Event

This category is open to firms across Scotland that focus either specifically or mainly on criminal work. Entry requirements:

1. Examples of success in the criminal law area
2. Details of where innovation was used to deliver effective criminal legal services
3. Evidence of successful achievement over the past 12 months
4. Details of significant staff recruitment cases or promotions

This category is open to all advocates who have been called for five years and under and will also be open to third party entries and Judges’ selection. This award focuses on Advocates tipped for great things by their colleagues, peers, and the solicitor profession.

Entry requirements:

1. Evidence of significant legal skills and the ability to deliver excellent legal services within their chosen field
2. Details of significant cases involved in during the past 12 months
3. Provide a reference from an instructing solicitor

This category is open to firms or teams that focus specifically on high-value transactions and corporate deals. The award recognises teams who consistently deliver exceptional results in transactional work across various sectors.

Entry requirements:

1. Detailed examples of significant transactions and corporate deals your team has handled. This could include mergers, acquisitions, financing arrangements, or other major corporate transactions, highlighting your team’s involvement and impact.
2. Demonstrate the volume and value of deals completed by the team, showcasing a broad spectrum of high-profile transactions and the team’s ability to manage complex, large-scale matters.
3. Illustrate innovative approaches your team has taken to structure or execute transactions, meeting clients’ evolving needs with creative solutions or new legal strategies
4. Evidence of how the team’s expertise has added significant value to clients through client feedback or tangible outcomes of your work.
5. Evidence of how completing major transactions has positively impacted the firm’s financial performance, including growth in revenue, profitability, or market position as a direct result of the team’s work

This category is open to all Junior Advocates who have been called for more than five years and have not yet taken silk. Open to third party nominations and Judges’ selection, this award recognises outstanding advocates who have consistently demonstrated excellence in advocacy, professional integrity, and peer respect. These individuals are recognised for making a significant impact at the Bar and are seen as leaders among their peers, with a reputation for excellence across the legal profession.

Entry requirements:

1. Evidence of consistently high standards of advocacy across a range of cases, including written and oral advocacy, legal analysis, and courtroom performance.
2. Examples of complex or high-profile work involved in during the past 12 months.
3. Evidence of a wider contribution to the development of the profession, whether through mentoring junior colleagues, involvement in legal education or training, participation in professional committees, or contributing to legal reform or community legal initiatives.

This category recognises the outstanding performance and achievements of IT and IP legal teams based in Scotland. The award celebrates teams that have demonstrated excellence in managing complex intellectual property matters, advising on cutting-edge technology law, and adding significant value to clients in sectors such as software, data protection, digital services, and IP law.

Entry Requirements:

1. Provide examples of significant IT and IP legal matters the team has handled, including notable intellectual property cases, technology transactions, licensing agreements, data protection or cybersecurity work, and other high-impact IT-related legal services.
2. Demonstrate innovative approaches the team has taken in providing legal advice in emerging areas such as data privacy, AI, blockchain, or digital media. Include examples where the team has led in shaping new legal strategies or practices within the IT/IP field.
3. Describe how the team’s legal expertise has created value for clients, include case studies or examples that show measurable benefits to clients, such as new business models, expanded market reach, or regulatory compliance achieved through the team’s work.
4. Provide an overview of the team’s structure, roles, and key specialisms within IT/IP law and demonstrate how the team has contributed to the growth and reputation of the IT/IP legal sector in Scotland.

This category is open to firms, faculties, in-house teams, and legal societies or organisations that can demonstrate a clear commitment to driving sustainable, inclusive, and ethical practices across their operations, culture, and community engagement by following Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles within the legal profession in Scotland

Entry requirements:

1. Clear and concise demonstration of your organisation’s ESG strategy & objectives, including environmental sustainability initiatives, social impact programmes, and governance improvements. Describe how staff are engaged in delivering and shaping this strategy.
2. Details of your organisation’s financial and operational investment towards delivering ESG goals.
3. Examples of the of how your ESG work has delivered real impact, both internally (e.g. staff wellbeing, culture, governance) and externally (e.g. community benefit, environmental impact, stakeholder trust).
4. Provide data or case studies that demonstrate how targets have been met or exceeded, including progress against ESG benchmarks or industry standards.
5. Examples of client or staff testimonials, third-party recognition, or collaborative initiatives that reinforce the value and visibility of your ESG commitments.

This category is open to solicitors with up to five years of post-qualification experience for individual entries, but will also be open to third-party entries and judges selection.

Entry requirements:

1. Achievements from the past 12 months
2. Individual’s impact within their team/department
3. Evidence of client satisfaction & contribution to the success of the firm or organisation
4. Commitment to developing personal business & leadership skills within the firm or organisation

This category is open to all solicitors who hold a Scottish practising certificate with over five years of post-qualification experience. Nominations are open to individual entries, as well as third-party entries and judges’ selection.

Entry requirements:

1. Evidence of significant legal skills and the ability to deliver legal services within chosen field
2. Demonstrate innovative approaches to meeting client demands
3. Examples of significant achievements from the past 12 months
4. Provide examples of taking the lead on implementing at least one innovative project

This category is open to firms or teams that focus specifically on litigation work.

