Lawyer in the news

Who? Susie Labinjoh, 36-year-old associate specialising in personal injury and actions against the police at 15-partner north London firm Hodge Jones & Allen.

Why is she in the news? Represents Michael and Vincent Hickey, two of the men wrongfully imprisoned for the murder of paperboy Carl Bridgewater.

The two men were told that they would receive around 1 million and 500,000 compensation respectively after the Court of Appeal quashed their convictions in 1997, but that living expenses of 60,000 each would be deducted.

However, the High Court ruled in a judicial review last week that this was wrong and no deductions should be made.

Background: Degree in philosophy at Hull University 1986-89, followed by CPE at the University of Westminster 1994-96 and LPC at Guildford College of Law 1996-97.

She qualified with Hodge Jones & Allen in 1999 and became an associate in 2002.

Route to the case: 'It was referred to me by Taylor Nichols, the original solicitors, because they are a criminal firm and they needed someone with a personal injury background.'

Thoughts on the case: 'It is an important ruling for all victims of miscarriages of justice, because it ensures that they will never suffer the indignity of being charged for their living expenses while in jail.

The victims see these deductions as adding insult to injury - usually they are imprisoned in appalling conditions and are treated terribly by the inmates and prison staff, and these deductions heap a further injustice upon the grave injustices they have already suffered.

My two clients had their compensation awards assessed by a different person to James Robinson, one of the other wrongfully imprisoned man, and so we argued that there was a lack of equality between the awards.

This was dismissed by the judge in the judicial review, but we may consider an appeal.'

Dealing with the media: 'I have had very little previous experience, but throughout the case I have been called upon to give interviews and in general I have found it to be a positive experience.

The media seems to have grasped the fact that it is outrageous to deduct money for living expenses while in jail, and so they have been on my clients' side.

If they were not, then who knows what the experience could have been like?'

Victoria MacCallum