Lisa Haythorne receives MBE in 2025 New Year’s honours

Lisa Haythorne, the Senior Solicitor at the Derbyshire Law Centre, has been awarded an MBE in this year’s New Year’s Honours list for her work for providing support to vulnerable and homeless people.

Lisa grew up in Eckington, on the border of North East Derbyshire. Talking about her upbringing Lisa said, “When I was at school the biggest career prospect was working in a nearby factory, all of the women caught a bus to another village to work there and the men went to work in the pit or the steelworks. I grew up in the midst of the mining strikes in the 1970s and 80s and witnessed first hand the destruction of our communities through widespread unemployment. I initially wanted to join the legal profession because it provided stable employment.”

Lisa had taken A Levels that didn’t go as planned and she initially worked in a greengrocers before applying to do a Legal Executives Course and starting to work in local legal firms. Despite progressing professionally Lisa’s home life became more difficult throughout which she was supported by North Derbyshire Women’s Aid (now the Elm Foundation) whilst also helping her dad to care for her mum who had lost her sight and had severe mobility problems.

This period in her life gave Lisa a steadfast determination to raise her young family as well as helping others in similar situations through Social Welfare Law. She channelled her energy into Housing and Homelessness prevention with the Derbyshire Law Centre and her years of dedication have shaped the service into what it is today.

Along with advising and supporting innumerable clients over the years, Lisa has acted as a spokesperson for the Law Centre, forming a tight network of partners with social welfare charities, community groups, local authorities and social housing landlords to make sure that families stay in their homes. This determination to create co-working with external agencies means that the Law Centre receives local authority and private funding to tackle homelessness and provide free and low-cost legal advice on housing, debt, discrimination, employment and immigration.


Lisa Haythorne MBE (centre) with husband Stephen Haythorne and daughter Hannah Haythorne

After 17 years at the Derbyshire Law Centre Lisa was appointed as Senior Solicitor in 2023. Her leadership, passion and mentorship have inspired those that she works alongside. Gary Steel began working with Lisa in 2018. “From the first day I knew I was able to turn to Lisa for help, support and guidance both professionally and personally. Lisa advocate for those who need help the most and gives a voice to people who are impacted by poverty, discrimination and deprivation in our community. It is true to say that without Lisa’s guiding light I would not have qualified as a social welfare solicitor.”

As well as her work in the Law Centre Lisa is actively involved in many elements of the Legal community including being the only female member of the Sheffield and District Law Society to be elected for three consecutive years as President. She regularly works with the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University speaking to students and law societies about the importance of Social Welfare Law.

Lisa is also a trustee for the Elm Foundation. Her experience and gratitude for the support she was given by their service mean that she is passionate about supporting the charity and does so regularly. She sits on the Board of Trustees and provides professional advice in a legal capacity and direct emotional and practical support to individual cases.

Lisa’s nomination was supported by the Derbyshire Law Centre and the Ministry of Justice. After finding out about the award, she said,

“I’m absolutely thrilled to have been awarded an MBE. It’s a huge acknowledgement of the importance of Social Welfare Law and how essential it is in helping everyday people access justice. The Derbyshire Law Centre is a critical local service and I’m proud that I’ve been able to contribute to its development and have a meaningful impact for clients. I am incredibly grateful to everyone who continues to support me and the Law Centre, both professionally and personally, especially to my ever-loving family, caring friends and dedicated colleagues.”