More than 60 individuals and law firms have been shortlisted in an annual awards.

The Birmingham Law Society Legal Awards 2024, which returns next month, has announced this year's finalists, with multiple nominations for Weightmans, Aston University and St Philips Chambers among others.

The 14 categories feature three new ones for 2024 - outstanding student contribution, legal PA and junior barrister (scroll down for the full shortlist).

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Now in its 22nd year, finalists will be interviewed by a panel of legal sector experts and business leaders ahead of the ceremony at Birmingham's ICC on March 14.

Birmingham Law Society president Alice Kinder added: "I would like to congratulate every individual and organisation shortlisted for an award.

"The shortlist not only showcases the vibrant range of talent in Birmingham but also places our city on the map as a dynamic and influential legal hub.

"This year's awards reflects our commitment to recognising the diverse contributions made by professionals from all backgrounds and set an inspiring precedent for the future of our legal community."

The judging panel for the awards was led by Jabeer Miah, president of Northamptonshire Law Society.

He said: "It has been a pleasure for me and my colleagues to read and consider the entry submissions for the 2024 Birmingham Legal Awards.

"All entries were of high quality and the work being undertaken in Birmingham is commendable and really impressed the judges.

"Entrants should be proud of their submissions and it took the judges a lot longer than expected to finalise the shortlist, albeit the judges enjoyed learning of the great work the Birmingham legal community is undertaking."

The full shortlist for the 2024 Legal Awards is:

Outstanding Student Contribution of the Year

Gurpreet Chaggar, Aston University

Ruqayya Kalsoom, Aston University

Dana Burdan, Newman University

Anmol Virdi, The University of Birmingham Law School

Eleanor Ford, The University of Law

Apprentice of the Year

Hollie Ingram, Browne Jacobson

Caira Baker, Capsticks Solicitors

Ellie Brookes, Pinsent Masons

Jai Akhurst, Squire Patton Boggs

Tom Reeves, Weightmans

Trainee Solicitor of the Year

Isabella Davies, Anthony Collins Solicitors

Hannah O'Brien, Bevan Brittan

Drew Wilson, Gateley Legal

Sarah Hall, Squire Patton Boggs

James Statham, Weightmans

Paralegal of the Year

Carrie Hu, Chase Morgan Solicitors

Dalbinda Gill, DWF

Bria Hampson, Shoosmiths

Lily Emmet, Weightmans

Rikesh Chauhan, Weightmans

Legal PA of the Year

Carol Page, Chase Morgan Solicitors

Dawn Baggott, DWF

Jodie Beckett, Eversheds Sutherland

Jemma Jackson, Tenet Compliance and Litigation

Kathryn Frost, Weightmans

Solicitor of the Year

Marie Kilgallen, Irwin Mitchell

Shereen Johal, Shoosmiths

Jo Tunicliff, Shoosmiths

Joel Blake, The Wilkes Partnership

Soyod Yasin, Wildings Solicitors

Junior Barrister of the Year (ten years' call and under)

Grace Gwynne, No5 Barristers' Chambers

Bethany Armitage, St Philips Chambers

Chevan llangaratne, St Philips Chambers

Matthew Cullen, St Philips Chambers

Callum Church, St Philips Chambers

Barrister of the Year (over ten years' call)

Omar Sherif Ensaff, No5 Barristers' Chambers

Jason M Hadden, St Ives Chambers

Ali Tabari, St Philips Chambers

Sophie Garner, St Philips Chambers

Elizabeth Hodgetts, St Philips Chambers

Partner of the Year

Adam Maguire, Clarke Willmott

Marissa Jacquet-Smoothy, Grove Tompkins Bosworth

Emma Rush, Irwin Mitchell

Emma Louise-Hewitt, Sydney Mitchell

Maryam Storr, Weightmans

In-House Lawyer of the Year

Sophie Samani, Henderson & Jones

Laura Stockin, Legal Ombudsman

Baljinder Singh-Atwal, West Midlands Police

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award

Birmingham Black Lawyers

Bila Law Academy

Gateley Legal

Pinsent Masons

Weightmans

Pro Bono Award

Birmingham City University Law Clinic

Birmingham Law School's Pro Bono Group

Family Advice Midlands

Shoosmiths & University of Law Small Business Advice Line Partnership

The Litigation Programme

Regional Law Firm of the Year

Chase Morgan Solicitors

Davisons Law

Roythornes Solicitors

The Wilkes Partnership

Wildings Solicitors

National Law Firm of the Year

Bevan Brittan

Gateley Legal

Shakespeare Martineau

Shoosmiths

Weightmans