The shortlist of finalists in the Law Society Excellence Awards 2013 has been published following a record number of entries. The awards, now in their seventh year, reward the most outstanding practitioners in the legal profession and are open to the entire legal sector, not just solicitors.

Entries were scrutinised earlier this month by a lineup of specialist judges, including the master of the rolls Lord Dyson, Sadiq Khan MP, the chairman of Which? Patrick Barwise, former attorney general Lord Goldsmith, Monique Villa, CEO of Thomson Reuters Foundation, and solicitor High Court judge Sir Gary Hickinbottom.

The winners will be announced by BBC broadcaster Mishal Husain at a dinner on 22 October at the Park Plaza Hotel, Westminster. 

Law Society president Nicholas Fluck (pictured) said: ‘The standards this year have been exceptionally high, and I know the judges had a mammoth task on their hands in choosing who to shortlist.  

‘The shortlisted candidates are those who are breaking new ground, showing innovation and who are outstanding representatives of the legal profession. It is heartening to see the legal sector showing no signs of complacency during economic turbulence and a changing legal landscape.’