Nominations for the 2025 Legal Growth Awards close on the 3rd of January

Categories

Innovative marketing: recognising those firms using creative and original strategies to reach their audience or build brand awareness.

- Demonstrates originality and creativity in marketing strategies.

- Shows evidence of successful campaigns that have effectively reached the target audience or increased brand awareness.

- Utilises innovative approaches to overcome marketing challenges.

- Incorporates measurable results demonstrating the impact of innovative strategies on business objectives.

CSR: - Corporate and Social Responsibility: This one is to acknowledge the efforts of legal firms towards reducing their environmental impact, promoting diversity and inclusion, and/or volunteering with local charities.

- Displays commitment to reducing environmental impact through sustainable practices.

- Actively promotes diversity and inclusion within the workplace and community.

- Engages in meaningful partnerships or initiatives with local charities or community organisations.

- Provides evidence of the positive social and environmental impact of corporate responsibility efforts.

Best use of social media: recognising outstanding use of social media in engaging customers, building brands and driving sales.

- Utilises social media platforms effectively to engage with the target audience.

- Demonstrates creativity and innovation in social media content and campaigns.

- Shows evidence of increased brand visibility, customer engagement, and sales driven through social media efforts.

- Utilises analytics and metrics to measure the effectiveness of social media strategies.

Best marketing: recognising businesses with an outstanding all-round approach to marketing.

- Demonstrates a comprehensive and cohesive marketing plan that effectively integrates various channels (digital, social media, events, etc.) to achieve brand visibility and reach.
- Shows evidence of successful campaigns that effectively engage target audiences, resulting in increased brand awareness, client acquisition, or brand loyalty.

- Utilises creative approaches, demonstrating originality in marketing content, messaging, or platforms that set the business apart from competitors.

- Provides clear, measurable results of marketing efforts, such as growth in engagement, conversions, or other KPIs aligned with business objectives.

Best website: recognising an outstanding legal website, including design, layout and content. We're also interested in traffic, the site map, your SEO and domain authority.

- Displays excellence in website design, user experience, and functionality.

- Provides informative and engaging content relevant to the target audience.

- Demonstrates strong search engine optimisation (SEO) practices to improve visibility and ranking.

- Shows evidence of high traffic, user engagement, and conversion rates.

- Utilises effective site mapping and navigation to enhance user experience.

Entrepreneur of the Year: recognising individual lawyers or solicitors who have made a significant impact in their business, and in the legal community.

- Demonstrates exceptional leadership and vision in driving business growth and innovation.

- Shows evidence of overcoming challenges and achieving significant milestones within the past 12 months.

- Displays a strong commitment to business ethics and integrity.

- Contributes positively to the local business community through mentorship or involvement in entrepreneurial initiatives.

Best small business: acknowledging the achievements of a law firm or legal business with a team of less than 25 people (Great for sole traders, start-ups or micro organisations)

- Demonstrates an outstanding commitment to client satisfaction, with client feedback or testimonials highlighting personalised service and successful outcomes.

- Shows evidence of consistent growth, resilience, and adaptability in navigating challenges unique to smaller businesses, such as limited resources.

- Actively participates in community initiatives, pro bono work, or social impact projects, showcasing the firm's dedication to positive social and environmental contributions.

- Promotes a supportive, inclusive team environment that prioritises personal and professional growth, despite the smaller scale of the organisation.

Best medium-sized business: acknowledging the achievements of a law firm or legal business with a team of fewer than 250 people.

- Demonstrates streamlined processes and innovative approaches to enhance efficiency and service quality, often leveraging technology or modern practices.

- Provides evidence of robust financial performance, with strategic growth that supports business objectives and market competitiveness.

- Cultivates a positive workplace culture, promoting diversity, team well-being, and professional development, with leadership practices that inspire and retain talent.

- Consistently achieves high client satisfaction, demonstrated through testimonials or awards, and holds a respected reputation within the legal community.

Best family-owned business: recognising the success of a law firm or legal business operated or influenced by members of the same family.

- Displays a strong family ethos and values reflected in business operations.

- Shows evidence of sustained growth and success over time.

- Contributes positively to the local community and economy.

Best new business: recognising the achievements of a law firm established within the last two years

- Demonstrates rapid growth and achievement since establishment within the last two years.

- Displays innovation and differentiation in products, services, or business models.

- Shows evidence of a strong market presence and customer satisfaction.

- Displays a clear vision for future growth and sustainability.

Legal Service Provider: For legal service providers who have demonstrated excellence in delivering their services to legal businesses.

- Demonstrates excellence in delivering high-quality services to clients or customers.

- Displays innovation and adaptability in responding to client needs and market trends.

- Shows evidence of client satisfaction, testimonials, or case studies highlighting successful outcomes.

- Contributes positively to the overall growth and success of client businesses through exceptional service delivery.

The Legal Growth Recognition Award: (You can’t nominate yourself for this award but can nominate a practitioner or legal business).

This prestigious award honours an individual who has made an indelible mark on an individual or group of the profession itself. Whether through groundbreaking innovation, exemplary leadership, or unwavering dedication to community engagement, the recipient of this award stands out through demonstrable excellence and inspiration. Their contributions have not only shaped an element of their legal ecosystem but have also left a lasting legacy of success and prosperity. By recognising their exceptional achievements, we celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship, resilience, and vision that define what the legal sector stands for.

The Legal Growth Partnership Award:

This category is only for Conference Partners and Exhibitors only:

Recognising an outstanding event partner for exceptional marketing and engagement over the last 12 months.

This award celebrates a firm that has gone above and beyond in its role as an event partner, demonstrating strategic foresight, creativity, and measurable success in its marketing efforts. The ideal recipient will have shown an effective plan to engage with delegates, an innovative approach to marketing, and strong business performance over the past year.

The judging criteria will include:

• Delegate Engagement Strategy: Clear, actionable plans to connect with and provide value to event attendees, including any unique methods for fostering meaningful engagement and building relationships at the event.

• Comprehensive Marketing Approach: A cohesive, dynamic marketing strategy over the last 12 months, showcasing creativity, consistency, and alignment with business goals. This should demonstrate the firm’s ability to leverage multiple channels to drive brand awareness and engagement.

• Business Performance and Impact: Evidence of strong business performance over the past year, reflecting the positive impact of the firm’s marketing and partnership efforts. This could include client acquisition, revenue growth, brand expansion, or other measurable business outcomes tied to their strategic approach.

This award seeks to honour a partner whose dedication and results have contributed significantly to the success of the event and the growth of their own business.