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The Legal Excellence Awards celebrate the people, businesses and organisations doing exceptional work. Explore the categories and help recognise someone shaping the future through their achievement, leadership and impact.

Legal Excellence Awards

Barrister of the Year Award

Advocacy and advice of the highest order.

About this category

This award recognises a barrister whose advocacy, advisory work and conduct over the qualifying period stand out. Judges look for the quality of the work, its outcomes and the respect it has earned from clients, instructing solicitors and the court.

Eligibility

Open to self employed and employed barristers practising in England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Judging criteria

  • Quality of advocacy and advice
  • Outcomes
  • Complexity of work
  • Professional conduct
  • Contribution to the Bar

Qualitative criteria

  • Preparation
  • Persuasion and integrity before the court

Metrics

  • Significant matters conducted
  • Outcomes
  • Instructions received and feedback from instructing solicitors

Additional criteria

Entries should include a concise case study, supporting figures and, where possible, client or colleague evidence. Client identities, privileged material and commercially sensitive details must not be disclosed: describe matters in anonymised terms, and give figures as percentages or ranges where needed. Nothing in an entry is shared beyond the judging panel. Judges consider the size of the firm, chambers or team, so smaller practices compete on equal terms.

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