Categories
Please submit your nominations for the Women & Diversity in Law Awards 2025 below.
We strongly encourage you to nominate yourself and your team/firm, as well as colleagues, teams and businesses you admire.
There is no limit to the number of individuals, teams and businesses you can nominate: please use a separate form for each one. Individuals can be nominated for a maximum of three categories.
Outstanding Women Leaders
Woman of the Year
Open to UK-based women operating within the legal sector in any capacityThis award recognises exceptional achievement by a woman in the legal profession. This could be due to a particular project/campaign/case/deal or it could reflect achievement in a particular role, such as the leader of a legal business. She will demonstrate skill, judgement, leadership and integrity and be guided by purpose and values, including a demonstrable commitment to furthering diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I). In doing so she will be an inspiration for future leaders. As this is a highly competitive category, nominators are advised to make an additional nomination in another relevant category.
Law Firm Leader of the Year – International Law Firm
Open to UK-based women in leadership positions within international law firms.The winner will be an exceptional leader, setting and delivering on strategic goals while also ensuring the business operates ethically and with integrity, guided by purpose and values, including a demonstrable commitment to furthering DE&I. In doing so she will be an inspiration for future leaders.
Law Firm Leader of the Year – National/Regional Law Firm
Open to UK-based women in leadership positions within national or regional UK law firms.The winner will be an exceptional leader, setting and delivering on strategic goals while also ensuring the business operates ethically and with integrity, guided by purpose and values including a demonstrable commitment to furthering DE&I. In doing so she will be an inspiration for future leaders.
Law Firm Leader of the Year – Boutique Law Firm
Open to UK-based women in leadership positions within a boutique law firm.The winner will be an exceptional leader, setting and delivering on strategic goals while also ensuring the business operates ethically and with integrity, guided by purpose and values including a demonstrable commitment to furthering DE&I. In doing so she will be an inspiration for future leaders.
General Counsel of the Year
Open to UK-based general counsel.The winner will be an exceptional leader, setting and delivering on strategic goals while also ensuring her team and organisation operate ethically and with integrity, guided by purpose and values, including a demonstrable commitment to furthering DE&I. In doing so she will be an inspiration for future leaders.
Business Leader of the Year
Open to UK-based women who are in leadership positions and/or are founders of suppliers to the legal sectorThis award recognises the crucial role of suppliers within the legal sector and the need for positive role models, particularly in certain fields such as legal tech. The winner will demonstrate skill, judgement, leadership and integrity and be guided by purpose and values, including a demonstrable commitment to furthering DE&I.
Unsung Hero
Open to UK-based women who are not legal practitioners and who do not hold senior rolesThis award recognises the contribution being made to the legal profession by women who are making a special, but unsung, contribution to their organisation.
Returner of the Year
Open to UK-based women who have successfully returned to work after an extended period of leave or career breakThis award recognises the challenges associated with returning to work. In doing so, it is hoped that best practice can be gathered and collated for future returners.
Outstanding Women Practitioners
Dealmaker of the Year
Open to UK-based women transactional lawyersThe winner will have made an exceptional contribution to the legal profession through the quality of their legal work backed up by a commitment to furthering DE&I.
Disputes Lawyer of the Year
Open to UK-based women disputes lawyersThe winner will have made an exceptional contribution to the legal profession through the quality of their legal work backed up by a commitment to furthering DE&I.
Commercial Lawyer of the Year
Open to UK-based women commercial lawyers. Commercial is broadly defined as not related to deals, disputes or court advocacy, for example employment, pensions, IT, private client or family.The winner will have made an exceptional contribution to the legal profession through the quality of their legal work backed up by a commitment to furthering DE&I.
Advocate of the Year
Open to UK-based women court advocatesThe winner will have made an exceptional contribution to the legal profession through the quality of their legal work backed up by a commitment to furthering DE&I.
In-house Counsel of the Year
Open to UK-based women in-house lawyersThe winner will have made an exceptional contribution to the legal profession through the quality of their legal work backed up by a commitment to furthering DE&I.
Rising Star – International Law Firm
Open to UK-based women lawyers at international law firms with no more than six years of post-qualification experienceThe winner will have made an exceptional start to their legal career through their legal work with the promise to be a future leader. They must also be making a wider contribution to the profession, helping to make it more diverse, equitable and inclusive.
Rising Star – National/Regional Law Firm
Open to UK-based women lawyers at national or regional law firms with no more than six years of post-qualification experienceThe winner will have made an exceptional start to their legal career through their legal work with the promise to be a future leader. They must also be making a wider contribution to the profession, helping to make it more diverse, equitable and inclusive.
Rising Star – Boutique Law Firm
Open to UK-based women lawyers at boutique law firms with no more than six years of post-qualification experienceThe winner will have made an exceptional start to their legal career through their legal work with the promise to be a future leader. They must also be making a wider contribution to the profession, helping to make it more diverse, equitable and inclusive.
