Submission tips
& FAQs

The Legal News Wales Awards celebrate excellence in the business of law and highlight the outstanding contributions of the legal sector to the Welsh economy and society.

Below you'll find our submission guidelines and tips, and answers to frequently asked questions, covering the in-person interviews for finalists and the awards ceremony on the 4th June 2026.

Submission
notes

The Legal News Wales Awards 2026 comprise 16 categories and are open to any legal practice, in-house legal team or – where relevant – individual in the legal sector. The nominated law firm, team, barristers’ chambers or individual must have a base in Wales.

Find details of the criteria for each category here.

Please ensure submissions include:

Your contact details as directed on the form (linked from each category, here).
Contact details for the nominated organisation / individual.
Body text (max 1500 words) explaining how you have met the specific criteria of the chosen award category.
Testimonials where appropriate.

Please feel free to submit in as many categories as you wish.

If you encounter an issue using the online submission form, please send your entry as a word document directly to editor@legalnewswales.com

Deadline:

The closing date for nominations is midnight on Monday 16th March 2026.

Please use the online form via the categories page to make your submission.

Finalist announcements

Shortlisted applicants will be personally notified by the 22nd March 2026, with all finalists announced by 23 March 2026.

Judging week: in-person interviews with finalists

All finalists will be invited to meet our judging panel for a 15 - 20 minute private interview, after which the judges will cast their vote for their preferred winner.

Judging week takes place on the following dates and locations (further information will be sent to finalists):

Mon 27th April 2026: Cardiff City Centre (10am – 3:30pm)
Tues 28th April 2026: Cardiff City Centre (10am – 3:30pm)
Wed 29th April 2026: Cardiff City Centre (10am – 3:30pm)
Thur 30th April 2026: Cardiff City Centre (10am – 3:30pm)

Finalists will be notified of their day and time slot in advance and encouraged to bring up to 3 people from their organisation / team – or attend on their own, depending on the award category.

Scroll down for details of the awards ceremony on Thursday 4th June 2026.

Enquiries

For general enquiries relating to the submission process, please contact awards@legalnewswales.com

The 2026 Awards

We are delighted to reveal some of the details for the Legal News Wales Awards 2026, a celebration of excellence in the business of law in Wales.

Following an outstanding response from across the legal sector in 2025, the Awards have been expanded to include some more nuanced business growth categories, to support the next generation of lawyers as well as those driving the business management of our nation's legal profession.

The 2026 awards programme spotlights exceptional performance and innovation in leadership, business operations, marketing, client service, finance, tech, culture, community support, pro bono work and more – to showcase the strength and impact of the entire legal profession in and beyond Wales.

The 2026 Legal News Wales Awards are now OPEN FOR ENTRY.

Deadline for all submissions: 16 March 2026

Enter the Awards

Submission guidelines

Be clear & concise

Be concise, clear and offer a well laid-out submission to make it easier for the judges to extract the relevant information from your entry. Try not to deviate from the criteria requirements and please keep to the word count to help our judges give every entry the time they deserve.

Evidence success

Make sure you evidence your achievements and don't shy away from adding financial and operational results. All entries are submitted in the strictest of confidence. Please don't add links to websites or directory entries. Keep any testimonials added within the word count.

Be current

This year's awards focus on successes, impact, initiatives, investment and growth from the past 12-18 months. Your entry should focus on achievements from 01.01.2025 - 01.01.2026 - except for the: Legal Hero Wales, Rising Star and Legal Entrepreneur awards which have no time restrictions.

Above & beyond

Our judges are looking for exceptional examples - where you have gone above and beyond expectations or the norm.

Please evidence where you have done this to help your submission stand out!

Size isn't important

Our judges will take into account the size and resources of each organisation, and what's available to individuals. They will make their decisions based on the evidence in front of them, and responses in the in-person interviews for finalists. We encourage legal teams and organisations of all sizes to enter!

Enlighten us

Tell your story and inspire us. We're not looking for a polished PR piece but an entry that clearly showcases your passion, a clear vision and evidence of achievements to date. We're also keen to hear of any longer-term ambitions fuelled by these achievements and, of course, testimonials!

The awards
ceremony

The ceremony

The awards ceremony takes place on Thursday 4th June 2026, at The Coal Exchange Hotel Cardiff.

Venue address: Building Bay, The Exchange, Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff CF10 5FQ

The evening celebrations start with a drinks reception from 6:30pm, followed by a three-course meal, awards ceremony and after party - all in one venue. (Full timings will be announced shortly.)

How much are tickets?

A table of 10 is £950 +VAT

Individual tickets are priced at £95 +VAT

We may have the potential to increase table numbers to 12 per table. We will offer this as an option when tickets go on sale at the end of March.

What does my ticket include?

Access to the drinks reception and the awards, a three-course meal and access to the after party.

Where can I buy my tickets?

Tickets go on sale from the 24 March 2026. Click here to be notified of the launch.

If I/my organisation is shortlisted, do I get any free tickets to the Awards night?

Everyone is asked to purchase tickets from the website in advance of the evening. Priority is given to shortlisted companies and individuals but it is on a first-come-first served basis so you are advised to book early to guarantee the tickets you require.

Our Host

Our awards ceremony will be steered by experienced legal journalist and presenter, John Hyde - Deputy News Editor at The Law Society Gazette. John is recognised as one of the leading legal journalists in the country, with a reputation for breaking important stories and standing up for the sector in the face of attacks from other sections of the media.

In the last three years he has won plaudits for his reporting of the Post Office Inquiry, becoming an authority on the scandal and the role of lawyers. He has hosted numerous events and conferences and been a regular contributor on the BBC, as well as writing articles for the Independent and politics.co.uk.

Dress code

Black-tie / cocktail dresses.

Dietary requirements

Dietary requirements should be sent directly to awards@legalnewswales.com no later than 13th May 2025, or at time of booking.

Pre-orders for drinks

An pre-order drinks form will be shared upon booking and completed forms should sent directly to the contact given at the Cardiff Marriott Hotel within the deadline stated. The Legal News Wales Awards team are unable to process these for you.

Accommodation discount

We have secured a limited number of discounted rooms at The Coal Exchange Cardiff Hotel and will share more information here shortly.

Photography & Videography

Our production team includes a professional photographer and a videographer, who will capture the evening celebrations and award presentations. We will ask the winners for a few moments with our videographer to share their reactions on the night. We are happy to share the photos and videos with award winners for wider marketing use.