The Cardiff & District Law Society 2023 awards are now open for entry for legal professionals, law firms and barristers chambers in the region.

Cardiff & District Law Society (CDLS) continues its annual awards programme which recognise individuals and initiatives that reflect the values and initiatives supported by the largest regional law society in Wales. It welcomes submissions from law firms, chambers, lawyers and law students who proactively enhance and innovate the sector, and make the profession and its services more accessible.

Jenine Abdo, President of Cardiff & District Law Society, said:

“This year’s awards programme offers three categories to celebrate excellence in areas close to our heart as a society in 2023: equality, diversity and inclusion, access to justice (pro bono) in Cardiff and a celebration of our next generation of solicitors. Legal practices, individuals and barristers’ chambers living or working in Cardiff & the district are encouraged to enter or nominate others.

The winners will be announced, alongside the recipient of our Simon Mumford Memorial Award, at the CDLS Annual Dinner, hosted on Friday 10 November in Cardiff.

The award categories and criteria, and how to enter, are listed below.

Judges: The awards will be judged by way of a vote by the Cardiff & District Law Society presidential team and honorary secretaries.

Deadline for entries: 20th October 2023, by midnight.

Award Categories:

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Champion of the Year Award 2023

The EDI champion’s initiative should have made a positive contribution to your organisation / the legal industry and / or society. The judges will also be looking for how well the initiative(s) have been embedded working the organisation and evidence of culture change.

• Please outline and details of the initiatives you have introduced, the approach taken, objectives for both the long and short term and well as outcomes to date.
• The judges are looking for evidence of the said initiatives which have been implemented for your Firm and/or clients which have in turn produced tangible results.
• Examples could include staff incentives/networks, recruitment, retention and promotion, accessibility in the workplace using data and monitoring to inform your approach.

Submissions can cover one some or all aspects of equality, diversity and inclusion.

Who can enter? Law firms and in house teams (private and public sectors) based within the Cardiff and District area.

How to enter? See ‘how to enter’, below.

Best Access to Justice (Pro Bono) Initiative of the Year Award 2023

This award is open to law firms, barristers’ chambers, in house teams (private and public sectors) and signatories of the Law Society Pro Bono Charter who can demonstrate delivery of Pro Bono legal help and advise or of a community initiative within the Cardiff and District area.

• Please outline the project, its target audience, its significance and the aims and objectives of the project providing evidence of these goals are being or have been achieved with measurable impact.
• The Judges are looking for evidence of a proactive approach to help combat access to justice for client and/or within their local communities, for example:

• • Free delivery of legal service or promotion of community interest in relation to legal rights.
  • Promotion of the public interest
  • Initiative and delivery
  • Quality in delivery of the pro bono work.

Who can enter? Law firms, barristers’ chambers, in house teams (private and public sectors) and signatories of the Law Society Pro Bono Charter, based within the Cardiff and District area.

How to enter? See ‘how to enter’, below.

Rising Star of the Year Award 2023

This award will be presented to an individual who has demonstrated excellence in client service, or innovation in development of the law and/or made an outstanding contribution to their firm, student or other professional body.

The judges will be looking for:

• Promotion and contribution of legal excellence within the Cardiff and District area.
• Evidence of the impact the individual has had in raising their own, their team’s or firm’s/chamber’s profile.
• Evidence of best practice in client service, technical skills, individual impact and leadership.
• Innovation/contribution to the development of an area of law.
• Achievements/highlights of their training or careers to date which the nominee is most proud of.
• Evidence of going above and beyond the day-to-day expectations of your role and what sets you apart from the other nominees.
• Success in awards/recognitions during the period.

Who can enter? This award is open to LPC/BVC/SQE students, trainees or pupil barristers, or solicitors and barristers (including in house) up to 5 years PQE.

How to enter? See ‘how to enter’, below.

How to enter

• Written submissions must be between 250 and 1,000 words in length in total.
• Sent via email in a word document / PDF format.
• Submissions must not contain any links or attachments / appendices for parity in the judging process.
• You may nominate yourself, your firm / chambers or a colleague / peer.

Please send your entries to Cardiff & District Law Society by email at: admin@cardifflaw.org

Deadline for entries

Friday 20th October 2023, by midnight.