Skip navigation

Chris Simmonds

Assistant Professor

School: Northumbria School of Law

Chris graduated from Northumbria University in 2005 and qualified as a solicitor in 2008.  His practice has been primarily in the area of Housing Law.  Chris was a legal aid practitioner with a large North-East law firm for a number of years, before moving to Durham City and then Durham County Councils where he continued to act in-house as a housing lawyer, and also in Planning Law.

Chris joined Northumbria Law School in 2011, initially as a Solicitor Tutor working in the Student Law Office, Northumbria University's multi-award winning free legal advice and representation clinic.  Chris is now an Assistant Professor, teaching in the Student Law Office but also teaching a module on Housing Law.

Chris is also Joint Programme Leader for the Solicitor Higher Apprenticeship at Northumbria University.

Chris Simmonds

Chris's research interests focus on the use of problem-based learning pedagogies in legal education, and in particular the responsible use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) as both a tool to develop our approach to teaching, but also as a tool that students are able to engage with in order to improve their understanding of the subject.

  • PGCert March 19 2014
  • Law LLB (Hons) September 01 2001
  • Fellow (FHEA) Higher Education Academy (HEA) 2014
  • Solicitor Law Society 2008

Latest News and Features

Northumbria University.
Dr Elisa Nédélec, Dr Emily Hume and Dr Paul Ansdell demonstrate some of the tests being carried out during a new study, funded by the MS Society.
Jill Halfpenny and Mark Wood were among the Honorary Graduates recognised at Summer 2026 Congregation ceremonies.
Fashion students Georgia Hogg, Amber Lita, Annabel Gilgallon and Senuji de Silva pictured with some of their work shown at Graduate Fashion Week 2026.
Victoria Flemming pictured holding her Northern Writers' Award
Top 50 employer winner badge
More news
More events

Upcoming events

Next Stop Northumbria
Restorative Just Culture Research Dissemination Event
NU-NHSA Launch Event
The Past We Inherit. The Future We Build: Better Decisions Happen Together
Back to top