Academic Profile

I qualified as a Solicitor in 1992 and worked in private practice until 1997, when I joined the LPC course. I worked within the field of company commercial before specialising in general and personal injury litigation.

Qualifications

• LLB (Hons): University of Sheffield
• Solicitors Finals: College of Law, Chester
• Diploma in Personal Injury Litigation: Manchester Metropolitan University
• Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning for University Lecturers: University of Sheffield

Teaching and Learning

My teaching is focused mainly on the LPC course; however I also teach at undergraduate level and on the GDL.

The emphasis at Sheffield on the LPC is on learning by doing. Most of the time spent in teaching sessions will require the student to put their legal skills and knowledge into practice in a series of practical tasks and activities. Teaching on the LPC is in workshop sessions in groups of up to 18. Typically the students are split into small groups of 3 to 4 and are asked to undertake such tasks as brain-storming, team-working, problem-solving, role-playing and presenting. We believe that this ensures that the student achieves the requisite knowledge and understanding to be able to do the job of a day one trainee.

It is important that in these sessions the client is placed at the centre of the problem, understand the client's concerns and provide practical solutions.

The modules I teach are:

Legal Practice	GDL	Undergraduate
Litigation and Advocacy (Convenor)	Torts Law (Convenor)	Torts Law
Personal Injury Litigation (Convenor)
Advocacy
Solicitors' Accounts
Professional Conduct
Writing Skills
Drafting
Practical Legal Research
Interviewing and Advising

Professional Activities and Recognition

• Member of the Law Society
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy