2023 Frequently Asked Questions | They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40

We’ve been thrilled about your response to “They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40" since we launched our first call for nominations in 2020. I’m sharing some answers to frequently asked questions, updated for 2023.

Can You Talk About Your Review Process?

Each year, we assemble a review team of editors from across the newsroom to handle the Herculean task of selecting 40 talented honorees from the wider pool. We evaluate nominees for their leadership, their records of success for clients, how they balance their legal practice work with pro bono service and more. Our editorial team reviews each nomination individually and carefully. Each submission receives several reviews by different editors before we go to print.

What is the Maximum Number of Attorneys We Can Nominate?

A firm, company or non-profit may officially nominate one attorney.

A second attorney from the same firm, company or non-profit may be nominated by a peer, a client or self-nominate. That nomination should come directly from the nominator and must include all application components outlined in the call for nominations, including letters of recommendation, to be considered.

What is the Maximum Number of Awards You Might Make to the Same Organization?

We will award a maximum of two attorneys affiliated with the same law firm, company, government agency, non-profit or university.

Is There a Limit on How Many Attorneys May Self-nominate from our Firm or Organization?

We don’t impose a formal limit on self-nominations. However, we do limit how many awards we will make to the same organization. (See answer above.) So, we ask self-nominators to use good discretion.

How Should We Send Recommendation Letters?

Submissions for consideration for “They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40” should arrive in completed form. Recommendation letters should arrive with the nomination package. Once nomination packages are complete, please send all materials in the same dispatch to submissions@bloombergindustry.com.

Will Recommendation Letters Be Weighted Differently, Depending on the Source?

Our team will evaluate all recommendation letters – whether they come from clients, mentors or other attorneys – in the same way.

Nominators should send their two strongest letters of support on behalf of nominees. Recommendation writers should indicate how they’re familiar with the nominee’s work, character, and impact.

Firms and companies may choose to provide two letters from clients; letters from one client and one attorney mentor; or some other combination.

If a Colleague or a Client is the Nominator, Must That Person Write One of the Two Letters of Recommendation?

No. We don’t require this. We do encourage nominators to submit their two strongest letters of recommendation on behalf of nominees.

Can We Provide Confidential Information?

Nominators should refrain from including confidential information in submissions. All materials submitted in nominations are considered on the record for publication, excepting personal details such as birth dates.

Will You Notify Us if Our Application is Incomplete?

We will be unable to individually notify applicants of incomplete submissions considered for the 2023 class of honorees. We encourage you to please check them carefully to ensure they conform to the rules and are complete before sending.

Must Nominees Have Legal Titles Such As “Associate, Partner, Of Counsel or General Counsel”?

No. The above titles are illustrative for the purposes of the award instructions. There is no specific title requirement for this award. Nominees are only required to be “engaged in the full-time practice of law.” So if a nominee works as a full-time attorney, but doesn’t have a legal title, they can apply.

We nominated someone for a previous issue of “They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40.” Can we put the same person forward again if they have not yet been selected?

Absolutely. We’ve definitely selected some honorees who originally submitted nominations for a prior year.

Some tips: When you are sending in a second nomination for a candidate, don’t just send in the same nomination. Please closely review the “They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40" special reports published to date, along with the award instructions and call for nominations to get a good sense of what makes a successful candidate. Then, update the application with the nominee’s new client wins, pro bono service and updated information about how they’ve made an impact. Each year we are grateful to receive a really talented pool of nominees, so we can’t make guarantees, but we encourage you to give it a try.

Can Candidates Who Have Been Featured in the “They’ve Got Next” Editorial Series Be Considered for the “40 Under 40?” Are Their Chances Impacted?

The submission process for our annual “They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40” is distinct from the reporter-driven editorial series. Organizations may nominate a candidate for the “They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40” who has been featured in the editorial series. Being featured in one series will not impact consideration for another.

What’s Next for the Recurring “They’ve Got Next” Series?

We anticipate resuming the practice-focused “They’ve Got Next” series in early Q1 2023. We expect the next installment to focus on young lawyers in state attorney general practices. For more on how to pitch, see the next question.

Can You Remind Us How We Submit for the Series and for the Annual Special Report?

To submit a series pitch, write to submissions@bloombergindustry.com. Include the name, age and employer of the nominee. Also include a short paragraph about their significant wins on behalf of clients in high-stakes matters and why they stand out in their practice area. We seek to recognize young lawyers from a variety of backgrounds and practice sub-specialties, so we encourage you to consider that in your pitches. While we don’t require a formal submission for the series, we do ask nominators to cap their pitches at three young lawyers per installment.

Our nomination process for “They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40” is outlined in our 2023 call for nominations. Send complete submissions by the deadline to submissions@bloombergindustry.com. A member of our team will confirm receipt within 48 hours of submission. Good luck!

These FAQs should answer most questions. For any others, please email submissions@bloombergindustry.com. Due to the number of inquiries we receive, please allow up to 48 hours for a response.