Stephen Ward

Stephen Ward

Co-Founder -2001
Membership Status: Team Member

Profile

General Information

Legal Innovator, Barristers' Clerk, Speaker & Author. Making access to Lawyers in the UK easier with award-winning tech. We help solicitors, businesses and members of the public to find the right Barrister or Mediator in England & Wales for Civil, Commercial or Family disputes.

Co-Owner and Co-Founder of Clerksroom & Clerksroom Direct. Key roles include:

Oversees all areas of business including the following areas:

  • Development of Mediation administration
  • Development of Clerksroom Chambers
  • Development of Clerksroom Online
  • Development of Clerksroom Direct
  • Development of best practice & continuous improvement
  • Global I.T. infrastructure, internal I.T. networks and 3rd party suppliers,  Web planning & development
  • Press & Public Relations

Stephen Ward has been a barristers' clerk since 1983, becoming a senior clerk to Chambers in 1993.  Aged 25, Stephen was one of the youngest senior clerks in the UK after 10 years experience in the Temple and Grays Inn, London.  Now Stephen is Managing Director of Clerksroom, manages a team of 20 clerks and oversees the worldwide operations of Clerksroom.

Personal:

Married with 2 grown up boys. Additional roles held include: Past Chairman of the Orchard FM Charity Trust, Past Non-Exec Director of Orchard FM, part of the GCap Media Group (Now Heart FM), Past Chairman of Wellington Round Table and Past Group Chairman of the 1st Wellington Scouts.  A committed charity worker and fundraiser who enjoys the community side of life. Past board member of  Mediation Somerset. A self-confessed I.T. & Internet enthusiast. Completed 18 marathons for Headway. Pleased to have raised over £30,000 for Headway through various charity events. England, Arsenal & Yeovil Town supporter. Current member of Wellington 41 Club (ex Round Tablers). Past non-exec Board member of Trusted Litigation Capital. Volunteer advisory board member of ODRO (Online Dispute Resolution). Registered Drone Pilot and a keen amateur drone photographer. 

Sociable:

Articles & Publications:

Awards and Nominations:

  • Finalist - Somerset Business Awards 2021 - Best use of Technology. 
  • Winner - Modern Law Awards 2020 - Best use of Technology
  • Highly Commended - Modern Law Awards 2020 - Innovation of the Year
  • Finalist - The Business Excellence Awards 2018.
  • Winner - Lexis Nexis Legal Innovation Awards 2018. Clerksroom Direct
  • Nomination - Corporate LiveWire Innovation & Excellence Awards 2018.
  • Finalist - Claims Management Awards 2017. "Chambers of the year"
  • Top 10 finalist in the category "Legal Innovator of the Year" at the F.T. Innovation Awards 2007.
  • Halisbury Legal Innovator of the Year - 2015
  • Winner of the "Practice Manager of the Year" at the Personal Injury Awards 2011.
  • Nominated for Taunton Deane Citizenship Award for 2012 for services to Charity.
  • 2015 Winner of the Modern Claims Award for Innovation of the year for Clerksroom Direct.com.
  • Winner of the ACQ Global Awards 2015 for "UK Gamechanger of the year (Legal Referral), Clerksroom Direct.
  • Winner of the MD of the year, Corporate Vision Magazine, 2016.
  • Winner of the Best Barristers Chambers Practice Manager - UK, Executive Award 2016 by Corporate Vision Magazine.
  • Winner of the European CEO of the year - United Kingdom, Corporate Vision Magazine, 2016.
  • Worldwide Law Review, 2016 UK Specialst of the Year for our ongoing work in the area of Family Law.

