Academic Profile

I qualified as a Solicitor in 1994 and have been teaching on the Legal Practice Course since 2003. I worked in both private practice and the Local Authority. In practice I dealt with a variety of areas including criminal and civil litigation, personal injury and clinical negligence. I then practiced in family law and specialized in Childcare with the Local Authority which involved extensive advocacy.

I am also a part –time Associate Lecturer for the Open University on the LLB (Hons) teaching constitutional and criminal Law, rules, rights and justice and family law. I also undertake training for professional organizations in childcare and courts skills. I have a Post Graduate Certificate in Education.

Qualifications

LLB (Hons) 2:1 University of North London
Solicitors Final Examination College of Law York
PGCE Sheffield Hallam University

Teaching and Learning

My teaching is focused mainly on the LPC 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 workshops with students of up to 18. Typically the students are split into small groups of 3 to 4 and asked to undertake such tasks as brain-storming, team working, problem solving, role-playing and presenting. We believe 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	Administrative Law	Family Law
Advanced Criminal Litigation	Constitutional Law
Family Law (Convenor)
Professional Conduct
Interviewing and Advising
Advocacy
Drafting (Convenor)
Writing
Practical Legal Research

Professional Activities and Recognition

• Member of the Law Society
• Training for professional organisations