Who? Nick Dent, 26, criminal law solicitor at London firm Hodge Jones & Allen.

Why is he in the news? Acting for some of the estimated 280 anti-fascists arrested during a counter-demonstration against an English Defence League (EDL) march in East London.

The EDL had planned to march through Tower Hamlets, the centre of one of Britain’s biggest Muslim communities, but the police successfully appealed to the High Court to have it stopped short of its intended destination.

Nonetheless, in keeping the two groups apart, the police arrested EDL leader Tommy Robinson and made several hundred other arrests. The latter were bailed to report back to the police in October and, in the meantime, were given a blanket bail condition prohibiting them from joining another similar demonstration within the M25.

Thoughts on the case: ‘So many protesters were arrested that they were put on double-decker buses and taken to police stations all over London. The whole affair raises serious questions about freedom of expression, powers of arrest and the lawfulness of the bail condition being applied to everybody, irrespective of whether or not they had a criminal record.’

Why become a lawyer? ‘My fascination with the interaction between individuals and the state, in particular the rights to privacy and freedom of expression.’

Career high: ‘Acted for a protester facing prosecution by a local authority over the Dale Farm travellers’ eviction. The charge was dropped after I sent a letter of representation.’

Career low: ‘Changes to legal aid.’