Rising Star – In-house Lawyer
Open to UK-based women in-house lawyers with no more than six years of post-qualification experienceThe winner will have made an exceptional start to their legal career through their legal work with the promise to be a future leader. They must also be making a wider contribution to the profession, helping to make it more diverse, equitable and inclusive
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Law Firm of the Year
Open to UK-based law firms and overseas firms with a substantial presence in the UKThis award seeks to recognise the progress law firms are making towards improving their DE&I credentials. The judges will be looking to recognise an innovative DE&I strategy that is being implemented successfully. Internal initiatives, client work and collaborations, and community programmes are all likely to feature in the winning entry.
Legal Department of the Year
Open to UK-based legal departments.This award recognises the crucial role clients play in improving DE&I within the legal profession. The judges will be looking to recognise an innovative strategy that is being implemented successfully. Internal initiatives within the department and across the business, engagement with external legal advisers, and community programmes are all likely to feature in the winning entry.
Not-for-Profit Organisation or Representative Body of the Year
Open to UK-based not-for-profit organisations and representative bodies operating within the legal sector.This award seeks to recognise a charity, campaign group or representative body which, through its activities, has advanced the cause of DE&I within the legal sector.
Supplier of the Year
Open to UK-based suppliers to the legal sectorThis award recognises products and services that are advancing DE&I in the legal profession. It will require entrants to focus on a particular product or service that has been an outstanding success during the award period.
DE&I Champion of the Year in a Specialist Role
Open to UK-based individuals holding a specialist role in the field of DE&IThis award recognises people who are making an exceptional contribution to the enhancement of DE&I within the legal sector in a specialist capacity. They can be at any level of seniority and can be team members as well as leaders.
DE&I Champion of the Year in a Legal Role
Open to UK-based legal practitionersThis award recognises people who are making an exceptional contribution to the enhancement of DE&I within the legal sector by fulfilling additional roles alongside their legal work, for example by leading a taskforce within their organisation or through their work on a representative body.
Mentor or of the Year
Open to UK-based individuals working in any capacity within the legal sector.This award recognises the vital importance of mentorship in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion within the legal profession. The mentor of the year will be someone who inspires others to be the best they can be, helping them to overcome obstacles that put them at a disadvantage when compared to colleagues and therefore achieve their full potential.
Age and Life Stage Initiative of the Year
Open to UK-based individuals and teams at law firms, chambers and legal departmentsThis award sets out to recognise an initiative that has successfully furthered diversity, equity and inclusion in the field of age and life stage. It can relate to the business or institution or it can be community focused.
Disability Initiative of the Year
Open to UK-based individuals and teams at law firms, chambers and legal departmentsThis award sets out to recognise an initiative that has successfully furthered diversity, equity and inclusion in the field of disability. It can relate to the business or institution or it can be community focused.
Environmental Sustainability Initiative of the Year
Open to UK-based individuals and teams at law firms, chambers and legal departmentsThis award sets out to recognise an initiative that has successfully furthered environmental sustainability. It can relate to the business or institution or it can be community focused.
Gender Equality Initiative of the Year
Open to UK-based individuals and teams at law firms, chambers and legal departmentsThis award sets out to recognise an initiative that has successfully furthered diversity, equity and inclusion in the field of gender equality. It can relate to the business or institution or it can be community focused.
LGBT+ Initiative of the Year
Open to UK-based individuals and teams at law firms, chambers and legal departmentsThis award sets out to recognise an initiative that has successfully furthered diversity, equity and inclusion in the field of LGBT+. It can relate to the business or institution or it can be community focused.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Initiative of the Year
Open to UK-based individuals and teams at law firms, chambers and legal departmentsThis award sets out to recognise an initiative that has successfully furthered diversity, equity and inclusion in the field of mental health and wellbeing. It can relate to the business or institution or it can be community focused.
Neurodiversity Initiative of the Year
Open to UK-based individuals and teams at law firms, chambers and legal departmentsThis award sets out to recognise an initiative that has successfully furthered diversity, equity and inclusion in the field of neurodiversity. It can relate to the business or institution or it can be community focused.
Race Equality or Faith Initiative of the Year
Open to UK-based individuals and teams at law firms, chambers and legal departmentsThis award sets out to recognise an initiative that has successfully furthered diversity, equity and inclusion in the field of race equality or faith. It can relate to the business or institution or it can be community focused.
Social mobility Initiative of the Year
Open to UK-based individuals and teams at law firms, chambers and legal departmentsThis award sets out to recognise an initiative that has successfully furthered diversity, equity and inclusion in the field of social mobility. It can relate to the business or institution or it can be community focused.