Who? Josie Hicklin, solicitor, Greater Manchester Law Centre. 

Josie Hicklin

Why is she in the news? Successfully represented CB, an asylum seeker, in the High Court, which ruled last month that the home secretary acted unlawfully by failing in her legal duty to provide for the essential living needs of asylum seekers.

Thoughts on the case: ‘It has been shaped from the very beginning by my client, CB. I’m so proud of what she has achieved, impacting on the lives of over 60,000 asylum seekers. The home secretary, following the declaration and mandatory order of the court, announced an immediate interim uplift in asylum support rates from £40.85 to £45 per person per week to those on sections 4 and 95 support; £8 to £9.10 to those in full-board hotels; and £25 to £35 people in self-catering accommodation. It’s the kind and human thing for the person solely responsible for supporting asylum seekers to ensure they are not left destitute. It frustrates me that it took legal action to force the home secretary to do the bare legal minimum towards ensuring CB, her children and 60,000 others do not have to make the unthinkable choice between food, medicine or warm clothes. It’s been a privilege to represent my client in bringing this judicial review. I will be inspired by her for a very long time.’

Dealing with the media: ‘I hope the media pick up on the exceptional nature of this case. This is an unusual mandatory order made by the court, reflecting the unprecedented nature of the home secretary’s conduct in continually failing to increase asylum support. There’s not much I can do about the “lefty, activist lawyer” narrative that sometimes follows cases like this. It’s ironic really because I actually hate politics. I was just always taught you should leave the world in a better state than you found it and that is what I am trying to do.’

Why become a lawyer? ‘The law is traditionally a tool of the powerful. It alienates anyone who doesn’t speak posh or know what inter alia means or has money. But really the law is for everyone. I wanted vulnerable, traditionally excluded people to know that this whole realm of legal protections, rights and defences is theirs. And to not let anyone exclude you because they wear suits and speak loudly.’

Career high: ‘It isn’t a specific moment but the things that make up the big, specific moments. The best part of my job is the morning cigarette with colleagues, where we share stories or argue about how to interpret some law or stand in silence before the chaos of the day descends. And it’s my amazing clients. It’s the people I get to work with as a legal aid lawyer.’

Career low: ‘Every time I see bad decision-making by public bodies that are meant to protect and care for people.’

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