Academic in finals of law teacher awards

Victoria Murray has reached the final stage of assessment for this year’s coveted Law Teacher of the Year award.

The national scheme, run in association with the UK Centre for Legal Education and sponsored by Oxford University Press, is the only one of its kind in the UK set up specifically to reward innovative teaching in law.

For the final stage of the assessment a judging panel will visit the University to observe and film Victoria as she teaches. They will also conduct a series of interviews with Victoria, fellow colleagues and students.

Victoria’s nomination praised her commitment to constructively engage students with their learning and encouraging them to acknowledge and develop their potential and abilities. Her emphasis on the significance of reflection as a tool for learning was highlighted as was her pastoral support for her students.

Victoria’s work with the Employment Law Clinic in the award-winning Student Law Office, in which capacity she has helped over 150 third year students to interview real clients and work on real cases was also highlighted in her nomination as was her recent commendation in the Law Society’s Junior Lawyer Division Pro Bono awards for her provision of free legal advice and representation in the region.

Victoria has responsibility for careers development for all students across the School, in which capacity she has developed integrated careers seminars, a mock interview scheme and arranged to a series of talks from legal professionals to discuss the realities of legal work.

In letters of support for her nominations Northumbria students praised Victoria for her constant support and effective teaching methods. Third year Exempting Law student William Dawson wrote: “Victoria’s style of teaching not only encourages you to produce quality work to a strict time-schedule, but to feel as part of a legal firm which is actually making a difference.”

While fellow student Carolyn Hall commented: “I believe she has gone to great lengths to make the entire experience as valuable as possible… I do not believe that I could have had a better learning experience in the Student Law Office.”

Philip Plowden, Dean of School of the Law commented: “For Victoria to have reached the final stage of assessment for this ward is a great achievement in itself. Her constant hard work and tireless enthusiasm not just for the subject but to find the most effective ways to teach it is an inspiration to both staff and students.

“Victoria’s drive and commitment to the education and career development of our students reflects and helps to realise the School’s mission to be one of the most innovative providers of legal education in the UK.”