Manchester

Amanda is the Dean at the Manchester campus and held positions as Senior Lecturer and Programme Lead for LLB/GDL before her appointment. She has vast experience in employment law with particular expertise in discrimination and diversity. Previously Employment Law Head for BPP’s Professional Development faculty, she designed and presented a range of professional training courses, and now brings that knowledge to ULaw’s aspiring legal professionals.

Laura teaches Civil Litigation on the LPC, Tort Law on the LLB and GDL and Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence on the LPC. Laura is also Head of Tutors for the Manchester Campus and therefore, one of her aims is to enhance the student experience by securing high quality teaching and making effective use of staff resource. Laura is passionate about creating a supportive and focused learning environment.

David joined the University of Law in 2019. Previously, David spent 9 years working in international law firms, where he specialised in all aspects of commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution. David teaches on both our undergraduate and postgraduate courses. David is currently teaching on the Intellectual Property, Business Law and Practice, and Introduction to Professional Practice modules on the Legal Practice Course, and Contract law on the LLB.

Sara graduated with an LLB from the University of Sheffield and worked in the public sector and insurance for several years before training as a teacher. She was a lecturer in the FE sector for eight years where she taught Criminology and on the Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) teacher training programme before joining University of Law as a tutor in September 2019. She teaches Criminal Law and Criminology on the LLB Year 2 and also on the LLB Foundation course. Sara is also the administrator of the Northern Chancery Bar Association, organising CPD seminars, conferences and events for barristers on the Northern Circuit.

Dessy has a BSc (Hons) in Business Administration from Huron University and MSc in Data Analytics and Marketing from Arden University. She has worked in education for over 25 year first as an entrepreneur and then as a managing director of a charity. Dessy transitioned to Higher Education management when she became a managing director of London School of Business and Finance Executive Education in 2014 and subsequently also took on the role of an interim CEO of the London Academy of Trading. Dessy is currently undertaking a PhD study with the University of Worcester Business School researching the topic of applications of artificial intelligence in the field of Marketing.

Niall Mac Donald is Programme and Student Lead for the postgraduate academic law courses at the Manchester, Liverpool, and Chester campuses of the University of law. These courses include the GDL, PgDL, MA (Law), MA (SQE) and MA (Conversion) courses, as well as the academic AMIL/LLM courses. He teaches Ethics and Professional Legal Practice, The Law of Torts, Medical Law and Ethics, and supervises postgraduate students’ and faculty members’ dissertation work. He is a member of the Ethics Committee (reviewing research proposals from the Law and Business Schools) and the Teaching and Learning Committee. He is also the Director of a small private company which invests in real estate and global equities.

Rachel completed a Law and Criminology degree at the University of Sheffield and then went on to study the Legal Practice Course. She qualified as a solicitor in 2008 and worked as a high street lawyer for 8 years. Rachel has a broad experience of different areas of practice including family, crime, private client, personal injury and litigation. Rachel moved into teaching 6 years ago and joined the university in March 2018. She also has experience of training legal apprentices. In her current role, Rachel oversees the running of the undergraduate law, business and criminology degrees at the Manchester campus and she also teaches across the undergraduate and postgraduate courses with a particular focus on crime and family.

Mark joined the University of Law in October 2017 and is the LPC and SQE Programme & Student Lead at the Manchester Campus. Previously Mark worked in private practice for almost 10 years, specialising in Civil Litigation, in particular Landlord and Tenant matters. In his role as Senior Tutor, Mark has taught on the LPC, LLB, GDL and MA Law programmes, with a particular focus on Real Estate and Land Law.

Nigel Booth was called to the Bar in 1994 by Gray’s Inn. After his first six months’ pupillage at Furnival Chambers in London under the supervision of Francis Sheridan (now the Honorary Recorder of Aylesbury), Nigel's second six was with the Crown Prosecution Service in Manchester where he stayed until January 2000, having become a Senior Crown Prosecutor. Since then, Nigel spent twenty years practising at the criminal Bar from Chambers in Manchester, first at St John’s Buildings and then with the criminal team at 9 St John Street, where he is still a member. When the Bar Practice Course started at the Manchester campus, Nigel joined as the tutor in criminal skills and criminal litigation evidence and sentencing and he is now the Programme Student Experience Lead. Away from the campus, Nigel is a School Governor. He has previously self-published three self-help legal books on defending yourself, road traffic offences and licence reviews. In August 2022 Routledge Law will be publishing Nigel's new book for law students 'Life as a Junior Barrister: In the Words of the Independent Bar'.

