Jessica Aviss Memorial Lecture 2025

As recorded in this month’s Legal Action Magazine, we recently held a memorial lecture in honour of our dear friend and colleague, Jess. Jess was both a cherished friend and a fantastic family lawyer. We feel her loss every day.

Hosted at London Southbank University where Jess studied, the event brought together Jess’ family, friends and colleagues to celebrate Jess and continue the work she was so passionate about. Supporting children in care was one such passion, which is why the charity Become was chosen for fundraising.

Become is the national charity for care-experienced children and young people. They put young people at the heart of everything they do, helping them be powerful agents of change in their own lives, the care system and society. Become help them understand their rights and entitlements so they can get the support they need now, develop their skills, access education, and overcome challenges they face. Become’s work aims to amplify young people’s voices and empower them to speak out and campaign for change, so that the care system works better for all children and young people, now and into the future. You can follow the link here to donate: https://becomecharity.org.uk/support-our-work/jessica-aviss-memorial-event/.

In honour of Jess, the Jessica Aviss memorial award was created. The award is presented to a current law student who’s essay submission best demonstrates Jess’ core values of integrity, bravery and kindness. All of those shortlisted should feel very proud of themselves. The highly commended runner up was Fariba Zanganeh. The winner of this year’s Jessica Aviss memorial award was Shreya Mehta. Well done, Shreya!

The evening’s keynote was delivered by Chris Barnes from 4PB who gave an equally moving and thought provoking talk on the intersection between family law and human rights. Below are a few highlights:

“… integrity, bravery, and kindness are fundamental qualities for any lawyer, and especially for those who are working in the field of Family Law, as Jess did, where the issues which come before the courts are so profoundly personal, and have such an intensely human quality.

 

… The salience of Human Rights law is very high at present. Over the last decade or so it has become a significant – and highly contested – issue in our political discourse, and we have, for the first time, a Human Rights lawyer leading our government as Prime Minister.

 

… There is no doubt that Human Rights law is likely to continue to have deep significance for us all in the years to come. The manner in which our information is used (and abused), the impact of climate change and the role of government policy, and even the increasing integration of artificial intelligence, along with numerous other critical issues, will fall to be analysed through a human rights lens.

 

But in returning to the focus of my presentation how do Family Law and Human Rights Law come together, and how does that union impact on our ability to be, or for you to become, the changemakers of the future?

 

I can only echo and endorse the need for those of us who might specialise in a particular area of law to recognise the importance of not limiting our horizons, or becoming too blinkered, to see ourselves simply as a “Family Lawyer”, though that is a risk to be guarded against by any lawyer of any stripe.

 

As my own work has developed two things have become particularly clear to me. First, that working in family law is genuinely the most enormous privilege and responsibility. It is an area of work that I truly love, and in which you have the capacity to touch the lives of clients in a profound, and meaningful way.

 

That is what made Jess, even in the early years of her career, such an outstanding lawyer. She brought care and compassion to her work. She supported her clients, many of whom would have been going through their darkest moments, she brought her talents to bear by helping people to meet what can feel like overwhelming legal and personal complexities.

 

… To be a Changemaker is not to be limited in your horizons, or narrow in your thinking. Change can come on a micro level, it can – occasionally – come on a macro level too. It requires a balance between the personal skills to support a client, and the broad legal skills and knowledge to advance their case, and perhaps even the law, fearlessly, bravely, and skilfully.

 

That was the path that Jess chose having studied at this University, when she chose to become a solicitor, and to work in the field of Family Law, when she elected to bring her own experiences, her own talent, and her humanity to defending the rights of others.

 

The tributes paid by Jess’s colleagues and clients following her untimely passing bore witness to the change Jess was able to assist with bringing to the lives of those she represented. I hope that all of you can find and follow a similar passion whether in the field of family law or elsewhere, to make the most of your own passion, talent, and knowledge to drive change in the future for those you come to represent, and all those others who might benefit more broadly from your professional endeavours.”

Chris’ keynote was followed by words from Jenny Beck KC (Hon), colleagues, friends, and family, all of whom paid tribute to a kind and cherished friend who we will never forget.

Thank you to London South Bank University for hosting, to all those who made the event happen, and of course to everyone who came to make it such a special occasion. We hope to see you all again next year.

 

 

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