Two years ago, Donoghue Solicitors won the Niche Law Firm Award at the 2015 Liverpool Law Society Legal Awards.
The awards are held bi-annually, and we were honoured to hold the Niche Law Firm Award title for two years.
I have just learned that we have been shortlisted for Niche Law Firm Award again in the 2017 Awards for our work in civil actions against the police.
About the 2017 Liverpool Law Society Legal Awards
Being shortlisted for the Niche Law Firm Award means a lot to us personally and professionally.
We are proud members of Liverpool Law Society, the local law society for the legal profession in Liverpool and the wider North West area. It is one of the biggest local law societies in England and Wales, with about 2,200 members working in all fields of law, at firms large and small.
The Society’s Legal Awards are a highlight for all members. They:
- “recognise and celebrate the achievements of our member law firms, legal departments and individuals
- bring together the region’s legal community
- culminate in a fabulous presentation evening.”
The 2017 Award Categories are:
- Commercial Law Award
- Criminal Law Award
- Dispute Resolution & Litigation Award
- Employment Law Award
- Family Law Award
- Junior Lawyer Award
- Large Law Firm Award
- Medium Law Firm Award
- Niche Law Firm Award
- Outstanding Contribution to the Law Award
- Private Client Award Property Law Award
- Small Law Firm Award
- Work in the Community Award
Strict Judging criteria
Liverpool Law Society’s website says that:
The awards will be judged by an independent judging panel with panel members drawn from the worlds of business, academia and the judiciary and chaired by District Judge Helen Broughton, a non-practising, non-voting past president of Liverpool Law Society. The 2017 panel of judges are: HHJ De Haas QC, Designated Family Judge for Merseyside and Cheshire, Carol Draycott, Chester Centre Director and Associate Professor at the University of Law and Mark Basnett, Executive Director at the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership.
The judges only select firms on merit, based on strict criteria. They received many submissions from firms and individuals. I understand that “competition was very strong this year and the judging panel were impressed by all the entries.”
Donoghue Solicitors was only shortlisted after a thorough review of evidence including client reviews, some of which you can read here.
Among other things, I explained:
- how we contribute to the reputational benefit of Liverpool and the surrounding areas
- what we are doing to develop our particular niche area
- what innovations we have brought to the law and client service
- how we represent “law at its best”
- what goals and targets we have achieved.
I told the panel about:
- the important cases we have pursued and won for our clients (read about some of them here)
- how we help people get access to justice through no win no fee agreements where appropriate
- how I use the media and the firm’s blog to share knowledge in actions against the police
- our creative use of IT and technology to help people throughout England and Wales get justice
- our commitment to training and development (I train other solicitors as well as my staff)
- our charity work and community involvement.
2017 Legal Awards Ceremony
The 2017 awards will be handed out at a black-tie dinner on Friday 12 May. In 2015 BBC Radio Merseyside’s Roger Phillips did a fantastic job of hosting. He will be Master of Ceremonies again in May. We are all looking forward to the event.
I want to thank the judging panel, our clients, staff, and families for helping Donoghue Solicitors get shortlisted for this prestigious award.
Read more from me on the Donoghue Solicitors blog.