INSIDE
FAMILY
LAW
AWARDS
Sydney · October 2026 · Date & venue to be announced

Celebrating the people behind the work.

Family law is technical, emotional and deeply human. Every day, practitioners across Australia guide people through some of the most difficult chapters of their lives.

The Inside Family Law Awards recognise the lawyers, firms, barristers, mediators, experts and support teams whose work deserves to be seen.

Nominations opening now
The Inside Family Law ecosystem

A profession learning from itself.

The awards grew out of the Inside Family Law book, podcast and interview series, which have always been about candid conversations from the coalface of family law.

They continue that same work by creating a platform for the profession to hear from itself. A nominee shares a story. Someone watches. Someone reflects. A conversation starts. Ideas travel. The profession learns.

Through nominations, finalist stories and short videos, the awards shine a light on client care, social justice, mentoring, wellbeing, innovation, education, reform, community contribution and professional excellence.

iThe BookWhere the conversation began
iiThe PodcastVoices from across the profession
iiiThe InterviewsConversations from the conference floor
ivThe AwardsRecognition by peers, in 2026
Why these awards are different

Most awards ask what you have done.
We also ask who you are.

The short video process lets finalists speak directly to the profession. It creates connection, encourages reflection, and gives the community a chance to hear stories that might otherwise remain unseen.

Community-powered

Momentum comes because finalists, colleagues, firms, sponsors, judges and voters all become part of the story.

Story-led

The focus stays on the person, purpose and contribution behind the professional title, not the marketing budget.

Video-based

Finalists submit a short, honest video so the profession can hear directly from the people doing the work.

A point of differenceNo smoke and mirrors.

These awards are built differently. The judges are known. The categories are clear. The finalist stories are shared. The same material the judges see is made visible to the community, including selected words from the application and the 60 second video. Just real people, real stories and a profession recognising its own.

Known judges
Respected names from the family law community
Clear categories
No vague areas of law you do not practise in
Public stories
Finalist videos shared, not hidden in files
Open process
The community gets to see, hear and vote
Award categories

Recognition across the whole of family law.

Twenty one categories grouped around four ideas: contribution, excellence, growth and storytelling. Nominate yourself, a colleague, a mentor, a firm or anyone whose work deserves to be seen.

Contribution

Client Care Award
Colleague of the Year
Mentor of the Year
Social Justice Award
Community Contribution Award

Excellence

Excellence Award
Mediator of the Year
Arbitrator of the Year
Sole Practitioner of the Year
Boutique Firm of the Year
National Firm of the Year

Growth & the Future

Rising Star Award
Innovation Award
Reform Advocate Award
Wellness & Wellbeing Award
Diversity & Inclusion Award
Legal Technology & AI Innovation Award
Education & Knowledge Leadership Award

Storytelling & Connection

Purpose Award
Best Interview Award
People's Choice Award
How to nominate

Simple to start. The story comes later.

Nominate first, then finalists are invited to submit a video. There is no video required at this first stage, just tell us whose contribution deserves to be recognised.

Choose a category

Pick the category that best fits the person, firm or contribution you have in mind.

Nominate

Nominate yourself, a colleague, a mentor, a firm, an expert, a mediator or another eligible contributor.

Complete the short form

Tell us who they are and why their work deserves to be seen. It takes a few minutes.

We review eligibility

After the closing date we check nominations and confirm details with nominees where needed.

Finalists submit a video

Finalists are invited to record a 60 second video answering one simple prompt in their own voice.

Stories shared, winners announced

Finalist stories are released, voting and judging take place, and winners are announced in Sydney.

Why nominate first? We keep the first stage deliberately simple so good people are not put off by a long process. The video is part of the finalist stage, not the nomination. A nomination is an act of recognition, not an administrative task.
The finalist video

"Your video is not an advertisement. It is a conversation."

We are not looking for perfect lighting, expensive editing or a polished marketing reel. We are looking for a genuine story. Finalists explain who they are, why the work matters to them and what they are trying to contribute to family law.

  • 60 seconds Recommended length, subject to final confirmation
  • Phone is fine Professional videography is not required
  • Your voice Answer one prompt, or have a colleague speak for you
  • In confidence No client names or identifying details without consent
Key dates

Working back from October.

Dates are indicative and will be confirmed alongside the event date and venue.

Now
Nominations open. Categories, rules and the sponsor pathway are live.
31 July 2026
Suggested nomination closing date.
w/c 17 Aug 2026
Finalists announced.
Aug to early Sep
Finalist video submissions collected.
14 Sep 2026
Finalist stories released and voting opens.
9 Oct 2026
Suggested voting close, subject to the confirmed event date.
October 2026
Final judging and the awards celebration in Sydney.
The judging panel

Judged by people who know the work.

Known and respected members of the family law community. Finalists know who is assessing the work, and the community can see the stories being shared.

PR
The Hon Peter Rose AM KC
TP
Tijana Petkovic
LW
Lara Wentworth
KH
Katrene Halteh

The panel is shown as confirmed for 2026 and will be updated immediately if it changes before publication.

Nominate now

Nominate someone whose work deserves to be seen.

The first stage is short. Finalists are invited to submit a video later. Tell us whose contribution should be recognised.

Thank you for your nomination.

Your nomination has been received by the Inside Family Law Awards team. We will review nominations after the closing date and contact nominees or nominators if further information is needed.

Finalists will be invited to submit a short video as part of the next stage.

Any questions? Email hello@insidefamilylawawards.com.au