Award Categories 2020

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.

Deadline for nominations is Monday 2nd March 2020.

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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