Public Speaking:

  • 30th March 2022, Westminster Legal Policy Forum. "Access to legal services in a digitised sector".
  • 16th September 2020, The Big Law Summit, London 
  • 17th February 2020, Legal Tech Europe, University College, London.
  • 17th January 2020, Action Coach - Growing a digital business. On stage with Mark Colbourne MBE, London 2012 Olympic Paralympics Gold Medalist and World Record Holder.
  • 9th October 2019, Birmingham LawTech Week.
  • 4th October 2019, ActionCoach, Somerset.
  • 2nd October 2019, Somerset Chambers of Commerce.
  • 21st March 2019, "LawFest", Auckland, New Zealand.
  • 20th March 2019, Long Shore College, Auckland, New Zeland.
  • 12th October 2018, "Paralegals: The Modern Lawyer" Conference hosted by PPR, London.
  • 19th April 2018, Disruptive Innovation in Legal Services, London
  • 12th March 2018, LegalTech in the UK, Sydney, Australia
  • 1st March 2018, LegalTech in the UK, Auckland, New Zealand
  • 15th February 2018, LegalTech in the UK, Wellington, New Zealand
  • 27th November 2017, AI for Professional Services, Bishopsgate, London 
  • 23rd November 2017, FOIL AGM (London) - The Machines Are Here - Cyber risks and AI in 21st Century Insurance Law
  • 21st November 2017, Legal Futures Innovation Conference (London) - Robotics and AI for LegalTech. See slide share presentation
  • 8th February 2017. Public Access Bar Association (London) - "Developing a Public Access Practice, Online Portals and Marketing"

Memberships:

  • Institute of Barristers Clerks
  • Public Access Bar Association

Awards

  • Somerset Business Awards 2021
    Somerset Business Awards 2021

  • Modern Law Awards 2020 - Best use of Technology
    Modern Law Awards 2020 - Best use of Technology

  • Modern Law Awards 2020 - Innovation of the Year
    Modern Law Awards 2020 - Innovation of the Year

  • Business Excellence Awards 2018
    Business Excellence Awards 2018

  • LexisNexis Legal Innovation Awards 2018
    LexisNexis Legal Innovation Awards 2018

  • Corporate LiveWire Innovation & Excellence Awards 2018
    Corporate LiveWire Innovation & Excellence Awards 2018

  • Chambers of the Year 2017 - Finalist. The Claims Management Awards
    Chambers of the Year 2017 - Finalist. The Claims Management Awards

  • CV Magazine - Executive Awards. Best Barristers' Chambers Practice Manager - UK
    CV Magazine - Executive Awards. Best Barristers' Chambers Practice Manager - UK

  • Wealth & Finance Awards 2016 - Most Outstanding Law Firm
    Wealth & Finance Awards 2016 - Most Outstanding Law Firm

  • Modern Law Awards 2014 - Shortlisted for Chambers of the Year
    Modern Law Awards 2014 - Shortlisted for Chambers of the Year

  • Halsbury Legal Awards 2015 - Online Innovation of the Year - Finalist
    Halsbury Legal Awards 2015 - Online Innovation of the Year - Finalist

  • CV Magazine - Practice Manager of the Year 2016
    CV Magazine - Practice Manager of the Year 2016

  • Most Innovative Legal Advocacy Service - 2017
    Most Innovative Legal Advocacy Service - 2017

  • Claims Innovation Awards 2015 - Winner
    Claims Innovation Awards 2015 - Winner

  • Business Excellence Awards 2015 - Practice Manager of the Year
    Business Excellence Awards 2015 - Practice Manager of the Year

  • Business Excellence Awards 2015 - Mediation
    Business Excellence Awards 2015 - Mediation

  • CV Magazine - MD of the Year 2016
    CV Magazine - MD of the Year 2016

  • Business Elite Awards 2016
    Business Elite Awards 2016

  • Modern Claims Awards - Innovation of the Year 2015
    Modern Claims Awards - Innovation of the Year 2015

  • Taunton Deane Borough Council - Citizenship Award 2012
    Taunton Deane Borough Council - Citizenship Award 2012

  • Personal Injury Awards 2011 - Practice Manager of the Year
    Personal Injury Awards 2011 - Practice Manager of the Year

  • Gamechanger of the Year - 2015
    Gamechanger of the Year - 2015

  • Finalist - Financial Times "Legal Innovator of the Year, 2007.
    Finalist - Financial Times "Legal Innovator of the Year, 2007.

Testimonials

Testimonials

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