2024 Categories
Please note - each firm/company can enter a maximum of 3 people per category.
Open to Private Practice
Individual Awards
Ally of the Year
NB - this award is open to all, including men and people who identify as non-binary.
An ally may lend their support in a variety of ways: if they are a senior stakeholder, they may champion junior women’s ideas in an arena the woman may not have access to, or ensure she herself has a seat at the table. They should be visible in their actions and proud to support gender diversity efforts through a variety of ways.
- Describe how this person has furthered gender equality, diversity and inclusiveness within their workplace and the industry at large in the past 12 months.
- Please cite specifc examples of how they have influenced or brought about cultural change in the workplace or broader industry.
This category is also open to non-lawyers working within a law firm.
The entry must relate to activity undertaken in the UK or by UK-based personnel.
600 words maximum
Innovative Leaders
This award is to recognize women who are the thinkers, the ‘idea’ women.
- Describe what innovative changes the nominee has enacted in your company or team in the last 12 months.
- Please cite specific examples/policies that they have implemented, including how they gained buy-in, from start to finish.
This category is also open to non-lawyers working within a law firm.
The entry must relate to activity undertaken in the UK or by UK-based personnel.
600 words maximum.
Collaborative Leadership
This award is to recognise women who stand out as working well with others, and who bring other women with them as they find success.
- Describe how this person has supported other women in your team and company in the last 12 months.
- Cite specific projects where you have collaborated with other women.
This category is also open to non-lawyers working within a law firm.
The entry must relate to activity undertaken in the UK or by UK-based personnel.
600 words maximum.
Law Firm Leader of the Year
This award is to recognise women who have had a huge, impactful year. This is not limited to women at managing partner level, it can be anyone who has displayed exemplary leadership skills.
- Describe the major achievements from the past 12 months including personal and team achievements you have led on, citing specific examples.
- You must demonstrate commitment to improving diversity measures in your team or wider company during the year.
The entry must relate to activity undertaken in the UK or by UK-based personnel.
600 words maximum.
Mentor of the Year
This award is for women who have mentored another woman in their team or wider business during the past 12 months.
- Describe the relationship with the mentee, including how often they meet and how they structure the mentorship.
- Include any direct actions that have built the mentee’s career.
- Include a testimonial from the mentee.
This category is also open to non-lawyers working within a law firm.
The entry must relate to activity undertaken in the UK or by UK-based personnel.
600 words maximum.
Rising Star
This award is for women under 35 who have led on diversity initiatives within their law firm or company during the past 12 months.
- Describe what led the nominee to want to improve business’ diversity and inclusion efforts, and what steps they have taken to do so.
- Cite specific examples/policies that they have implemented or led on, including how they gained buy-in, from start to finish.
The entry must relate to activity undertaken in the UK or by UK-based personnel.
600 words maximum
Lifetime Achievement
This award is for women who have had a significant impact on female empowerment in their teams and company over the past decade, and who have achieved notable strides in their career during that time.
- Describe what actions this person has taken to ensure other women succeed and achievements they have had.
The entry must relate to activity undertaken in the UK or by UK-based personnel.
600 words maximum.
Women Leaders in Tech Law
This award is for women lawyers handling game-changing, law-shaping, market moving work in and around the tech sector.
- What makes the nominee stand out as a leader in tech law?
- Include specific examples of engagements, outcomes and achievements over the past 12 months.
The entry must relate to activity undertaken in the UK or by UK-based personnel.
600 words maximum
Team Awards
ESG Initiative
This award is for women who have led on a specific ESG initiative within their law firm or company during the past 12 months.
Define the project or initiative’s scope: include timelines, goals and team members.
- How successful was the implementation of this project or initiative? Was it within budget and delivered in time? What have been its benefits? Please provide hard evidence that goals have – or are being – achieved.
- Please cite specific examples/policies that you have implemented or led on, including how you gained buy-in, from start to finish.
This category is also open to non-lawyers working within a law firm.
The entry must relate to activity undertaken in the UK or by UK-based personnel.
