King's College London

The Rights of Nature Toolkit Project has received praise from a diverse range of stakeholders working in the field of environmental and legal advocacy since its launch in January. At the award ceremony, the Attorney General Victoria Prentis KC, and the LawWorks Chair of Trustees, Alasdair Douglas, both commended the toolkit in its potential to address the need for environmental legal advice and challenges facing rivers in the UK.

The toolkit serves as a comprehensive practical legal guide aimed at other law students, paralegals, and active communities, promoting access to justice and healthy rivers with sections on:

• Gathering information and making information requests
• Submitting a complaint as well as criminal prosecutions
• Judicial review
• Environmental planning law
• Nuisance claims
• Human rights claims
• Soft-law transnational complaints
• Public participation including council motions
• Public consultations
• Objecting to planning permission

Students Maya Pardo, Guillermo Gari Ruibaldeflores, Sanja Katic, Saira Munir, Marcus Chan, Addison Luck, Andrew Tan Ri Yao, and Saiffedine Benamar, Amanda Ignatia, and Freya Skyrme participated in the project.

Laurent Sammouri, a final year Politics, Philosophy & Law (LLB) student, was also recognised as "Highly Commended" in the category of "Best Contribution by an Individual Student". He was shortlisted for Best Contribution by an Individual Student in addition to the Legal Clinic's nomination for Best Contribution by a Team of Students.

Now in their 18th year, the awards celebrate the best pro bono activities undertaken by law students and law schools and the positive impact on those assisted. Award winners were announced at the awards ceremony at the House of Lords on 9 May and were presented by the Attorney General, Victoria Prentis KC MP.