Head of Civil Justice lectures at Northumbria

The Rt Hon Sir Terence Etherton, Master of the Rolls and one of the country’s most senior judges has given a public lecture at Northumbria University, Newcastle.

Sir Terence explored the historic relationship between equity and conscience and examined the extent to which unconscionability is appropriate ingredient of civil liberty in modern times. He also spent time during his visit meeting and and speaking with Northumbria Law School students – many of whom attended his lecture.

Sir Terence was appointed as Master of the Rolls in October 2016, following approval by The Queen. The position dates back to the 13th century and means he is the Head of Civil Justice and the second most senior judge in England and Wales. Having been called to the Bar in 1974, Sir Terence became a Queen’s Counsel in 1990.  He was appointed a High Court Judge in 2001 and assigned to the Chancery division, receiving a customary Knighthood. In 2006, he was appointed Chairman of the Law Commission and two years later, a Lord Justice of Appeal and a place on the Privy Council. In 2009, he became President of the Council of Inns of Court, and in 2013 the Chancellor of the High Court, head of the Chancery.

Professor John Wilson Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Business and Law at Northumbria said: “This is the first time a Master of the Rolls has delivered a public lecture here at Northumbria, and it was extremely well attended by both the legal community and members of the public.   It was an honour and a privilege to hear his insightful lecture on such a fascinating and important subject. As a law school, we were also delighted that he was able to meet some of our students – an opportunity I have no doubt will have enriched their learning experience.”

Northumbria Law School is the largest law school in the North East, with a national and international reputation for academic excellence in legal education. It was recognised at the highest level in 2013 when the University was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize in Further and Higher Education in for the outstanding community work of its Student Law Office.

Northumbria University is currently in the running to be named the Times Higher Education best university of the year, with competition from the likes of the University of Winchester, Liverpool John Moores University and Nottingham Trent University.