team with the appointment of leading human rights and discrimination lawyer Angela Jackman QC (Hon).

The firm said that Jackman’s experience and skills would prove “invaluable” for a team expanding its work and focus on discrimination and human rights. She was previously with Simpson Millar.

Specialising in education, mental capacity and human rights law, Jackman joined City Law School in 2015 as senior lecturer/CPD consultant and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

In March 2021, she was appointed an honorary QC and named one of the City’s ‘Extraordinary Women’, marking International Woman’s Day.

Her high-profile cases include the ‘cornrows school exclusion’ judicial review, where the High Court held a school's policy prohibiting African-Caribbean boys having their hair in cornrows resulted in indirect racial discrimination.

In the Supreme Court, Jackman represented two women from Northern Ireland who challenged the Health Secretary’s refusal to permit them to access NHS abortion services in England.

“Despite a 3:2 loss, the case proved a pivotal moment in the wider campaign, resulting in the government conceding the issue. Angela subsequently secured compensation for the women from the UK Government, following a successful application to the European Court of Human Rights,” Irwin Mitchell said.

Commenting on her new role, Jackman said: “Irwin Mitchell has a reputation for success in strategic cases that have led to important changes in the law. I am thrilled to be taking on this new challenge and ensuring that this vital work continues for the benefit of our clients and the wider community I am also excited that I have an additional role and will be involved in further developing the firm’s responsible business strategy.”

Yogi Amin, Partner at Irwin Mitchell, said: “All of us on the public law team are delighted to welcome someone of Angela’s calibre on board. The high-profile cases she has navigated on behalf of her clients mark her out as one of the finest lawyers of her generation.

“Our public law and human rights team are committed to delivering the very best outcomes for clients and Angela’s proven track record will be a considerable asset. We have big plans for the future and Angela is part of the initiative to ensure we have some of the very best lawyers in their field leading our national team.”

In addition to being an active member of the Law Society’s Human Rights Committee, Jackman is an expert panel member of the Strategic Legal Fund for Vulnerable Migrants and an Accredited Practitioner under the Law Society's Mental Capacity (Welfare) Accreditation Scheme.

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