LEGAL AWARDS 2022

EVENTS

LEGAL AWARDS 2022

– Thursday 22nd September 2022 –

The SLS Legal Awards were introduced in 2018 to recognise the exceptional legal talent within the Surrey Law Society membership and celebrate the outstanding commitment to the profession across the county. Last year’s ceremony, our biggest yet, saw 250 attendees come together to recognise the achievement of peers and colleagues, who won awards in a range of categories and enjoyed a fantastic evening of celebration.

This year we are inviting nominations in the following 11 categories, including a brand new ‘Employment Lawyer of the Year’ award, and would encourage any member to nominate themselves or a colleague before the closing date, Thursday 28 April 2022.

The nomination process couldn’t be simpler, you need only download the appropriate nomination form at www.surreylawsociety.org.uk, review the criteria for the category selected and write your entry with a maximum of 1,000 words. Once you’ve completed the entry, use the handy criteria checklist at the end of the document to ensure you’ve covered everything and submit this with any supporting documentation you wish to send to helen.opie@ surreylawsociety.org.uk.

We would love to see entries from across the membership, from sole practitioners to large firms, and members are entitled to nominate for more than one category if they feel they meet the criteria for each. The only thing to remember is that nominees must be members of the Society to be eligible, so if you’re not sure who within your firm is listed under your membership, please don’t hesitate to contact the SLS office for clarification on this, or to sign up any colleagues not currently subscribed so that they are eligible.

1. Law Firm of the Year

The firm must be able to show significant progress and development as a business within the last 12 months. Evidence of this can include details of growth, strategy, financial performance, employee development, training and diversity. The firm must also be able to demonstrate that it has a rounded approach to the delivery of legal services, and that it is working in the best interest of not only its clients but the profession overall.

2. Lawyer of the Year

The nominee must be a Lawyer who goes “above and beyond” in both his/ her colleagues’ eyes as well as those of the clients. This might be demonstrable in a specific case or work done in relation to a particular area of Law. The nominee may also have proposed and put in place a business solution that proved beneficial to the firm overall or to his/her client, or both. The nominee should also be able to show strong management and leadership skills.

3. Commercial / Corporate Lawyer of the Year

The nominee must be able to demonstrate that he/she has delivered exceptional client outcomes. Please explain the single greatest achievement of the past 12 months in one or more of the following: client service, innovation or exceptional client outcome/s. Nominees will be accepted from Lawyers working in corporate finance, private equity, banking, insolvency, Intellectual Property and other commercial disciplines.

4. Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year

The judges will accept nominations based on one outstanding matter worked on during the last year or on the overall performance of the individual during that year from those who practice in any area of dispute resolution on either the Claimant and/or Defendant side. The nominee must be able to demonstrate that he/she has delivered exceptional client outcomes. Please explain the single greatest achievement of the past 12 months in one or more of the following: client service, innovation or exceptional client outcome/s.

5. Employment Lawyer of the Year

The judges will accept nominations based on one outstanding matter worked on during the last year or on the overall performance of the individual during that year from those who practice in any area of employment law. The nominee must be able to demonstrate that he/she has delivered exceptional client outcomes. Please explain the single greatest achievement of the past 12 months in one or more of the following: client service, innovation or exceptional client outcome/s.

6. Family Lawyer of the Year

The nominee must demonstrate excellence within the field of family law through their practice. The nominee must also show that they have provided an outstanding quality of legal service for their clients and demonstrated teamwork within their firm, with external lawyers and/or other professionals.

7. Paralegal of the Year

This award recognises the key role paralegals play in our justice system. The nominee will be an exceptional individual who consistently makes contributions to the legal profession whether in client care, business development, training or otherwise and who acts as an inspiration to other paralegals through their knowledge of the law, perseverance in cases, professional and personal development and superior skill set. The nominee must also demonstrate a commitment to continuing legal education.

8. Private Client Lawyer of the Year

The judges will accept nominations based on one outstanding matter worked on during the last year or on the overall performance of the individual during that year. The nominee must be able to demonstrate that he/she has delivered exceptional client outcomes. Please explain the single greatest achievement of the past 12 months in one or more of the following: client service, innovation or exceptional client outcome/s.

9. Property Lawyer of the Year

We will accept entries from both commercial and residential property Lawyers and landlord and tenant specialists. The nominee must be able to demonstrate that he/she has delivered exceptional client outcomes. Please explain the single greatest achievement of the past 12 months in one or more of the following: client service, innovation or exceptional client outcome/s.

10. Rising Star of the Year

The nominee needs to show a sizeable level of involvement within the profession and/or the area in which they practice and provide evidence of any significant obstacle/s they have overcome. Evidence in relation to how and why the nominee has “risen” over the past 12 months is advised.

11. Support Team Member of the Year

This year we are welcoming nominations from colleagues or clients for secretaries, cashiers and other support team members who support Surrey Law Society members. Nominees must demonstrate a special contribution to their organisation or to specific clients, showing dedication and commitment that goes ‘the extra mile’.

Could it be you?

Do you have what it takes to be our Lawyer or Law Firm of the Year? Will your firm, one of your colleagues or even you be one of our winners?

GO TO SURREYLAWSOCIETY.ORG.UK FOR MORE INFORMATION