Award Categories 2019
These Awards are designed to showcase and celebrate legal talent across the region. The following award categories reflect the breadth of specialisms and roles across the profession, and enable talent to be recognised across the career span from Trainee of the Year, Rising Star to Outstanding Achievement.
Nominations are now closed – deadline for nominations was Friday 1st March 2019.
Please ensure you review the specific category criteria and award guidelines before submitting your nomination.
Rising Star of the Year
Eligibility: This award is open to any lawyer (Solicitor/ Barrister/ Chartered Legal Executive) who is less than 7 years PQE.
Entries must demonstrate evidence of the following:
• Excellent legal skills
• Ability to contribute to the future management and growth of an organisation
• Outstanding career development
• Client service skills
• Initiative
• Significant impact in light of time in practice
Lawyer of the Year
Eligibility: This award is open to any lawyer (Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive) practising in the North of England. If you wish to submit more than one entry per firm/Chambers/Organisation, please contact us..
Entries must demonstrate evidence of the following:
- Outstanding legal skills
- Business development skills
- Leadership
- Innovation and enterprise
- Employee development skills
- Client satisfaction
Trainee of the Year
Eligibility: This award is open to any trainee Solicitor working in a firm based in the North of England.
Entries must demonstrate evidence of the following:
- Excellent legal skills
- Significant development during training (this covers training contract period and any previous paralegal experience)
- Client service skills
- Initiative
- Contribution to the business
Law Teacher of the Year
Eligibility: This award is open to any law teacher working in a higher education institution in the North of England. There is no restriction on the number of teachers that may be nominated by an institution.
Entries must demonstrate evidence of the following:
- Innovative teaching practices
- Ability to enhance student learning experience through scholarly activities
- Effective communication skills
- Student engagement skills
- Interest in student development
- Student satisfaction
Law Firm of the Year (1-5 partners)
Eligibility: This award is open to any law firm based in the North of England with 5 partners (or directors) or less.
Entries must demonstrate evidence of the following (all criteria will be measured in the context of the work sectors within which the firm operates):
- Excellence in delivery of legal services
- Outstanding business performance in areas such as client service, financial performance, strategy and work winning
- Development of staff
- CSR
- Business progress and improvement over the year
Law Firm of the Year (6+ partners) - Sponsored by SD Legal Services
Eligibility: This award is open to any law firm based in the North of England with 6 partners (or directors) or more.
Entries must demonstrate evidence of the following (all criteria will be measured in the context of the work sectors within which the firm operates):
- Excellence in delivery of legal services
- Outstanding business performance in areas such as client service, financial performance, strategy and work winning
- Development of staff
- CSR
- Business progress and improvement over the year
Legal Department of the Year
Eligibility: This award is open to any in house legal department based in the North of England.
Entries must demonstrate evidence of the following:
- Legal expertise
- Team working
- Employee development
- Strategic contribution to the business
- Innovative practice
Law Practice Management Award
Eligibility: This award is open to anyone working for a legal services provider (law firm, barrister’s chambers or in house team) in the North of England in the following specialisms: law firm management, marketing, HR, business development, IT, finance, clerking or compliance. Only one entry per firm/ Chambers/ Organisation.
Entries must demonstrate evidence of the following:
- Outstanding skills in area of specialism
- Contribution to the success of the organisation
- Innovation and enterprise
- Leadership
- Strategic thinking
Pro Bono/ Community Initiative
Eligibility: This award is open to any individual or organisation who can demonstrate delivery of pro bono legal advice or of a community initiative in the North of England.
Entries must demonstrate evidence of the following:
- Free delivery of legal service or promotion of community interest in relation to legal rights
- Promotion of the public interest
- Quality in delivery of pro bono work/ community initiative
- Enterprise and Initiative
Outstanding Achievement Award
This award is open to individuals working in the legal sector in the North of England who have shown significant achievement over many years and made an outstanding contribution to the legal profession or organisation of which they are part. The winner of this award will be chosen by the judges and is not open for nominations.
For this category the judging panel will be looking for demonstrations of superior working in the following areas:
- Significant achievement over many years
- Strategic development
- Leadership
- Innovation and enterprise
- Drive and determination
- Excellence in the delivery of legal service
Team of the Year - Family Law - Sponsored by Brewin Dolphin
Eligibility: This award is open to any family law team based in a law firm in the North of England.
Entries must demonstrate evidence of the following:
- Legal expertise
- Appreciation by clients
- Client service excellence
- Project management skills
- Team working
Team of the Year – Personal Injury/Clinical Negligence - Sponsored by Brewin Dolphin
Eligibility: This award is open to any personal injury or clinical negligence team based in a law firm in the North of England.
Entries must demonstrate evidence of the following:
- Legal expertise
- Appreciation by clients
- Client service excellence
- Project management skills
- Team working
Team of the Year – Litigation and Dispute Resolution - Sponsored by Elliott Davies
Eligibility: This award is open to any litigation and dispute resolution team based in a law firm in the North of England.
Entries must demonstrate evidence of the following:
- Legal expertise
- Appreciation by clients
- Client service excellence
- Project management skills
- Team working
Team of the Year – Corporate/Commercial
Eligibility: This award is open to any corporate or commercial team (whether focused on the public or private sector) based in a law firm in the North of England.
Entries must demonstrate evidence of the following:
- Legal expertise
- Appreciation by clients
- Client service excellence
- Project management skills
- Team working
Team of the Year – Crime/ Regulatory
Eligibility: This award is open to any crime or regulatory team based in the North of England.
Entries must demonstrate evidence of the following:
- Legal expertise
- Appreciation by clients
- Client service excellence
- Project management skills
- Team working
Team of the Year – Property (Commercial)
Eligibility: This award is open to any commercial property team based in the North of England.
Entries must demonstrate evidence of the following:
- Legal expertise
- Appreciation by clients
- Client service excellence
- Project management skills
- Team working
Team of the Year – Property (Residential)
Eligibility: This award is open to any residential property team based in the North of England.
Entries must demonstrate evidence of the following:
- Legal expertise
- Appreciation by clients
- Client service excellence
- Project management skills
- Team working
Team of the Year – Employment - Sponsored by Parklane Plowden Chambers
Eligibility: This award is open to any employment law team based in a law firm in the North of England.
Entries must demonstrate evidence of the following:
- Legal expertise
- Appreciation by clients
- Client service excellence
- Project management skills
- Team working
Team of the Year – Private Client - Sponsored by Barclays Wealth Management
Eligibility: This award is open to any private client team based in a law firm in the North of England. A team will consist of 2 or more people, one of whom must be a Solicitor, barrister or Chartered Legal Executive.
Entries must demonstrate evidence of the following:
- Legal expertise
- Appreciation by clients
- Client service excellence
- Team working
