Academic Profile

After qualifying as a solicitor with a London legal aid firm (Alexander Johnson) I spent four years working mainly in family and criminal litigation in London and Sheffield (Glass, Bagshawe, Miller & Co). Since moving to Sheffield I’ve held posts as a Regional Solicitor for the National Union of Teachers and as a Principal Legal Officer at the former Equal Opportunities Commission (now part of the Equality and Human Rights Commission). I’ve also taught at the University of Manchester. 

For the past few years I’ve been a freelance writer on employment and discrimination law, which I combine with occasional or part-time teaching.

Qualifications

LLB (Hons) 2:1: University of Sheffield
Solicitors Finals: College of Law, Chester

Teaching and Learning

My teaching is focused mainly on the LPC course; however I have also taught at undergraduate level.

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
Litigation and Advocacy
Professional Conduct
Advocacy
Solicitors' Accounts
Business Law and Practice

Professional Activities and Recognition

Member of the Law Society