The Royal British Legion Solicitors Group - www.trblsg.co.uk - is celebrating its 35th anniversary.
The award-winning Group was established in 1989 by a group of likeminded solicitors from law firms the breadth of the country, some ex-military but all with the same passion; to represent the Armed Forces and their families by providing the best legal advice and also to assist injured service personnel regain their quality-of-life post-injury.
“We are immensely proud to celebrate our 35th anniversary,” said Hilary Meredith-Beckham, co-founder and chair of the Royal British Legion Solicitors Group.
“By providing access to the very best military solicitors, regardless of their individual firm, we are able to provide specialist expertise across all areas of law for the Legion’s members.
“Over the years, our members have untaken Pro Bono work amounting to hundreds of thousands of pounds for injured military service personnel and their families.
“Solicitors from the Group have representing over 4000 service personnel and veterans with life changing injuries in war zones around the world. Lives have been transformed as a direct result and our efforts have been recognised through a number of industry awards.”
Added Hilary, was received a Centenary Award from the Royal British Legion in 2021 for her “outstanding contribution” to service personnel, veterans and their families:
“Military law has become significantly more complex and our support and representation for members of the armed forces is more important than ever before.”
Hilary has also been shortlisted for a prestigious Law Society Legal Heroes Award.
Legal Heroes are solicitors who have made a demonstrative, lasting and tangible difference to the life or lives of others, their local community or society and brought distinction to the legal profession.
Nationally, just 19 solicitors have been shortlisted for a Legal Heroes Award in recognition of their exceptional dedication to the lives of others.
In shortlisting Hilary, the judges have recognised her "groundbreaking work for the armed forces".
Throughout her 40-year legal career, Hilary has successfully challenged the status quo - fighting for the rights of military service personnel, their families and military veterans and striving to achieve equality for women in the law. She has also acted in a range of precedent setting cases, worked closely with Parliamentary Inquiries and Government Ministers and successfully campaigned for changes in the law.
Commenting on being shortlisted for a Legal Heroes Award, Hilary said:"I am so proud and humbled to be recognised by the Law Society in this way.
“Through my work with servicemen and women throughout the world, I’ve witnessed the sacrifices made by our forces and their families all too often. It is an honour and a privilege to champion their cause.”
Hilary is currently leading a landmark legal action for 450 service personnel and veterans who were prescribed the controversial anti-malarial drug Lariam and suffered physical and psychological side-effects as a result. The class action has been running for nine years with campaigners describing it as "the new Post Office scandal".
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