The Cook's and Hatchard's Law Prize is an award which recognises an individual who has achieved not only academic success but has also engaged in charitable initiatives which have raised the profile of the profession; supported junior lawyers and/or the wider community.
The Trustees recognise that the route to qualifying as a Solicitor is an ever changing process. The conventional approach of completing a Degree, undergoing the GDL/LPC and eventually sourcing a Training Contract has been supplemented by a series of alternative routes.
It is now increasingly common specifically in the case of smaller firms and/or Local Authorities for individuals to qualify as Solicitors through a more vocational route. For example, undergoing the conversion from CILEx. Whilst this is not your typical route to qualification, such individuals have nonetheless obtained considerable practical experience and have achieved 'Solicitor' status whilst having to combine study with work, often alongside family obligations. A challenging balance deserving recognition.
The Trustees are intent on ensuring that such individuals are not overlooked, especially in instances where candidates have come from backgrounds where they might have needed to work from school as opposed to being able to attend University and pursue academia.
If you are aware of an individual within Somerset who has achieved the finely tuned balance of academic success whilst also promoting the value of the profession through charitable work or some other means which has benefitted the wider community, then please send full details of the individual whom you are nominating together with the reasons for your nomination to DASLS Administrator, Monique Bertoni, Aston Court, Pynes Hill, Exeter EX2 5AZ by 30 June 2020, for consideration by the Trustees.
Nominations can also be sent by email to monique@dasls.com.
NOMINATION CRITERION:-
The prize/s will be awarded at the DASLS Somerset Dinner on 6 November 2020.