Meet the Team

I graduated from Durham University with a BA (Hons) in Sociology in 2010.

I later completed the Graduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice Course at Northumbria University in 2015 and 2016 respectively.  I undertook a training contract at a leading northern commercial law firm, and I was admitted as a solicitor in 2020. I spent five years working as a commercial litigator in the dispute resolution team at another commercial law firm in Newcastle upon Tyne.  I joined Northumbria University in September 2025 as a supervising lawyer, specialising in civil matters.

I have a comprehensive range of experience in dealing with both commercial and individual clients, including contentious company and shareholder disputes, contentious construction matters, professional negligence claims, and general contractual disputes and issues.  When not practising law, you can find me walking my dog at the beach, baking or spending time with my two daughters.

I am a Clinical Supervising Law in the Student Law Office at Northumbria University.

I graduated from the University of Durham in 2002. After graduation I commenced work as a Paralegal at a sole practitioner firm in Newcastle City Centre.

After a temporary departure from the firm to work on a summer camp in the USA and do some travelling across North America, I returned to the firm in September 2003 to continue working as a Paralegal alongside studying for my Legal Practice Course at the University of Northumbria. I completed my studies in June 2005 and subsequently completed my Training Contract, qualifying as a Solicitor in April 2008.

Upon qualification I spent several years carrying out work based on civil litigation both from a Claimant and Defendant perspective. The main focus of my experience was carrying out work for market leading insurers in personal injury and industrial disease where I assessed claims with a view to conducting further enquiries, negotiating settlement or defending cases to a final hearing.

In January 2019 I commenced work for the University of Sunderland as a Senior Lecturer and Director of Clinical Legal Education. I gained experience of supervising and working with students in the Sunderland Student Law Clinic and duties commensurate with a Senior Lecturer post.

After leaving the University of Sunderland I continued working with law students undertaking a role as a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Law. I also developed my practice experience further, gaining experience at a medium sized law firm conducting General Civil Litigation work and developing a department at the firm. I also undertook a role as an In House Lawyer at Durham County Council carrying out employment and governance work.

I studied Law at Northumbria University and graduated in 2012, I then worked in a variety of local law firms obtaining valuable experience as a paralegal in litigation.

I then joined a leading commercial North East law firm as a paralegal in 2014 and began my training contract in 2017. 

I qualified into the commercial property team in 2019 and gained experience in drafting a wide variety of property documents, including, leases, licences to occupy, licences to alter, transfers and contracts. As well as dealing with property finance and corporate support work. 

After a period of maternity leave, I returned in September 2022 back to my litigation roots and worked in the firm’s property disputes team where I dealt with residential property issues such as possession claims, disrepair and access injunctions as well as commercial property disputes. 

I have worked in the Student Law Office since January 2023 and specialise in housing, property, civil and commercial matters.

In my spare time, I enjoy reading, doing pilates classes and spending time with my family. 

I am a Clinical Supervising Lawyer in the Student Law Office at Northumbria University specialising in SEND matters and civil disputes.

I graduated from Newcastle University in 2017 with a first-class honours degree, achieving the highest grade in my cohort. I completed a training contract at a leading northern law firm and was admitted as a solicitor in 2020, before spending three years as a commercial litigator. I subsequently joined a top 20 law firm, developing a specialism in inheritance disputes, before joining Northumbria University's Student Law Office in January 2025. I have been recognised in the Legal 500 as "meticulous, incredibly hardworking and responsive - a pleasure to work with."

I advise parents and carers on a wide range of SEND matters throughout the EHCP process, including:

• Initial requests for an assessment of a child's education, health and care needs;
• Challenges to refusals to assess or to issue an EHCP;
• School placement rights and requests; and
• The content of EHCPs and the review process.

I also have broad experience in civil litigation, and advise on matters involving inheritance disputes, professional negligence, partnerships, breach of contract, defamation and misrepresentation. I am passionate about widening access to justice and working with students to help develop the next generation of lawyers, and clients consistently describe my approach as professional, patient and personable.

When I am not at work, I love cooking (I have volunteered with a community food-waste cafe since 2021), sea swimming and paddleboarding, reading and spending time with friends and family.

I qualified as a family practitioner in 2009 leaving private practice to join the Student Law Office in September 2024.

I practised exclusively in Family Law, which included undertaking most of my own advocacy within court proceedings. I have experience in dealing with complex care cases including non-accidental injuries.

I specialised in children matters, particularly when children services were involved and regularly acted for parents and grandparents in care proceedings.I am a Committee Member of Northeast Resolution and a member of their national group Parenting after Parting.

