Legal 500
Legal 500 UK submissions: deadlines, rules and template guide
Legal 500 UK 2027 deadlines: 6 Feb 2026 (UK Regions) and 20 Mar 2026 (London and PATMA). Deadlines for the 2028 edition are expected (not yet announced); typical timing: February to March. Upload the Word submission template and a separate Excel referee spreadsheet to the Legal 500 submissions site. Emailed submissions are deleted.
Mediators have a separate template.
Legal 500 UK key facts
| Deadlines |
|
|---|---|
| How you submit | Word submission template + separate Excel referee spreadsheet uploaded via Legal 500 Submissions site (submissions.legal500.com); emailed submissions are deleted |
| Cost to submit | Free ("Law firms appear in the editorial sections of Legal 500 free of charge") |
| Research period | London follow-up research from May 2026; work in calendar 2025 + Q1 2026 |
| Publication | UK 2027 launched 2026-09-30 |
| Matter limit | Up to 20 transactions/cases/other work; at least one cleared for publication; first-time submitters: include several examples from prior two years + at least 10 new examples |
| Length guidance | No word limit; practice overview as "brief bullet points", "avoid lengthy paragraphs"; team info: "avoid including extensive biographies" |
| Referee rules | "20 referees per practice area is a good minimum guideline"; no maximum - all on-time referees contacted (by email); late referees may be contacted much later or not at all; separate Excel template; deadline usually same as submission |
| Confidential information | Everything may be published unless marked: mark CONFIDENTIAL in bold red upper case and use red typeface; no blanket confidentiality statements at front; be specific (client name vs value vs whole matter) |
| Who submits | Firm submission per practice area (one document each) including individual nominations (Hall of Fame, Leading Partner [5+ years partner], Next Generation Partner [up to 5 years], Leading Associate) |
| Edition | UK 2027 (complete) / UK 2028 (dates not published) |
A referee is a client or other contact the directory asks for feedback on your work, usually listed in a spreadsheet.
Sources: legal500.com/the-legal-500-submission-information/united-kingdom-solicitors-submissions · legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/12/uk-london-submissions-2027.pdf
What Legal 500 researchers look for
In the directory's own words, from its official guidance:
“Brief bullet points … mention hires and departures, tell us what you are best known for, point out a very significant case or deal. Avoid lengthy paragraphs and avoid unsubstantiated claims.”
Source: Legal 500 UK 2027 guidelines
“Try to reflect the breadth of the law firm's experience, not simply the biggest mandates … identify the firm's role, indicate which partner(s) led the advice and mention start/end dates.”
Source: Legal 500 UK 2027 guidelines
“Some junior referees can be more responsive than senior figures.”
Source: Legal 500 UK 2027 guidelines
“Please avoid putting global confidentiality restrictions at the front of submissions.”
Source: Legal 500 UK 2027 guidelines
Common submission mistakes
- Sending more matters than the limit. The cap is 20 matters per practice area. Pick the 20 that best show the depth and range of the practice, not just the largest.
- Missing matter detail. Each matter should say what happened, the firm's role, who led it, the value or stakes where publishable, the dates and the current status. Gaps here are the most common reason a highlight carries little weight.
- Essay-style highlights. Long narrative paragraphs and claims without evidence are hard for researchers to use. Short, specific, provable facts in the directory's own format read better.
- Late or unchecked referee lists. Referee spreadsheets are often assembled in the last days, with out-of-date contact details or contacts who have not agreed to respond. Late referees may be contacted much later or not at all.
- Confidential material not marked the expected way. Mark confidential details exactly as the guidelines ask (CONFIDENTIAL in bold red upper case). Legal 500 also asks firms not to put blanket confidentiality notes at the front.
- Sending it by email. Email is not accepted for this guide; upload through the portal.
- Reusing last year's form. Templates are reissued each cycle. Download the current version from the official page rather than editing last year's file.
Legal 500 UK questions
When is the Legal 500 UK submission deadline?
Legal 500 UK 2027 deadlines: 6 Feb 2026 (UK Regions) and 20 Mar 2026 (London and PATMA). Deadlines for the 2028 edition are expected (not yet announced); typical timing: February to March.
How many matters can you submit to Legal 500 UK?
Up to 20 transactions/cases/other work; at least one cleared for publication; first-time submitters: include several examples from prior two years + at least 10 new examples.
How many referees does Legal 500 UK accept?
"20 referees per practice area is a good minimum guideline"; no maximum - all on-time referees contacted (by email); late referees may be contacted much later or not at all; separate Excel template; deadline usually same as submission.
Does it cost anything to submit to Legal 500 UK?
Free ("Law firms appear in the editorial sections of Legal 500 free of charge").
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- Legal 500 Asia Pacific
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- All directories we cover
- How we prepare submissions
Preparing a Legal 500 UK submission? Talk to us.
We prepare stronger, researcher-ready submissions: a polished draft, a checked referee spreadsheet and a deadline plan. Your team reviews and submits.