City Law School graduate wins Gamlen prize

Olswang trainee Libby Payne has won the Holborn Law Society award for the best trainee graduating from a Legal Practice Course (LPC), the Gamlen prize.

The City Law School graduate, who had to undergo a tense panel interview as part of her entry, had been nominated for the award by her tutors.

We nominated Libby because of her clear intellect and engagement with the law, said City Law School's LPC director Melissa Hardee.

Under the review process for the award, candidates endure an interview where questions on the legal profession and technical legal questions are asked. General questions on the law, personality and about why the candidate has entered the law are also posed.

The Gamlen prize was established in memory of the Gamlen family, and in particular, St John Gamlen, the last of five generations of solicitors. The competition is open annually to a trainee solicitor who is either a member of the City of Westminster and Holborn Law Society or has, or has arranged a training contract in the Societys area.

The first prize for the award is a cash payment of 250, with a second prize cash sum of 150. The winner also holds the prize shield for a year.

Until Paynes win, Harbottle & Lewis solicitor Anne Crompton had been the most recent City Law School LPC graduate to win the prize in 2004.