The Legal News Wales
Awards 2026

Criteria: Entries should demonstrate how your practice or team has successfully implemented a transformative strategy that benefits clients and / or your own people. The judges will be looking for: - Vision and objectives – A clear explanation of the transformation initiative, its goals, and why it was needed. - Strategy and adoption – The approach taken, including new technologies, process improvements, or service enhancements. - Implementation and execution – How the transformation was delivered, including challenges overcome. - Impact and measurable success – Evidence of tangible benefits, such as improved efficiency, client satisfaction, employee engagement, or increased access to legal services. - Long-term sustainability – How the transformation has been embedded for lasting impact, and what it’s helped to inspire for the future. Supporting evidence may include data or before-and-after comparisons.

Criteria: Entries should demonstrate significant and visible, sustainable growth achieved through strategic planning and strong leadership. The judges will be looking for: - Growth strategy and objectives – A clear vision outlining the growth goals, challenges addressed, and strategies implemented. - Revenue and market expansion – Evidence of financial growth, increased client base, market share, or new service offerings. - Competitive edge – How the organisation has adapted, differentiated itself, or capitalised on new opportunities. - Leadership and team contribution – The role of leadership, culture, and team efforts in driving growth. - Impact and sustainability – Demonstrated long-term value, resilience, and continued success in the legal sector or organisation. Supporting evidence may include financial metrics and client testimonials.

Criteria: Entries should demonstrate significant and visible, sustainable growth achieved through strategic planning and strong leadership. The judges will be looking for: - Growth strategy and objectives – A clear vision outlining the growth goals, challenges addressed, and strategies implemented. - Revenue and market expansion – Evidence of financial growth, increased client base, market share, or new service offerings. - Competitive edge – How the organisation has adapted, differentiated itself, or capitalised on new opportunities. - Leadership and team contribution – The role of leadership, culture, and team efforts in driving growth. - Impact and sustainability – Demonstrated long-term value, resilience, and continued success in the legal sector or organisation. Supporting evidence may include financial metrics and client testimonials.

Criteria: Entries should demonstrate a commitment to delivering excellence in client care – within legal services provision, with any collaborative partners / referrers, and through your wider profile and communications. Submissions must show how nominees have demonstrably gone the extra mile for clients while maintaining an ethical and professional practice. The judges will be looking for: - Client-centric strategy – A clear approach to understanding client needs and any vulnerabilities; delivering beyond expectations and embedding a culture of client care excellence across the whole business. - Innovation and service enhancements – Implementation of processes, technologies, communication or other initiatives that help to deliver outstanding client experiences, for all clients. - Communication and engagement – Evidence of improved and transformative client interactions, accessibility, and responsiveness. How you excel at dealing with complaints which may arise. - Impact and measurable success – Demonstrated improvements in client satisfaction, retention, or outcomes. - Sustainability and industry influence – How your practice or team may have set new client care standards / best practice in the legal sector in Wales.

Criteria: Our judges are looking for: - Strategic Commitment & Leadership: How DEI is embedded into the organisation’s culture, policies, and long-term strategy; leadership’s role in driving and sustaining DEI efforts. - Initiatives & Innovation: Specific equity-focused programmes, policies, or initiatives implemented; innovative approaches to improving diversity, accessibility, and workplace inclusion. - Measurable Impact & Outcomes: Evidence of tangible improvements in diversity, inclusion, and equity within the organisation. - Creating a Culture of Belonging: Efforts to foster an inclusive and supportive work environment; Employee engagement in DEI initiatives. - Sustainability & Wider Influence: Plans for maintaining and evolving DEI efforts over time; contributions to DEI beyond the organisation, such as partnerships, mentoring, or advocacy.

Criteria: Our judges are looking for: - Strategic Approach & Leadership: How wellbeing is embedded in the organisation’s culture and business strategy; leadership commitment to fostering a positive workplace culture. - Initiatives & Innovation: Range and effectiveness of initiatives supporting mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing; innovative or unique approaches to workplace wellbeing. - Impact & Measurable Outcomes: Evidence of improvements in employee wellbeing, engagement, or productivity; metrics demonstrating success. - Inclusivity & Accessibility: How the strategy supports employees at all levels and in different roles; efforts to ensure wellbeing initiatives are accessible, inclusive, and responsive to diverse needs. - Sustainability & Continuous Improvement: Plans for maintaining and evolving the wellbeing strategy over time; commitment to reviewing and improving initiatives based on employee needs and feedback.

