TSG/GAZETTE AWARDS: Supervisors demonstrate innovative methods as Napier calls for instruction in client care.Mentors win training plaudits.

Four supervisors scooped the inaugural TSG/Gazette Training awards at a ceremony in Coventry at the weekend, in the first event of its kind to highlight the importance of training in the solicitors' profession.

The awards - presented by the Attorney-General, and the chairman of the judges' panel, Lord Williams QC, at the Trainee Solicitors Group's annual conference - went to solicitors from large and small/medium-sized private practices as well as one lawyer from in-house.

Hume Hargreave of Newcastle-based Dickinson Dees took the large firm prize.

The small/medium-sized firm prize went to Claire Lipworth of London white-collar crime specialists Peters & Peters and John Yates of Nottinghamshire-based IT law alliance v-lex Limited.

The in-house prize went to Jason Betteley of the Treasury Solicitor's Department.

Mr Hargreave was described as a 'a good, traditional trainer who enthuses trainees [and] shows great modesty'.

Mr Yates was described as providing an 'ethos of training' throughout the firm, while Ms Lipworth provided 'very effective traditional training in a non-traditional way'.

Mr Betteley was said to show 'a natural instinct for training'.The winners all had to demonstrate innovative approaches to training, an ability to enthuse trainees in different areas of practice, and the provision of constant support, guidance and feedback.

Other nominees were: (in the large firm category) Tim Schwarz, James Baird and Lynn Shouls of Clifford Chance, Philip Sutton of Hammond Suddards Edge, Hilary Arnall of Burges Salmon, Adrian Brown of Herbert Smith, E Jane Wright of Irwin Mitchell, Zoe Bagnall of Eversheds and Randal Barker of Lovells; (in the small/medium firm category) Michael Armstrong of Wilde and Partners, Richard Hopkin of Garner Canning & Co, Alan Burdett of Michael Wood & Co and Stephen Garrett of Fanshaw Porter & Hazlehurst; (in the in-house category) Claer Lloyd-Jones of Brighton & Hove Council, Jayne Francis of Nottinghamshire County Council, Kevin Gardner of Hampshire County Council, and Aline Odell of Hertfordshire County Council.

Also at the conference, Law Society President Michael Napier called on law schools to focus more attention on teaching client care.

He criticised some for perpetuating the view that university courses should specialise in teaching theory at the expense of practice.

Mr Napier said: 'The teaching of law cannot exist in isolation from the reality that one day a large proportion of students will actually come face to face with a client.

The culture of client care should begin in the law schools.' Jonathan AmesSee Editorial, page 14