Awards for solicitors who let trainees get hands dirty

Two solicitors last week scooped up awards for being the best training supervisors in England and Wales.

Richard Owen, an associate at Bristol-based Burges Salmon, and Elisabeth Charles, a partner with Gabb & Co, which has offices across the Welsh Marches, picked up the Gazette-sponsored Trainee Solicitors Group training awards for 2001.

The awards - which recognise superior training techniques at both large and small law firms - were presented at a ceremony at the Law Society in London.

Mr Owen, who took the prize in the category for firms of 21 partners or more, is a commercial property associate at Burges Salmon.

He was commended by trainees in the firm for allowing them to have their own files, covering a range of work.

Ms Charles, who won the prize in the small to medium-sized firm category, is a personal injury specialist with an emphasis on poisoning claims.

She too was praised by trainees for allowing hands-on experience and for providing them with a variety of work.

Jonathan Ames