Criteria: Our judges are looking for: - Innovation & Programme Design - How your initiative demonstrates excellence in your organisation / team to support qualification and professional growth. Outline any unique or innovative approaches taken to enhance legal education and training, and include any use of technology, mentorship, or alternative learning methods. - Impact & Effectiveness - Measurable outcomes, including retention, qualification success rates, and career progression; evidence of how the programme has improved access to the profession for diverse candidates. - Wellbeing & Resilience Support - Measures taken to promote mental health and wellbeing for trainees; initiatives supporting work-life balance and professional resilience. - DEI: Efforts to improve access to the legal profession for underrepresented groups; financial support, scholarships, or other assistance provided to increase participation; evidence of a diverse intake and success rates among participants. - Long-Term Professional Development - how the programme prepares individuals for long-term careers in the legal profession; support for post-qualification development, networking, and career progression.

Criteria: Entries should demonstrate a meaningful contribution to social change, access to justice, or community well-being. The judges will be looking for: - Purpose and objectives – A clear explanation of the initiative, its goals, and the social issue it addresses for a community / communities in Wales. - Innovative approach – Creative or strategic methods used to drive positive change, beyond financial contributions to programmes / projects. - Engagement and collaboration – How your team / organisation worked with communities, partners, or stakeholders to meet the programme needs and ensure sustainable impact. - Impact and measurable Success – Evidence of tangible benefits, such as improved access to justice, support for vulnerable groups, or long-term social change. - Scalability and sustainability – How the initiative has been embedded for lasting impact, considering your organisation’s / team’s size and resources.

Criteria: The judges will be looking for: - Outstanding commitment and approach to pro bono for communities by an individual, organisation or team based in Wales. - Demonstration of consistent pro bono involvement beyond a single case. - Proactive engagement in seeking out pro bono opportunities in Wales and England. - Innovation and creativity: If relevant, please highlight any innovative methods used to reach a wider community or client base, and / or new approach to support a particular community in Wales. - Evidence of community impact, broader social change or justice. - Sustainability and outreach: Do you / your team / organisation have established systems to support ongoing pro bono work? - Are there efforts to educate and encourage other lawyers to participate in pro bono activities?

Criteria: Entries should demonstrate how a marketing initiative has successfully enhanced brand awareness, client engagement, or business growth within the legal sector. The judges will be looking for: - Strategic vision – Clear objectives and rationale behind the campaign, aligned with business goals. - Creativity and authenticity – Originality in approach, messaging, and execution. - Implementation and execution – Effective delivery, use of channels, and engagement tactics. - Impact and measurable success – Evidence of results through metrics such as client acquisition, brand recognition, engagement rates, or revenue growth. - Internal campaigns (if applicable) – How the initiative improved internal culture, communication, or employee engagement. - Influence of this success on future marketing initiatives.

Criteria: Our judges are looking for evidence of: - Innovation & Impact: The originality and effectiveness of sustainability initiatives; measurable environmental benefits, such as reductions in emissions, energy consumption, or waste; demonstrable improvements in sustainable legal practice in Wales. - Commitment to Sustainable Practices: Integration of sustainability into daily operations, decision-making, and long-term strategy; policies promoting responsible resource use, ethical procurement, and carbon-conscious business travel; involvement in wider industry sustainability efforts. - Leadership & Advocacy: How the organisation or team inspired others to adopt sustainable practices; contribution to shaping environmental policies or regulations in the legal sector; participation in sustainability networks, collaborations, or knowledge-sharing initiatives. - Measurable Outcomes: evidence of quantifiable improvements resulting from sustainability initiatives within the context of the initiative / size of organisation. - Long-Term Vision & Continuous Improvement: plans for sustaining and expanding sustainability efforts; commitment to further innovation and continuous progress in environmental responsibility.

