Enter

The Manchester Legal Awards 2023 are now closed for entries.

Entries into the Manchester Legal Awards 2023 are now open. Good luck to everyone submitting an entry this year.

The short-listed nominees will be notified by Fran Eccles-Bech, Chief Executive of Manchester Law Society, and invited to be interviewed by the judges on Friday 12th May 2023.

As you will appreciate, it is logistically difficult to get all of the judges together at this time and Friday 12th May is the only date available for interviews. Therefore, if you have entered, please keep this day free.

Entries are now closed.

Criteria List

10 marks will be given for each of the criteria which should all be no longer than 250 words each

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Champions of the Year
  1. Give one example of how your firm/organisation has championed equality, diversity and inclusion
  2. Outline the impact and results achieved from the above activity
  3. List any further initiatives your firm/organisation has undertaken to support this agenda
  4. Give an example of how your firm/organisation can demonstrate that your equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives/new practices leave a lasting legacy
CSR Champions of the Year
  1. Give details of your company’s CSR programme, its objectives and how you have championed them.
  2. Outline the impact and results achieved from the above activity.
  3. Focusing on one specific initiative, explain the tangible results achieved.
  4. Give an example of how your CSR initiatives will leave a lasting legacy both internally and externally.
Health & Wellbeing Champions of the Year
  1. Give an overview of the initiatives you have put in place to protect the health and wellbeing of your staff.
  2. Outline how these initiatives have positively impacted your firm/organisation.
  3. Provide specific details that demonstrate the tangible results of these initiatives.
  4. Identify any challenges you faced when implementing these initiative and how you overcame them.
Corporate/Commercial - Team of the Year
  1. Outline one specific matter your team has handled during the qualifying period and explain why it had a major impact on your team and your client.
  2. Explain how you provide client service excellence in all that you do
  3. Isolate the single most important factor that has contributed to the success of your team over the qualifying period.
  4. Confirm your team’s financial performance for its last complete financial year and demonstrate how your team has achieved profitable growth as compared to the previous financial year. Note figures must only be submitted for your qualifying regional office(s).
Crime Team of the Year
  1. Outline one specific matter your team has handled during the qualifying period and explain why it had a major impact on your team and your client.
  2. Explain how you provide client service excellence in all that you do
  3. Isolate the single most important factor that has contributed to the success of your team over the qualifying period.
  4. Confirm your team’s financial performance for its last complete financial year and demonstrate how your team has achieved profitable growth as compared to the previous financial year. Note figures must only be submitted for your qualifying regional office(s).
Employment Team of the Year
  1. Outline one specific matter your team has handled during the qualifying period and explain why it had a major impact on your team and your client.
  2. Explain how you provide client service excellence in all that you do
  3. Isolate the single most important factor that has contributed to the success of your team over the qualifying period.
  4. Confirm your team’s financial performance for its last complete financial year and demonstrate how your team has achieved profitable growth as compared to the previous financial year. Note figures must only be submitted for your qualifying regional office(s).
Family Law Team of the Year
  1. Outline one specific matter your team has handled during the qualifying period and explain why it had a major impact on your team and your client.
  2. Explain how you provide client service excellence in all that you do
  3. Isolate the single most important factor that has contributed to the success of your team over the qualifying period.
  4. Confirm your team’s financial performance for its last complete financial year and demonstrate how your team has achieved profitable growth as compared to the previous financial year. Note figures must only be submitted for your qualifying regional office(s)
Litigation Team of the Year
  1. Outline one specific matter your team has handled during the qualifying period and explain why it had a major impact on your team and your client.
  2. Explain how you provide client service excellence in all that you do
  3. Isolate the single most important factor that has contributed to the success of your team over the qualifying period.
  4. Confirm your team’s financial performance for its last complete financial year and demonstrate how your team has achieved profitable growth as compared to the previous financial year. Note figures must only be submitted for your qualifying regional office(s)
Personal Injury/Clinical Negligence Team of the Year
  1. Outline one specific matter your team has handled during the qualifying period and explain why it had a major impact on your team and your client.
  2. Explain how you provide client service excellence in all that you do
  3. Isolate the single most important factor that has contributed to the success of your team over the qualifying period.
  4. Confirm your team’s financial performance for its last complete financial year and demonstrate how your team has achieved profitable growth as compared to the previous financial year. Note figures must only be submitted for your qualifying regional office(s)
Private Client Team of the Year
  1. Outline one specific matter your team has handled during the qualifying period and explain why it had a major impact on your team and your client.
  2. Explain how you provide client service excellence in all that you do
  3. Isolate the single most important factor that has contributed to the success of your team over the qualifying period.
  4. Confirm your team’s financial performance for its last complete financial year and demonstrate how your team has achieved profitable growth as compared to the previous financial year. Note figures must only be submitted for your qualifying regional office(s)
Property Team of the Year
  1. Outline one specific matter your team has handled during the qualifying period and explain why it had a major impact on your team and your client.
