Every year we recognise emerging talent within our in-house community. The In-house Rising Star Award celebrates and rewards the brilliance of trainees and NQs with up to five years' PQE who are shining in their early careers.
Working in-house brings a huge range of challenges and opportunities. The landscape of career options is forever changing and constantly attracts the brightest and the best to work for a vast array of in-house employers. Currently around 30 per cent of our members work in-house spread across public, private and third sector roles.
Do you know an in-house rising star?
Nominations for 2021 are open!
If you work with an in-house rising star, take the time to nominate them. Our junior talent deserves our recognition and we are lucky to work amongst a lot of fantastic candidates.
Nominees must be Scottish in-house trainees or in-house solicitors with up to five years post qualification experience.
The nominations will be judged by a panel from the In-House Lawyers Committee.
The award, which was first launched in 2013, will be presented by Law Society President during the In-house Annual Conference, being held this year on 16 and 17 June 2021.
The deadline for nominations is 5pm on Friday, 21 May 2021
Please email [email protected] with any enquiries.
Meet some of our previous winners
“Being awarded the In-house Rising Star Award has been a career highlight for me so far. This was particularly so given the strong talent amongst the shortlist and within our in-house legal community - it was wonderful to be recognised by the judges. I’m very grateful to all of those who have spent time mentoring me and to the Bank for allowing me such a varied and enjoyable role in which to develop.”
Marliese Perks, Rising Star 2020, The Royal Bank of Scotland
On winning the 2019 award John said: "I was absolutely delighted to have been shortlisted and am over the moon now. I've been very lucky to work with lots of amazing people and great mentors in my career so far. It was great to meet everyone at the conference and congratulations again to all those nominated. We already have plans to stay in touch and share our in-house experiences and challenges!”
John Frame, Rising Star 2019, Serco UK, Europe & SGS
“Being awarded the In-house Rising Star Award was a professional highlight, and a brilliant reflection of the training and experience I received at Glasgow City Council. It was a particular honour to receive the award given the high calibre of shortlisted candidates, and I am very grateful to my colleagues for the nomination and to the judges for picking me. Winning the award has encouraged me to develop professionally and I have since moved to Optical Express where I’m looking forwarding to learning from a new in-house environment.”
Sarah Haig, Rising Star 2018,Glasgow City Council
“I was delighted to have been shortlisted, and to have won the Rising Star Award, particularly given the high calibre of lawyers who were shortlisted. It was lovely to be recognised, not only by the judges but also by my organisation for doing a job I love. For me, winning the award was also acknowledgment of the trust, commitment and support my organisation had placed in me as their sole in-house legal counsel. Winning the award has created numerous opportunities for me in terms of career progression and professional development.”
Leanne Hammel, Rising Star 2017, ECS
"I was really delighted to be nominated for, and win, the Rising Star Award. It was great to have my role at The Royal Bank of Scotland recognised by the judges, and to my mind the award was equally a reflection of the high calibre of support provided by the wider legal function at the bank. Winning the award has created further opportunities to shadow and be coached by senior in-house lawyers in Scotland, all of which has been great for my on-going development."
Leigh Kirkpatrick, Rising Star 2015, Royal Bank of Scotland
Nominees must be trainees or solicitors with up to 5 years PQE, working in-house in the Scottish jurisdiction. Please note that as we postponed this year's award due to the unfolding Covid-19 situation, we will accept nominations for individuals who were less than five years PQE at what would have been our intended launch date of 25 March 2020.
No! If you work in-house, you can nominate a colleague. You can be a manager, senior leader or close colleague of an in-house lawyer (and have no legal background at all). Or, if you work in private practice you nominate contacts or clients that deserve recognition.
Each year, our esteemed judging panel is made up of In-house Lawyers Committee members, support by the Society's Head of Engagement for In-house Lawyers.
Working in-house
In-house lawyers make a critical contribution to the success of the companies and organisations that employ them. If you work in-house, we want to hear from you.
