It isn’t too late to join the race to be among the winners at the inaugural Women and Diversity in Law Awards.

The deadline to enter the awards is this Friday (11 November). That is when the 300 nominees must complete their entry forms. And it isn’t too late to take part. To maximise the level of competition and ensure an inclusive process, entries are welcome from individuals, teams and businesses who were not among the nominees.

The awards, to be hosted by The Global Legal Post in March, will serve as a showcase for people working within the UK legal sector who are dedicating their professional careers to moving the DE&I needle or using their positions of influence to help facilitate change.

They are divided into two sections. The first part will recognise outstanding women, both through their roles as business leaders and as leading practitioners.

The second half of the awards are dedicated to the individuals, teams and businesses moving the diversity needle, whether that be as responsible business leaders, or through initiatives focused on a particular strand of diversity, such as disability, gender and LGBT+.

The 25-strong judging panel includes an array of leading figures from the legal community, chosen for the expertise they will bring to the judging process.

Judges include: Julia Chain, chair of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the Human Dignity Trust; Herbert Smith Freehills CEO Justin D’Agostino, who founded his firm's first LGBT+ network in 2007; Lesley Wan, general counsel and whistleblowing officer at FBN Bank and founder of the Through the Looking Glass charity; and Norton Rose Fulbright's Europe, Middle East and Asia managing partner Peter Scott, who is a member of the City of London Corporation's socio-economic taskforce.

Click here to learn more about the awards and here to submit an entry.

For further information, email jasmindersoor@globalcitymedia.com

In the run up to the Women and Diversity in Law Awards, The Global Legal Post has been publishing judges' reflections on their careers and how best to promote DE&I in the legal profession. Click on the links below to find out more:

'Who are you with the most unpronounceable name?' Zepz's GC on her life and career in a changing profession

‘Take every opportunity as if this is your breakthrough moment’: a barrister’s journey from Tower Hamlets via the Magic Circle

'I was trying to over-compensate for being different': Baker McKenzie's global marketing director on the importance of inclusion

‘Tiny changes can have a massive butterfly effect’: Clifford Chance's UK inclusion head on her D&I story

‘Everyone’s been excluded': Accenture Legal's global diversity head on the power of empathy