600 words maximum
Retaining Talent
In an industry where nobody can escape the talent war, the ability to keep hold of your best people has never been so important-particularly when it comes to evening the industry’s gender split. Many junior women leave the industry after career breaks such as maternity leave, or never feel supported enough to believe that they have a future in the profession.
This category is not limited to just retaining female talent, initiatives in place to retain diverse talent across the firm will be accepted.
- Describe how the company/firm has demonstrated its commitment to retaining talent at all levels.
- Please cite specific examples/policies that you have implemented.
The entry must relate to activity undertaken in the UK or by UK-based personnel.
600 words maximum
Outstanding in DE&I
This award is for women who have led on a specific diversity initiative within their law firm or company during the past 12 months.
- Define the project or initiative’s scope: include timelines, goals and team members.
- How successful was the implementation of this project or initiative? Was it within budget and delivered in time? What have been its benefits? Please provide hard evidence that goals have – or are being – achieved.
- Please cite specific examples/policies that you have implemented or led on, including how you gained buy-in, from start to finish.
This category is also open to non-lawyers working within a law firm.
The entry must relate to activity undertaken in the UK or by UK-based personnel.
600 words maximum
Excellence in Marketing
This award is for a successful campaign or project in the past 12 months from a marketing team led by women.
- Define the project's scope: include timelines, goals and team members.
- How successful was the implementation of this project or initiative? Was it within budget and delivered in time? What have been its benefits?
- Please provide hard evidence that goals have – or are being – achieved.
This category is also open to non-lawyers working within a law firm.
The entry must relate to activity undertaken in the UK or by UK-based personnel.
600 words maximum
Social Mobility Award
The legal sector is one of the least socioeconomically diverse in the country, with barristers, solicitors and judges disproportionately coming from the same few schools and universities.This award is for organisations that are widening access to the legal sector through initiatives or alternative routes into law.
Please show how your organisation has increased social mobility, this can include but is not limited to:
- Collecting socio-economic background of employees
- Contextual Recruitment, open advertising and paid for internships
- Specific initiatives you have in place
- Establishing Social Mobility networks to help with retention and progression
The entry must relate to activity undertaken in the UK or by UK-based personnel.
600 words maximum
Sponsored by:
Open to In-House
Individual Awards
Innovative Leaders
This award is to recognize women who are the thinkers, the ‘idea’ women.
- Describe what innovative changes the nominee has enacted in your company or team in the last 12 months.
- Please cite specific examples/policies that they have implemented, including how they gained buy-in, from start to finish.
The entry must relate to activity undertaken in the UK or by UK-based personnel.
600 words maximum.
Collaborative Leadership
This award is to recognise women who stand out as working well with others, and who bring other women with them as they find success.
- Describe how this person has supported other women in your team and company in the last 12 months.
- Cite specific projects where you have collaborated with other women.
The entry must relate to activity undertaken in the UK or by UK-based personnel.
600 words maximum.
Presented by:
In-House Legal Operations Team
This award is for UK legal departments led by women and should focus on systems and projects that demonstrate excellence in legal operations.
- Please provide examples of the projects and systems.
- Evidence of the team's ability to adapt and innovate to the current needs of the organisation.
- How the project or system has improved efficiency and ultimately client service provision?
- Show how the team members have worked as change agents and creatively challenged the status quo.
The entry must relate to activity undertaken in the UK or by UK-based personnel.
600 words maximum
Mentor of the Year
This award is for women who have mentored another woman in their team or wider business during the past 12 months.
- Describe the relationship with the mentee, including how often they meet and how they structure the mentorship.
- Include any direct actions that have built the mentee’s career.
- Include a testimonial from the mentee.
The entry must relate to activity undertaken in the UK or by UK-based personnel.
600 words maximum.
Rising Star
This award is for women under 35 who have led on diversity initiatives within their law firm or company during the past 12 months.
- Describe what led the nominee to want to improve business’ diversity and inclusion efforts, and what steps they have taken to do so.
- Cite specific examples/policies that they have implemented or led on, including how they gained buy-in, from start to finish.
The entry must relate to activity undertaken in the UK or by UK-based personnel.
