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Lawyers Weekly is delighted to launch the 2027 instalment of the premier awards program for rising stars in Australia’s legal profession.
For over a decade, Lawyers Weekly has brought the legal profession its unparalleled 30 Under 30 Awards program, where the best and brightest young lawyers are championed for their hard work and dedication to establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with at the beginning of their legal careers.
Now in its 14th year, the 30 Under 30 Awards program showcases the depth of talent in the nation’s young guns and recognises their achievements as their careers get into high gear.
Submit an entry or nominate a worthy colleague by Friday, 6 November 2026, to be in the running for these prestigious awards.
The winners will be announced at the black-tie gala ceremony on Friday, 26 February 2026, at Royal Randwick, Sydney. Click here to buy tickets.
There are 30 submissions-based categories on offer this year covering the breadth of the legal profession, including banking and finance, commercial, competition, trade, and regulation, dispute resolution and litigation, legal operations, planning and environment, real estate, and technology.
By entering the awards, young lawyers could gain national recognition and elevate themselves above their competitors as an up-and-coming star in the legal profession.
As the industry continues to play a vital role in driving the Australian economy, many lawyers have capitalised on winning the awards to distinguish themselves from their peers and strengthen their position in the profession by elevating their personal brand and unlocking new career opportunities.
They have also cemented their role as a key player for success in their law firms or legal teams.
In 2027, the principal partner for the 30 Under 30 Awards is Irwell Law, which is part of Peninsula Group.
Speaking about the awards, Peninsula Australia and New Zealand chief executive David Price said: “As part of the Peninsula Group, Irwell Law is proud to champion excellence, innovation and professional development within the legal sector. Across our business, we believe Peninsula Group is what you make it, regardless of age, and that opportunity should be defined by capability, ambition and achievement.”
“The 30 Under 30 Awards shines a spotlight on the industry’s rising stars, and we are honoured to support and recognise these exceptional young lawyers as principal partner.”
How winners will be decided
The 30 Under 30 Awards, in conjunction with event stakeholders, has developed a robust awards methodology to assess, analyse, and benchmark Australia’s rising stars in law.
The judging criteria for award categories are both quantitative and qualitative, acknowledging growth, business development, diversity, leadership, innovation, business excellence and contribution to Australia’s legal profession.
To shortlist finalists, all submissions will undergo a thorough audit process, checking demographic and other information against category-specific eligibility criteria based on the information provided in the submission. Click here to view the methodology.
A panel of Momentum Media events and editorial team members and executives, plus industry stakeholders where required, will review and assess submissions deemed eligible against the criteria to determine the finalists for each category.
Finalist submissions will then be delivered to a panel of respected professionals and business leaders, who assess each submission against the criteria of each award category.
The judges will score each part of the submission against the category’s criteria, then provide an aggregated score. A number of judges will individually assess each submission in each category, offering a blended score and assessment.
The combined judging scores for each submission in each category are tabulated, with the highest-scoring submission deemed the winner.
The winners will be announced at the black-tie gala ceremony on Friday, 26 February 2026, at Royal Randwick, Sydney. Click here to buy tickets.
The ceremony presents an opportunity for members of the legal profession to network with industry leaders and peers while celebrating the successes of their colleagues.
Submit an entry or nominate a worthy colleague by Friday, 6 November 2026, for your chance to be recognised for your achievements on a national stage.
To enter the awards, decide which categories you are eligible to submit to. Review the categories here.
For tips on compiling an effective submission, click here.
