The deadlines for entry and final submission to the British Wills and Probate Awards are just one and two weeks away respectively. Entry deadline is Friday 5th July with final submissions due by midnight on Friday 12th July 2024.
The awards provide firms with the opportunity to pit themselves against their peers and foster a wider culture of excellence, innovation and success in an organisation. Awards success can not only improve a firm’s profile with prospective clients, but it can also help to recruit new talent to “award-winning firms.”
The British Wills and Probate Awards are now in their seventh year, having been hosted since 2018. In that time nearly 1000 submissions have been put forward for consideration, with 120 firms and individuals recognised for their commitment to excellence and high performance. Each year the categories are reviewed and on occasion refreshed to reflect the changing nature of legal services.
In 2024 alongside returning favourites, including “Best Place to Work,” “Court of Protection Team of the Year,” and “One to Watch Practitioner of the Year” this year’s ceremony introduces two new contentious and non-contentious Practitioner of the Year categories, a specialist “Tax and Trust Team of the Year” and has revamped the Will Writing and Solicitor Firm of the Year categories.
The British Wills and Probate Awards will be hosted at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester on 10th October 2024.
How to write an award winning submission
Carefully consider the category
What have you done that makes your business stand out against the criteria. Does your entry fulfil the criteria and demonstrate your understanding of what it takes to win the award?
Answer the question
Writing an awards submission is a little bit like going back to school. You must answer the questions asked and ensure you stay on topic. Don’t waffle and write what you want to write; make sure you have reviewed the criteria carefully and responded appropriately.
Present the facts
Don’t make sweeping statements, back your points up with facts and evidence. The judges will not be impressed by vague statements, “marketing speak”, or unsubstantiated claims.
Consider who is best to write the submission
It’s important to make the writing style and content of the submission interesting… don’t forget the judges will be reading a lot of submissions and you need to ensure that yours is memorable. Don’t be afraid to expand your vocabulary and use attention grabbing words and phrases.
Stick to the knitting
Concise submissions with clear evidentiary inclusions are important. Don’t make the judges wade through loads of material hunting for the answer. Put the information front and centre in your submission and ensure to include additional evidence or a case study where requested.
Give yourself enough time
Writing an awards application is meticulous. It takes time and no little skill to write a submission which grabs judges’ attention (remember, they read A LOT of submissions, what sets yours apart?). Make sure you read the criteria carefully and answer the question.
Good Luck!
