Academic profile

I practised family law in leading law firms in both Nottingham and Sheffield for nine years prior to joining the School of Law in 2003.

Member of the Centre of the Study of Law in Society.

Qualifications

• MA Jurisprudence, St Anne’s College, Oxford
• M.Ed., University of Sheffield

Teaching and Learning

I am a great believer in encouraging active learning. I try to make learning fun, by using a variety of exercises within seminars such as student presentations, negotiation sessions, debates and methods such as 'pass the pen' whiteboard exercises. I read widely about pedagogic research and am always open to suggestions from students and the wider academic community.

The modules I teach are:

Undergraduate	Postgraduate and MA
Family Law (Convenor)	MA Legal Practice Disseration
Criminal Process
Understanding Law I

Research Interests

• Importance of genetic ties in parenting
• Understandings and experiences of the exercise of Parental Responsibility
• The nature of 'contribution' in the determination of ancillary relief cases

Professional Activities and Recognition

External examiner for the College of Law (family law) and Northumbria University (family law and litigation). Appointed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Member of the Law Society.

Areas of Research Supervision

• The effect of the 2008 court fee increase for public law applications on local authority decision-making
• The impact of Home Information Packs on conveyancers' legal practice