The College of Law Practice Management (COLPM), an international organization that recognizes excellence in law practice management, is calling for entries for its 2011 InnovAction Awards. This is a world-wide search for lawyers, law firms, law departments and others in the legal services field that have invented or successfully applied new business practices to the delivery of legal services.

The goal of the InnovAction Awards is to demonstrate to the legal community what can be created when dedicated professionals with big ideas and strong convictions are determined to make a difference.“We are seeking and recognizing creativity and new ways of thinking in legal services delivery,” said COLPM president K. William Gibson, attorney and mediator. “We know that a great deal of innovative thinking is helping solve the business challenges faced by law firms in today’s changing market. We want to focus the legal profession on these extraordinary achievements.”

“It’s our goal to reward the innovation already taking place, and to encourage more innovation in the business of practicing law across the profession,” said Jordan Furlong, chair of the 2011 Awards and partner with Edge International Consulting. “We believe it helps lawyers and firms to rise above the on-going challenges in the economy.”

“There are some exciting changes for the 2011 InnovAction Awards,” Furlong continued. “When the College created the awards in 2004, innovation in the legal profession developed slowly, if at all. The pace of change in the legal marketplace during the last seven years has been unprecedented. The Awards traditionally have recognized innovation that has ‘never been done before,’ but in today’s rapidly changing environment, we feel that isn’t enough. We will focus on equally challenging criteria that more accurately reflect today’s legal marketplace.”

2011 InnovAction Award nominations are due by June 1 and winners will be encouraged to receive their InnovAction Awards in person at the 2011 Futures Conference held in conjunction with the College’s Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL on October 28 – 29, 2011. Winners will be invited to make a presentation regarding their innovations as part of the conference.

In its first six years, the InnovAction program has awarded entities from six countries around the world including Axiom, New York, NY; DLA Piper US, Washington, DC; The Law Chambers of Nicholas Critelli, P.C., Des Moines, IA; Mallesons Stephen Jacques, Sydney, Australia; Masons, Glasgow, Scotland; New Family Organization, Tel Aviv, Israel; Novus Law, Chicago, IL; Practical Law Company, New York, NY; Pro Bono Net, New York, NY; Raskin Peter Rubin & Simon, LLP, Los Angeles, CA; Simpson Grierson, Auckland, New Zealand; Wragge & Co., Birmingham, England.

Editors Note: InsideLegal is a Platinum sponsor of the InnovAction Awards.