Celebrating excellence

The Law Society’s Excellence Awards provide an opportunity to celebrate all that is great about the legal profession. The 2008 awards attracted entries of exceptional calibre, demonstrating quality, innovation and commitment, and providing models for best practice. Sponsored by Mercedes-Benz, the awards are now an established highlight in the legal calendar. 

The outstanding pro-bono commitments of junior lawyers were highlighted at the Junior Lawyers Division Pro Bono Awards 2008. The Law Society also supports a number of other awards schemes, in particular working in partnership with the Association of WomenSolicitors to recognise the achievements of women in the profession through the Women in the City awards. 

Promoting private client work

The ‘find a solicitor’ search function on the Law Society’s website received a monthly average of more than 58,000 visitors in the first five months of 2009, and drives new business to solicitors’  firms. Our website and series of guides to common legal problems explain why it’s so important to get legal advice from properly qualified and regulated professionals. 

England and Wales: the jurisdiction of choice

Linking up with law firms and the government, we have continued this campaign targeting in-house counsel around the world to promote the benefits of resolving disputes in England and Wales. 

Judicial appointments

We are keen to see more solicitor advocates appointed to the bench and have been working with the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) to identify the obstacles that prevent solicitors applying for appointment. We are: 

• lobbying the JAC for changes to processes that we believe will increase solicitors’ confidence in the system; 
• working with the JAC and the judiciary, particularly the Lord Chief Justice, to find ways of encouraging solicitors to apply, and providing training to address their needs.