It’s important to lay out the details of the win or success, but it’s equally important to explain the impact. Was it a case of first impression? What is the scope of the impact? Why does it matter? What does this change?

— Alaina Lancaster, Editor in Chief, of Litigation and Law.com

There's no substitute for making clear in the submission the firm's specific role in an engagement. The firms we cover handle matters that draw layers of advisors--legal, financial and otherwise--and it's key for us to come away with a concrete understanding of a submitting firm's role in those matters. Be forthright.

And as always, don't tell us a firm or lawyer is excellent; illustrate for us specifically how a firm or lawyer achieved excellence in a defined way in a given year.

— David Gialanella, Editor-in-Chief, Business of Law and The American Lawyer

There are many aspects I consider when looking through award submissions each year.

The cases firms/lawyers submit each year are obviously a large part of the decision making process, so I make sure when looking into them I see what they did with their time to help win the case and who specifically was involved in the case (i.e., additional staff and opposing counsel).

Another large part for me is making sure the firms/lawyers cut out the fluff and focus on the facts. When there is too much fluff it makes it more difficult to see what work is done.

— Victoria Ostrander-Garvine, Assistant editor of The National Law Journal,
The American Lawyer and Corporate Counsel