  2. Explain how you provide client service excellence in all that you do
  3. Isolate the single most important factor that has contributed to the success of your team over the qualifying period.
  4. Confirm your team’s financial performance for its last complete financial year and demonstrate how your team has achieved profitable growth as compared to the previous financial year. Note figures must only be submitted for your qualifying regional office(s)
Regulatory Team of the Year
  1. Outline one specific matter your team has handled during the qualifying period and explain why it had a major impact on your team and your client.
  2. Explain how you provide client service excellence in all that you do
  3. Isolate the single most important factor that has contributed to the success of your team over the qualifying period.
  4. Confirm your team’s financial performance for its last complete financial year and demonstrate how your team has achieved profitable growth as compared to the previous financial year. Note figures must only be submitted for your qualifying regional office(s)
Trainee/Paralegal/Apprentice/Legal Executive of the Year
  1. Describe the piece of work you have undertaken in the qualifying period that you are most proud of
  2. Give one specific example to illustrate how much progress you have made in the qualifying period
  3. Outline an instance when your team and people skills were demonstrated
  4. Describe an instance when you exceeded your employer’s expectations in the performance of your duties
Solicitor of the Year (excludes legal director/member/principal lawyer/consultant)
  1. Outline one specific matter you have handled during the qualifying period and explain why it had a major impact on you and your client/ organisation
  2. Give an account of a specific incident that demonstrates your leadership qualities
  3. Provide one specific example of how you have provided added-value service to a client/ organisation
  4. Set out your contribution to the success of the practice/organisation during the qualifying period, both financially and in other areas
Partner of the Year (includes legal directors/members/principal lawyers/consultants)
  1. Explain and quantify how you have contributed to the success of your firm during the qualifying period
  2. Give one specific example to demonstrate how your vision and thinking has positively influenced the future strategy of your firm
  3. Outline one specific matter you have handled during the qualifying period and explain why it had a major impact on you and your client
  4. Isolate the single most important factor that has contributed to your personal success over the qualifying period
Barrister/KC of the Year
  1. Outline one specific matter you have handled during the qualifying period and explain why it had a major impact on you and your client
  2. Give specific examples to illustrate how your service and care has exceeded a client’s expectations
  3. Explain how you have contributed to the success of your chambers during the qualifying period
  4. Isolate the single most important factor that has contributed to your success over the qualifying period
Barristers Chambers of the Year
  1. Detail your chamber’s top three highlights and define the single contributing factor to your success during the qualifying period
  2. What steps have you taken to ensure the wellbeing of your staff and what active measures do you take to ensure equality, diversity and inclusion in your firm?
  3. Give details of your chamber’s involvement in three notable matters over the qualifying period and explain why they have given your chambers a sense of pride and satisfaction
  4. Set out how you maintain a sense of collective pride and contribution within your chambers
Small Law Firm of the Year (1-5 partners nationally)
  1. Detail your firm’s three top highlights from the qualifying period
  2. What steps have you taken to ensure the wellbeing of your staff and what active measures do you take to ensure equality, diversity and inclusion in your firm?
  3. List three new clients your firm has attracted during the qualifying period and explain why they have given your firm a sense of pride and satisfaction
  4. Isolate the single most important factor that has contributed to the success of your firm over the qualifying period
Medium Law Firm of the Year (6-20 partners nationally)
  1. Detail your firm’s three top highlights from the qualifying period
  2. What steps have you taken to ensure the wellbeing of your staff and what active measures do you take to ensure equality, diversity and inclusion in your firm?
  3. List three new clients your firm has attracted during the qualifying period and explain why they have given your firm a sense of pride and satisfaction
  4. Isolate the single most important factor that has contributed to the success of your firm over the qualifying period
Large Law Firm of the Year (20+ partners nationally)
  1. Detail your firm’s three top highlights from the qualifying period
  2. What steps have you taken to ensure the wellbeing of your staff and what active measures do you take to ensure equality, diversity and inclusion in your firm?
  3. List three new clients your firm has attracted during the qualifying period and explain why they have given your firm a sense of pride and satisfaction
  4. Isolate the single most important factor that has contributed to the success of your firm over the qualifying period
Lifetime Achievement
  1. Please nominate a lawyer or legal professional who you think has made an unrivalled impact and lasting contribution to the legal services market in the region during their lifetime.
  2. Using up to 1,000 words, set out why you think your nominated person deserves to be recognised. Your submission should consider such qualities as their pioneering business flair, the values and ethical standards they uphold, why they are an inspiration and why they will have made a long lasting impact on the legal community.
  3. The Council of the Manchester Law Society will review all nominations and announce the recipient at the Awards Dinner.

2023 Winners' Gallery

About MLA

Now firmly established on the legal calendar, the Manchester Legal Awards recognise and reward the wide range of skills and talent across our region.

With 21 categories, there is something for everyone to enter. Remember, entry is free, and we welcome nominations from individuals and teams at small, medium and large firms and chambers.

The winners will be announced at our rather special, much anticipated, live event on Thursday 8th June 2023.