Awards Criteria

To assist you with your nominations

Firms and individuals practicing in Birmingham and the surrounding areas are invited to submit nominations in one of the 14 award categories.

To assist you with your nominations we have included the criteria for each award below. Once all entries have been received, nominees will be contacted and asked to supply further detailed information to support their nomination.

These awards are designed to celebrate the best legal talent in the Birmingham Legal Community. Whilst the categories are wide ranging we expect all nominees to be active in the Birmingham Legal market. You do not have to be a member of BLS but we would encourage you to come and join us at our events.

The Legal Awards marking criteria are being published this year for the first time. This is to ensure that nominations and interviews focus on the criteria. You will be judged according to these criteria only. They are consistent across shortlisting and interview. We would encourage you to expand on answers in interview if shortlisted rather than repeat your nomination form.  Additional work outside the criteria stated will not be considered and will detract from the word limit.

Marks will not be disclosed nor (due to the high numbers of applications), will feedback be given. All the judges at both short listing stage and interview are volunteering their time on top of busy working lives.

The Awards remain entirely independent of both the Council of Birmingham Law Society and Board of Directors. Neither should be canvassed for support or advice in relation to the nominations or interviews.

Leadership and commitment outside the normal duties of a lawyer are included because experience of past award winners indicates that we have a huge amount of additional community work and leadership happening in the legal community and wish to celebrate that. It is also worth noting that leadership is present even amongst junior members of the profession and can be formal leadership of a team or leading a community outreach project or leading or working as part of a group leading a charitable event.

We have deliberately given scope for you to draft your nomination focussing on how you fit the criteria. There is an overall word limit but not one per criteria. Shape your application to the criteria but play to your strengths and experience. However, like with an exam question we would suggest you consider the marks available for each criteria and weight your answer accordingly.

Outstanding Student Contribution of the Year

This award will be given to an exceptional law student who has demonstrated raw talent and strong potential. This can be shown through academic excellence, or a wider legal or non-legal contribution, whether at university or in the community, but in all cases, the judges will be looking for someone who is enthusiastic, proactive and dedicated. This award is open to all undergraduate and postgraduate law students who are based in or studying in Birmingham and the surrounding area.

Apprentice of the Year

This award is available to a legal apprentice as defined by Trailblazer legal apprenticeships. The winner may be employed as a Paralegal apprentice, Probate Technician Apprentice, Conveyancing Technician Apprentice, CILEx apprentice or Solicitor apprentice. The Judges will be looking for someone who can highlight the legal work undertaken by this new type of lawyer and who exemplifies the benefit that an apprentice brings to their organisation.

Trainee Solicitor of the Year sponsored by The University of Law

This award will be given to a person who has gone above and beyond the day-to-day expectations of a trainee solicitor. The judges are looking for someone who has made a significant contribution both within their firm and more widely within the Birmingham legal community. This could be in terms of their legal work or their involvement in particular projects or organisations; however in all cases the judges will expect to see evidence of leadership and individual impact rather than mere participation. The winner of this award will be committed to building a successful and influential career in Birmingham. This award is open to all trainee solicitors in Birmingham and the surrounding area regardless of whether they are training at a large or small firm or in-house.

Paralegal of the Year sponsored by Landmark Information Group

This award will be given to a person who exemplifies the value that a Paralegal can bring to their department, team or wider organisation.  The judges are looking for someone who has made a contribution both in respect of their client based contribution but also on the wider stage, whether in CSR, business development, training, involvement within the Birmingham legal community or otherwise. The winner of this award will demonstrate commitment to their organisation, clients and their professional and personal development. This award is open to all Paralegals in Birmingham and the surrounding area regardless of whether they are employed in a large or small firm or in-house.

Legal PA of the Year sponsored by the PA Forum

This award will be given to an individual who has demonstrated an outstanding level of support in the delivery of legal services and has made a contribution which is above and beyond day-to-day expectations. The judges will be looking for someone who has had an exceptional impact on the lawyers and clients that they support, and who is committed to their organisation and their professional and personal development. This award is open to all personal assistants and support team members, regardless of whether they are employed in a large or small firm, a barristers’ chambers, or in-house.

Solicitor of the Year sponsored by Dye & Durham

This award will be given to a solicitor (non Partner) who has consistently demonstrated outstanding performance in their role as a qualified solicitor. The judges are looking for someone who has made a significant contribution both within their firm and more widely within the Birmingham legal community and is committed to furthering their impact as their career progresses. This may be shown through the individual’s legal work or their involvement in additional projects or organisations; however in all cases the judges will expect to see evidence that the individual has successfully taken a leading role rather than merely assisted. This award is open to all practising solicitors in Birmingham who are not partners, regardless of whether they are working at a large or small firm or in-house.

Junior Barrister of the Year (10 years’ call and under)

The winner of this category will be a Junior Barrister who has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to the Birmingham region and who continuously strives for, and achieves excellence. The judges will expect to the winner to be able to demonstrate a high calibre of work, with good examples of the cases that they have undertaken. The judges will also expect to see strong evidence of leadership and teamwork. This award is open to all barristers who practice in Birmingham and surrounding areas with 10 years’ call and under.