600 words maximum
Lifetime Achievement
This award is for women who have had a significant impact on female empowerment in their teams and company over the past decade, and who have achieved notable strides in their career during that time.
- Describe what actions this person has taken to ensure other women succeed and achievements they have had.
The entry must relate to activity undertaken in the UK or by UK-based personnel.
600 words maximum.
Women Leaders in Tech Law
This award is for women lawyers handling game-changing, law-shaping, market moving work in and around the tech sector.
- What makes the nominee stand out as a leader in tech law?
- Include specific examples of engagements, outcomes and achievements over the past 12 months.
The entry must relate to activity undertaken in the UK or by UK-based personnel.
600 words maximum
Team Awards
ESG Initiative
This award is for women who have led on a specific ESG initiative within their law firm or company during the past 12 months.
Define the project or initiative’s scope: include timelines, goals and team members.
- How successful was the implementation of this project or initiative? Was it within budget and delivered in time? What have been its benefits? Please provide hard evidence that goals have – or are being – achieved.
- Please cite specific examples/policies that you have implemented or led on, including how you gained buy-in, from start to finish.
The entry must relate to activity undertaken in the UK or by UK-based personnel.
600 words maximum
Retaining Talent
In an industry where nobody can escape the talent war, the ability to keep hold of your best people has never been so important-particularly when it comes to evening the industry’s gender split. Many junior women leave the industry after career breaks such as maternity leave, or never feel supported enough to believe that they have a future in the profession.
This category is not limited to just retaining female talent, initiatives in place to retain diverse talent across the organisation will be accepted.
- Describe how the company/firm has demonstrated its commitment to retaining talent at all levels.
- Please cite specific examples/policies that you have implemented.
The entry must relate to activity undertaken in the UK or by UK-based personnel.
600 words maximum
Outstanding in DE&I
This award is for women who have led on a specific diversity initiative within their law firm or company during the past 12 months.
- Define the project or initiative’s scope: include timelines, goals and team members.
- How successful was the implementation of this project or initiative? Was it within budget and delivered in time? What have been its benefits? Please provide hard evidence that goals have – or are being – achieved.
- Please cite specific examples/policies that you have implemented or led on, including how you gained buy-in, from start to finish.
The entry must relate to activity undertaken in the UK or by UK-based personnel.
600 words maximum
In-House Legal Operations Team
This award is for UK legal departments led by women and should focus on systems and projects that demonstrate excellence in legal operations.
- Please provide examples of the projects and systems.
- Evidence of the team's ability to adapt and innovate to the current needs of the organisation.
- How the project or system has improved efficiency and ultimately client service provision?
- Show how the team members have worked as change agents and creatively challenged the status quo.
The entry must relate to activity undertaken in the UK or by UK-based personnel.
600 words maximum
Open to Vendors
Individual Awards
Women Leaders in Tech Law
This award is for women working in a law tech company who have excelled in their innovative leadership, mentoring skills and collaborative leadership.
- What makes the nominee stand out as a leader in tech law?
- Include specific examples of engagements, outcomes and achievements over the past 12 months.
The entry must relate to activity undertaken in the UK or by UK-based personnel.
600 words maximum
Team Awards
Legal Recruitment Firm of the Year
This award is for a recruitment firm who has gone above and beyond at putting forward diverse talent.
- Please give examples of strategy and systems you have implemented to ensure candidates from all backgrounds, including but not limited to ethnicity, race, disability, sexual orientation, socio economic background, are being presented to hiring firms.
- Provide measurable evidence that goals have – or are being – achieved.
The entry must relate to activity undertaken in the UK or by UK-based personnel.
600 words maximum
Excellence in Marketing
This award is for women who have led on a specific diversity initiative within their law firm or company during the past 12 months.
- Define the project or initiative’s scope: include timelines, goals and team members.
- How successful was the implementation of this project or initiative? Was it within budget and delivered in time? What have been its benefits? Please provide hard evidence that goals have – or are being – achieved.
- Please cite specific examples/policies that you have implemented or led on, including how you gained buy-in, from start to finish.
The entry must relate to activity undertaken in the UK or by UK-based personnel.
600 words maximum