The awards, which are run on a not-for-profit basis by the Legal Aid Practitioners Group (LAPG), were opened up to lawyers in Northern Ireland for the first time this year.

The awards ceremony will take place in London this July.

KRW Law has been shortlisted for Legal Aid Firm of the Year in recognition of its legal aid work in criminal defence and in its conflict-related legacy litigation.

The firm said it has been “robustly independent” in criminal defence and has conducted ground-breaking work on legacy litigation to obtain truth, justice and accountability for victims and survivors.

It led the vanguard in the fight to defend legal aid service provision by announcing a unilateral withdrawal of services from the Crown Court, using its leverage of being a leading legal aid practice.

Solicitor Darragh Mackin of KRW Law has been shortlisted for Legal Aid Newcomer, having qualified as a solicitor in 2014.

Senior partner Kevin Winters, who co-founded the firm, said: “We are very proud of our team in achieving this recognition from the LAPG. These are prestigious awards for our profession and to be nominated in two categories is outstanding.

“Darragh Mackin is a brilliant lawyer and deserves this accolade. Our outstanding team at KRW LAW LLP is proud of this achievement and to be recognised for our legal aid work in the North of Ireland.”