Family law firm sets up student prize in memory of former partner

A former College of Law student has been recognised for her outstanding performance in family law by receiving the inaugural Peter Clark Prize sponsored by Dawson Cornwell solicitors.

Rebecca Hawley, who studied at the College's London Bloomsbury centre, was presented with the £2,000 award at the firm's Holborn office in London.

The new annual prize also includes a two-week internship at Dawson Cornwell and is awarded to the student with the highest mark in family law on the Legal Practice Course (LPC) from The College of Law's London centres. The prize was established in honour of Peter Clark, a partner at Dawson Cornwell from 1993 until his death in April 2010.

Rebecca, aged 23 from Sandhurst in Kent, completed the LPC in July and achieved 90 per cent in her family law exam.

She said: "I feel very honoured to have been awarded the prize and it is clear that Peter Clark was not only respected greatly, particularly in relation to his contribution to family law but also personally as a friend and family man".

Rebecca is also joint winner of this year's Resolution Prize, which is awarded to the student with the highest mark in the LPC family law paper across The College of Law's eight nationwide centres.

She graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2008 with a 2:1 in English and went on to undertake the Graduate Diploma in Law at The College of Law before commencing the LPC last year. She has secured a training contract with Cripps Harries Hall to qualify as a solicitor starting in September 2011.

John Cornwell from Dawson Cornwell said: "Peter Clark hid his light under a bushel but was to my personal knowledge an exceptional family lawyer. It is entirely fitting that this award, which Dawson Cornwell sponsors, should be given to future generations of the best in family law."

Richard de Friend, Chair of The College of Law's Academic Board said: "The College is very honoured that Dawson Cornwell decided to memorialise Peter Clark in this way. In addition to a generous sum of money, the prize provides invaluable work experience, and testifies to the importance of family law, the area in which Peter Clark specialised, and so many College students wish to practise."