Criteria: Entries should showcase an individual’s early career achievements, contribution to their organisation or team or clients and their potential for future leadership within the legal sector. The judges will be looking for: - Early Career Achievement: Evidence of rapid development, responsibility or achievement beyond expectations for career stage. - Quality of Contribution: Consistently high standards of work and clear value added to the team, clients or organisation. - Impact & Recognition: Demonstrable impact through successful projects, outcomes or positive feedback from colleagues, supervisors or clients. - Professionalism & Values: Strong integrity, interpersonal skills and a positive contribution to workplace culture. - Initiative & Drive: Proactive approach to learning, improvement, problem-solving or innovation. - Future Potential: Clear ambition, leadership potential and readiness for greater responsibility within the legal sector. Supporting evidence may include examples of work, testimonials, feedback, career progression, project outcomes or reflections on future aspirations.

Entries should showcase an individual’s excellence in legal operations and their positive impact on the performance, resilience and effectiveness of a legal organisation or legal team. The judges will be looking for: - Operational Excellence & Impact: Clear evidence of improving how legal services operate, including efficiency, service delivery, compliance, risk management or client experience. - Strategic Contribution: Demonstration of how operational insight has informed or delivered organisational strategy, growth, transformation or long-term resilience. - Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Introduction of new systems, processes, technologies or ways of working that have delivered tangible, demonstrable benefits. - Leadership & Collaboration: Evidence of influence, leadership or effective collaboration with lawyers, senior leaders or wider stakeholders to achieve shared objectives. - Governance, Professionalism & Integrity: High standards of governance, regulatory awareness and ethical practice, supporting confidence and sustainability within the organisation. - Results & Recognition: Measurable outcomes, lasting impact and, where possible, testimonials from colleagues, leadership teams or stakeholders. Supporting evidence may include case studies, performance metrics, testimonials, examples of process improvement, or demonstrations of operational leadership in action.

Criteria: Entries should showcase an individual’s entrepreneurial excellence and their role in creating, growing or transforming a legal business or service, delivering meaningful change and measurable impact. The judges will be looking for: - Entrepreneurial Vision & Opportunity: A clear explanation of the opportunity identified, problem solved or gap in the market addressed, and how the individual’s vision shaped the creation or evolution of the business or service. - Innovation & Market Response: Evidence of innovation in business model, service delivery, client offering, use of technology or approach to the legal market, demonstrating responsiveness to change and client need. - Growth, Sustainability & Resilience: Demonstration of sustainable growth, commercial viability and resilience, including scaling, diversification, profitability, client base development or long-term stability. - Risk, Initiative & Execution: Evidence of entrepreneurial risk-taking, personal initiative and the ability to translate ideas into reality through decisive action and delivery. - Impact on Clients, People & the Sector: Clear positive impact on clients, employees or collaborators, and contribution to the wider Welsh legal sector through new services, access to justice, specialist expertise or sector leadership. - Results & Recognition: Measurable outcomes, achievements or milestones, supported where possible by data, testimonials, case studies or external recognition. Supporting evidence may include business growth metrics, case studies, testimonials, examples of innovation in action, client outcomes or reflections on entrepreneurial challenges and learning.

Criteria: Entries should showcase an individual’s outstanding leadership, strategic vision, and positive impact on their business or legal team. The judges will be looking for: * Vision & Leadership: A clear demonstration of strategic thinking, innovation, and the ability to inspire and engage others. * Transformation - how your leadership has specifically helped to plan for and / or deliver change and growth for the organisation * Ethical and Sustainable Leadership: Evidence of responsible decision-making, integrity, and any achievements in leading on ESG. * Results and Influence: Measurable achievements, lasting impact, and any testimonials from colleagues, clients, or industry peers. Supporting evidence may include case studies, testimonials, performance metrics, or examples of leadership in action.

Criteria: Our judges are looking for: •Exceptional Commitment & Impact: Evidence of significant contributions to justice, legal service, or community support; Demonstrable positive change resulting from their efforts. •Courage & Leadership: Instances where the nominee has shown bravery, resilience, or leadership in challenging circumstances; advocacy for important causes, legal reform, or access to justice. •Community & Professional Influence: efforts to mentor, inspire, or support colleagues, clients, or communities; recognition from peers, clients, or the public. •Long-Term Dedication; Consistency in making a difference over time; ongoing commitment to justice and legal excellence.