Drill or quill? That is the question posed to us by midlands firm Blakemores as it celebrates one of its staff being named trainee solicitor of the year at the Birmingham Law Society's recent annual legal awards. What makes Dr Robert Tobin a bit unusual is that he has combined his legal training with his other career as a qualified dental surgeon. His tale is a rather impressive one. In the late 1990s, Dr Tobin decided to fulfil a long-held desire to pursue a legal career. He passed the common professional examination and legal practice course, studying by distance learning through the College of Law, all the while practising as a self-employed dental surgeon. This August, he will come to the end of a three-year training contract, extended so as to allow him to continue his dental work. Plus, he was nominated for the award by none other than the Chief Dental Officer for England, Dr Barry Cockcroft. Upon qualification, Dr Tobin intends to remain at Blakemores and head its new clinical negligence team and to continue with his dentistry part-time. He praised the firm for its flexibility, and added: 'The strangest thing is going to bed on Tuesday night a dentist and waking up on Wednesday morning a lawyer.' Partner Guy Barnett adds: 'To qualify in any profession is hard enough, but to qualify in two is amazing. Certainly I could not have done it. What scares me is what he is going to do next.' It is not clear whether this refers to Dr Tobin's versatility and ambition, or whether he was speaking as this picture was being taken. Any other examples of solicitors who carry on other careers are naturally welcome.