As I am a member of Resolution, I strongly believe in dealing with family matters in a non-confrontational way to ensure the best outcome for each family.

I am also a Trustee of the charity Open Clasp based in Newcastle West End Women in Need.

I am very family orientated and enjoy reading and the theatre.

I started my career in the Metropolitan Police Service and was granted a career break to study law at the University of Northumbria in 1992.

I was one of the first on what was then know as the ‘exempting degree’ which introduced the Student law Office.

I completed my Training Contract with the Crown Prosecution Service, following which I worked as a criminal law defence solicitor for several major northeast firms over a 22 year period.

In 2018 I re joined the CPS as a Senior Prosecutor in the RASSO (rape and serious sexual offences) team and the Crown Court Team.

In 2023 I came full circle and returned to Northumbria University as a Solicitor Supervisor in the Student Law Office.

I am a Grade 1 CPS agent and have High Rights of Audience in the crown court

I am a former graduate of Northumbria University which afforded me with the excellent opportunity of gaining practical legal experience in the Student Law Office. 

I subsequently completed my training contract with Ward Hadaway LLP and qualified in 2017 into Family Law. I have invaluable experience of advising clients on all aspects of relationship breakdown and I have specialist knowledge in children proceedings and alleged safeguarding concerns. I also assist with private client matters, including wills and LPAs.

When not practicing law, I love to spend time with my family. I also enjoy writing children’s books about important topics in a child friendly way, I am involved in charitable work and take any opportunity to travel.

Having studied at both Newcastle and Northumbria Universities I was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in August 2008.

I built my career in family law across a number of respected practices in the North-East, from legal aid work in Middlesbrough, to a partnership role in Gateshead, to over a decade at a leading Newcastle firm.

I have extensive experience across the full range of family law, including divorce and financial settlements, domestic abuse, private law children disputes, and child protection proceedings.

In January 2023, I joined the Student Law Office at Northumbria University, where I supervise and support students working on family law cases, as well as managing the wider solicitor's team.

I graduated from the University of Birmingham with a first class BA (Hons) in Sociology and Cultural Studies in 2009. 

I completed the Graduate Diploma in Law at the University of Law (London, Bloomsbury) and the Legal Practice Course at Northumbria University, achieving distinctions in both. Prior to commencing my training contract, I worked as a financial analyst for the national commercial law firm, Womble Bond Dickinson LLP, where I completed the Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning. I completed my training contract in the Student Law Office at Northumbria University and was admitted to the roll in September 2016.

During my training contract, I was seconded to the International Family Law department of the regional legal aid practice, Ben Hoare Bell LLP. I have experience of all areas of family law however I continue to have a particular interest in cases with an international element.

I am also the module tutor for the Student Law Office, where I also continue to practice as a solicitor. In 2022, I completed a PhD by publication. My research focusses on domestic abuse and access to justice and protective remedies. My research also explores barriers to seeking/securing protection and the impact of major reforms which have taken place in the family justice system. I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Authority.

In my spare time, I enjoy reading, running and spending time with my family.  

I qualified as a solicitor in 1996 and continued full time practise for two years specialising in personal injury litigation and actions against public authorities. 

Since 1998, I have worked for Northumbria University as a lecturer and also as a solicitor in our Student Law Office, specialising in civil dispute resolution, human rights and actions against public authorities and inquests. 

Since 2001, I have been a consultant with Ben Hoare Bell LLP where my work has focused primarily on actions against public authorities and inquests. I also teach civil dispute resolution to students on our law programmes.

I am a Professor of Legal Education and Associate Head of School (Education) at Northumbria Law School.

I graduated from the University of Durham with LLB (Hons) in 2001.  Following successful completion of the Legal Practice Course at Northumbria University, I undertook a training contract and was admitted as a solicitor on 1 September 2005.  I joined Northumbria University in 2007 as a solicitor tutor supervising students in the multi-award winning Student Law Office.  I specialise in the areas of housing, employment and civil litigation.

I have held a number of leadership roles within Northumbria Law School including Director of the Student Law Office, Director of Education (Undergraduate) and Head of Education.

My research interests are in the field of clinical legal education, with the current focus on the development of values through clinical legal education.  I was awarded my PhD entitled 'We Don't Need No Thought Control: What is the Intent and Impact of Teaching Values in Clinical Legal Education" in 2020. 

I have been a board member of the European Network for Clinical Legal Education (ENCLE) since its establishment in 2013.  I was elected President of ENCLE in 2019 and continue in that role.