Jordans recently launched the Family Law Awards 2011, which are to celebrate and recognise the many successes and outstanding achievements of family law practitioners. They are (it says) an opportunity for Family Law and its readers to acknowledge the hard work and commitment throughout the year among the nominees and the profession as a whole. The Awards will take place on 18 October 2011 at the Hilton Hotel on Park Lane, London.

The awards were launched at the Family Law Social event held in Bristol on 24 May at which the enthusiastic Jordans team set up a tweetwall. Judging from the blank looks, Bristol legal community may not yet be ready for such innovations, but Jordans are persisting in their attempts to meet the twain of law and tech and have their own hashtag for the awards: #familylawawards.

The categories of award are:

• Family Law Firm of the Year – The firm that has best demonstrated it has provided outstanding quality of legal service for its clients and displayed high levels of teamwork within its firm, with external lawyers and/or other professionals.
• Family Law Chambers of the Year – The set that has best demonstrated it has developed the field of family law by consistently performing at the higher court levels.
• Family Law Solicitor of the Year – The solicitor who has made a major contribution to the field of family law through their practice and shown that they have provided outstanding client service and demonstrated qualities such as teamwork within their firm, with external lawyers and/or other professionals.
• Family Law Barrister of the Year – The barrister who has made a major contribution to the field of family law through their advice and high-level advocacy and provided outstanding client service.
• Most Innovative Family Lawyer of the Year – The lawyer who has applied the most innovative solutions to promote and enhance their practice and led the way for other practitioners to follow.
• Outstanding Contribution to the field of Family Law – The individual who has made a major contribution to the field of family law, either through practice, commentary, teaching, pro bono and/or judicially.
• Family Law ADR Practitioner of the Year – An award voted by Family Law readers for the ADR practitioner who they feel has demonstrated outstanding client service and ability.
• Family Law Readers Commentary Award – An award voted by Family Law readers for the single piece of commentary that has contributed most to the field of family law.

Nominations close 1 September.