Entry requirements:

1. Details of significant cases and examples of excellence in legal practice; including commercial disputes, personal injury claims, catastrophic injury cases, public inquiries, or other forms of litigation.
2. Examples of the impact the team’s work has had to the success of the firm, including client outcomes, business development, financial growth, or enhanced reputation within the legal sector
3. Overview of the team structure and how it supports success.
4. Details of significant lateral recruitment and promotions that have strengthened the team and its future capability.

This category is open to firms, teams or organisations that focus on debt recovery, bank recovery, insolvency and corporate restrictions work.

Entry requirements:

1. Details of significant cases and examples of excellence in legal practice handled by the team, such as complex recoveries, insolvency litigation, restructuring advice, enforcement actions, or director disqualification cases.
2. Examples of the impact the insolvency team’s performance has had on the firm’s financial growth including financial performance, client retention, reputation enhancement, or market leadership in recovery, insolvency or enforcement work.
3. Overview of the team structure and how it supports success.
4. Details of significant lateral recruitment and promotions that have strengthened the team and its future capability.

This category is open to firms across Scotland involved in traditional high street practice.

Entry requirements:

1. Must be able to demonstrate a strategic vision for developing the firm
2. Evidence of strong financial management
3. Examples of success in chosen field of expertise
4. Details of commitment given to staff development

This category is open to firms or teams with an Employment focus.

Entry requirements:

1. Details of significant cases and examples of excellence in Employment Law
2. Examples of the impact the Employment team’s performance has had on the firm’s financial growth
3. Overview of the team structure and how it supports success.
4. Provide evidence of client satisfaction and the difference the team made

This category is open to accredited Paralegals working within Scotland for individual entries, but will also be open to third-party entries and judges selection.

Entry requirements:

1. Evidence of significant skills and the ability to deliver paralegal services within chosen field
2. Demonstrate innovative approaches to meeting and exceeding client expectations
3. Examples of significant achievements from the past 12 months
4. Provide a reference from a partner or manager from within your firm or organisation

This category is open to firms or teams with a Family & Child Law focus.

Entry requirements:

1. Details of significant cases and examples of excellence in their specialism.
2. Examples of the impact the Family & Child Law team’s performance has had on the firm’s financial growth
3. Overview of the team structure
4. Provide evidence of client satisfaction and the difference the team made

This category is open to firms, faculties, in-house teams or legal societies/organisations that can demonstrate a clear commitment to pro-bono work.

Entry requirements:

1. Clear and concise demonstration of your organisation’s approach to pro-bono work
2. Details of your organisation’s financial investment in pro-bono, for example in terms of billable hours committed
3. Evidence of proven results that show your firm’s investment has had a beneficial effect and achieved targets
4. Examples of client and staff testimonials that value your activity

This category recognises those who are transforming legal services and delivering measurable impact in the legal sector, through innovative technology, new working practices, business models, or internal process improvement. The category is open to individuals, law firms, faculties, in-house legal teams, legal organisations, and legal technology providers that can demonstrate how innovation is helping to reshape the delivery of legal services in Scotland.

Entry requirements:

1. Evidence of innovative solutions, technology or process implemented with a clear description and explain the rationale behind its development or adoption.  
2. Evidence of new business streams and how they have enhanced the overall business offering including performance, productivity, client outcomes, or access to legal services
3. Evidence of how the innovation has transformed internal operations, case management, service delivery, or client engagement.

This category is open to independent law firms which are headquartered in Scotland and firms that are headquartered outside Scotland but which either have a strong presence inside Scotland OR can demonstrate significant success working on Scottish matters.

Firms must be able to evidence up to 150 solicitors who hold a Scottish practising certificate.

Entry requirements:

1. Details of a strategic vision that achieved significant success for your firm, either across the whole firm (for Scottish-headquartered firms) or enhancing your presence and impact in the Scottish legal market (for firms headquartered outside Scotland).
2. Provide evidence of strong financial performance, including overall firm growth or Scottish practice-specific growth, where applicable.
3. Examples of success in your firm’s chosen field of expertise including notable mandates, client impact, or market leadership.
4. Details of the commitment to staff development specifically in relation to Scottish teams.
5. Evidence of a commitment to promoting equality & diversity in the legal profession with examples of initiatives, outcomes, and engagement in Scotland

This category is open to independent law firms which are headquartered in Scotland and firms that are headquartered outside Scotland but which either have a strong presence inside Scotland OR can demonstrate significant success working on Scottish matters.

Firms must be able to evidence over 150 solicitors who hold a Scottish practising certificate.

Entry requirements:

1. Details of a strategic vision that achieved significant success for your firm, either across the whole firm (for Scottish-headquartered firms) or enhancing your presence and impact in the Scottish legal market (for firms headquartered outside Scotland).
2. Provide evidence of strong financial performance, including overall firm growth or Scottish practice-specific growth, where applicable.

3. Examples of success in your firm’s chosen field of expertise including notable mandates, client impact, or market leadership.
4. Details of the commitment to staff development specifically in relation to Scottish teams.

5. Evidence of a commitment to promoting equality & diversity in the legal profession with examples of initiatives, outcomes, and engagement in Scotland