Barrister of the Year (over 10 years’ call) sponsored by Birmingham City University

The winner of this category will be a Barrister who has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to the Birmingham region and who continuously strives for, and achieves excellence. The judges will expect to the winner to be able to demonstrate a high calibre of work, with good examples of the cases that they have undertaken. The judges will also expect to see strong evidence of leadership and teamwork. This award is open to all barristers who practice in Birmingham and surrounding areas with over 10 years’ call.

Partner of the Year sponsored by JM Glendinning Professional Risks

This prestigious award will be given to a Partner (or person of equivalent standing) who exemplifies the qualities needed to be successful at a senior level in a law firm.  The judges are looking for someone who has made a consistent and significant contribution both within their firm and more widely within the Birmingham legal community.  This may be demonstrated through the individual’s legal work and/or their involvement in projects or organisations outside their firm; however in all cases the judges will expect to see strong evidence of leadership, commitment to excellence, a proven ability to develop business from current or new clients and a commitment to the success of their firm and its people.  This award is open to all practising solicitors in Birmingham who are partners (or of equivalent status) in firms with an office in Birmingham and the surrounding area, regardless of the size of the firm or their role within the firm.

In-House Lawyer of the Year

This award celebrates excellence and outstanding achievement by a solicitor (or team) working in an in-house role. This award is open to all practicing solicitors in Birmingham, working as part of an in-house team. In-house solicitors are required to exhibit a unique blend of skills and we are looking for and individual (or a team) who has applied these skills innovatively to the benefit of both the legal function and the overall organisation. This may be shown through the individual’s (or team’s) legal work or their involvement in additional projects or organisations; however, in all cases the judges will expect to see evidence that the individual (or team) has successfully taken a pivotal/leading role rather than merely assisted.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award

The award is presented to the firm/chambers/organisation which has shown leadership and excellence in promoting Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion within its firm and/or the wider community. Judges are looking for a firm to demonstrate one or more of the following:

  • A coherent strategy to recruit and retain a workforce that represents the diversity of wider society.
  • Initiating and leading action(s) to remove barriers and improve the working experience and engagement of employees at all levels.
  • Initiatives to create a culture of inclusivity within the organisation.
  • Initiatives to support positive mental health and wellbeing in all staff
  • Leading positive actions to ensure that one or more (preferably all) of those groups with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 and/or issues with social mobility have an effective voice within the organisation
  • Take effective action to drive social inclusion in the workplace and/or playing a role in social inclusion in the legal and/or wider community.
  • A creative and innovative approach to the identification, support, development, progression, and retention of diverse talent
  • Initiatives to improve the recruitment and/or retention and/or progression of historically underrepresented staff.
  • Initiatives to improve accessibility to the legal services provided by the firm/chambers
  • Outreach initiatives/collaboration/partnership serving to strengthen relationships amongst underrepresented groups within the organisation and/or the wider community.
  • An embrace of an agile and flexible approach to how, where and when people work, prioritising talent over traditional working practices.

Pro Bono Award

Individuals, firms, teams and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to pro bono during 2023 may be nominated for this category. The contribution to pro bono may include work done on a specific case, evidence of a general commitment to pro bono and/or work done via a pro bono project or clinic. Nominations for collaborative pro bono initiatives are also welcome. Pro bono work is any work that meets the definition contained in the Joint Pro Bono Protocol, which is ‘legal advice or representation provided by lawyers in the public interest including to individuals, charities and community groups who cannot afford to pay for that advice or representation and where public and alternative means of funding are not available’. This would include pro bono work undertaken by any university pro bono initiative.

Regional Law Firm of the Year

The winner of this category will be a firm with one or more offices in Birmingham or the surrounding area only.

The Judges will be looking for firms who have who have set themselves apart from their competition by making demonstrable progress in the legal market in the last 12 months. The successful Regional firm must be able to demonstrate a commitment within the Birmingham or surrounding area in respect of the following categories:

  • Highlights – Two top highlights from the past 12 months
  • Growth – This could be as a result of good financial performance, a successful merger/acquisition, successful expansion into new practice areas and/or the opening of new offices nationally
  • Clients – This could be coveted new client wins, or by differentiating itself from its competitors by the way it provides its services to its clients
  • CSR – How local communities have benefited from the firm’s CSR initiatives
  • Staff – This could be demonstrating how diversity within the firm is recognised and promoted, or what policies/procedures the firm has in place to attract and then retain staff
  • Regional focus- Ways in which the firm helps showcase Birmingham legal talent in our region

National Law Firm of the Year sponsored by St Philips Chambers

The winner of this category will be a firm with at least one office based in Birmingham or the surrounding area and one or more other offices outside our region.

The Judges will be looking for firms who have who have set themselves apart from their competition by making demonstrable progress in the National legal market in the last 12 months. The successful National firm must be able to demonstrate a commitment within the Birmingham or surrounding area and further afield in respect of the following categories:-

  • Highlights – Two top highlights from the past 12 months
  • Growth – This could be as a result of good financial performance, a successful merger/acquisition, successful expansion into new practice areas and/or the opening of new offices nationally
  • Clients – This could be coveted new client wins, or by differentiating itself from its competitors by the way it provides its services to its clients
  • CSR – How local communities have benefited from the firm’s CSR initiatives
  • Staff – This could be demonstrating how diversity within the firm is recognised and promoted, or what policies/procedures the firm has in place to attract and then retain staff
  • National- Ways in which being a National firm help the firm’s clients and help showcase Birmingham legal talent on the National stage