Academic Profile

I qualified as a solicitor in 1998, having trained in a high street practice, where I subsequently spent a number of years as a partner. I dealt with a variety of practice areas, including personal injury, employment law, commercial litigation, domestic and commercial conveyancing and probate.

I am the Director of the Legal Practice Course at the University of Sheffield and jointly manage the student law clinic, with Dr Claire McGourlay.

I continue to practise part time, providing regular consultancy services to my former practice. I am a fellow of the Higher Education Academy and hold a post-graduate certificate in Learning and Teaching.

I am also an SRA appointed external examiner to two further LPC institutions and an external examiner for other undergraduate and GDL subjects elsewhere.

Qualifications

• LL.B. (Hons) First Class, University of Derby;
• Diploma in Legal Practice, Nottingham Law School;
• Certificate in Learning and Teaching, The University of Sheffield.

Teaching and Learning

My teaching focuses very much on the practical application of the law. The Legal Practice Course is geared towards providing a solution for the client. As a result, problem based learning and legal skills form a large part of my teaching. My teaching on the Law Clinic module and joint supervision of the law clinic overall brings a practical aspect to students' undergraduate studies, whilst introducing them to the legal skills which will be of fundamental importance in further professional studies and in their chosen legal careers.

The modules I teach are:

Legal Practice	GDL	Undergraduate
Business Law and Practice	Torts Law	Understanding Law I
Litigation and Advocacy		Torts Law
Employment Law (Convenor)		FreeLaw (Joint Convenor)
Solicitors Accounts
Professional Conduct
Wills and Administration of Estates
Interviewing and Advising
Writing
Drafting
Advocacy
Practical Legal Research

Professional Activities and Recognition

Consultant Solicitor with a North Lincolnshire firm of solicitors.
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Solicitors’ Regulation Authority appointed external examiner.
Member of the Law Society.