The solicitor who led a string of successful legal challenges to the previous government’s now defunct flagship Rwanda scheme was named winner of the Outstanding Achievement award at the 2024 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards.

Toufique Hossain, director of public law at Duncan Lewis Solicitors, was honoured for his handling of a case that was described as ‘more highly contested than any other litigation’.

LALY compere, broadcaster Symeon Brown, said: ‘The stakes for those involved – and for anyone who believes in the rule of law – could barely be higher. It was a case that required not just legal brilliance but huge resources, relentless speed, phenomenal hard work, dogged determination, unshakeable tenacity, and probably some sheer bloody-mindedness. All of those things, but also personal courage as well.’

In 2020, Hossain had been the intended victim of a knife attack by an alleged neo-Nazi who arrived at the firm’s office armed with a combat knife and handcuffs.

Accepting the award, Hossain acknowledged that ‘at times the pressure, the political climate seemed unbearable’.

The awards ceremony was held the day after the general election, with the incoming Labour government having pledged to scrap the Conservative’s Rwanda scheme. Hossain urged the new administration to ‘be brave’. ‘Upholding the rule of law takes courage,’ he said. ‘Governing without the cruelty and dehumanisation is possible. It has to be.’

He concluded: ‘Anyone who has worked in social justice law for the last 14 years should celebrate tonight. But tomorrow, our pre-election letters will still be drafted with the same passion on behalf of those we proudly represent. Just hopefully not as often.’