Mike worked for a number of “top 100 law firms” during his career before joining The University of Law in Manchester in August 2009. He is now an Associate Professor and teaches Land Law on the GDL and the LLB, Business Law, Real Estate and Advanced Real Estate on the LPC. He also delivers a number of Professional Skills Courses and is a Fellow of the HEA. Mike is a Chief Examiner for CILEx and also the author of a number of publications.

Kate joined The University of Law Manchester campus when it opened in 2009. As an Associate Professor her main focus is the LPC on which she primarily teaches business related subjects. Outside of teaching, she arranges the Speakers’ Corner programme and the Share Race, both of which aim to develop ULaw students’ commercial awareness and understanding of other professions.

Debbie has been a part of the Manchester team since 2009. She joined the University of Law in 1993 at its Chester campus having previously qualified into the Private Client department at DWF LLP. She has designed courses and assessments, and also teaches on the LLB, Masters, LPC and SQE programmes at Manchester, focusing on areas of wills and probate, business finance, EU and public law, private client and employment law. She has taught on the University’s Law and Business with Management MSc programme and is encouraged to see the difference it has made to the confidence of students in their commercial awareness and employability. She has delivered business strategy training to qualified lawyers in practice. Debbie enjoys her role as a skills coach, supporting apprentices who are training to become solicitors in the workplace. Outside of work, Debbie is a trustee of a national charity, Growing Young Disciples, a member of the General Synod of the Church of England and Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship. She still loves teaching and mentoring children and young people in her local church family.

After studying Law at the University of Liverpool and the Legal Practice Course at the College of Law (now the University of Law), Raury qualified as a solicitor in 2005 and was a Commercial Litigation specialist in practice, handling complex business disputes in the County Court, High Court and Court of Appeal. Before joining the University of Law in 2017, Raury was a Senior Associate at a large law firm in Manchester. Raury is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and teaches business law subjects on all of our law courses, but he is also able to indulge his passion for politics when teaching Constitutional & Administrative law subjects.

Judith first joined the College of Law in 1984. She transferred to the Manchester Centre when it opened in 2009. She previously worked in both the public and private sector in the Manchester area as an Employment practitioner with particular interest in Disability Discrimination. Judith specialises in Employment, Equity and Trusts and Dispute Resolution, teaching across a range of courses.

Mike qualified as a solicitor in 1980 and specialised in Civil Litigation. He has been with us since 1993 during which Mike has taught Dispute Resolution in all its various guises on the LPC and is the author of the CDR textbook. Today, he teaches Criminal Law and Contract Law on both the GDL and LLB as well as the Actions course on the latter. He also delivers a number of courses to trainees as part of the Professional Skills Course including Advocacy and Client Care.

Helen joined the University of Law in August 2009 after being in private practice for 9 years. In practice she specialised in Commercial Property work. She teaches on the LLB, GDL and LPC. In addition to Property Law she has taught across Business Finance, EU Law, Legal Essentials, Transactions and Commercial Law. She is also Head of PLR and Share Race coordinator. Helen is also part of the Apprenticeship Work Based Assessor team.

Marian qualified as a Solicitor in 1992 and worked up to equity partner level in private practice, advising on various areas of law, including civil litigation, criminal litigation and family. She joined the University of Law’s Manchester campus when it opened in 2009. Marian teaches across all courses (LLB, GDL, LPC), and now focuses on the LPC, teaching Dispute Resolution, Personal Injury and Insurance, along with various professional skills courses.

Mike started working with the University of Law in 2016 and has taught a range of subjects across the LLB, GDL and LPC with a focus on corporate and commercial areas such as Transactions, Law & Business and Public Companies Law & Practice. Mike has lectured on The FIFA Master - International Master in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport at the International Centre for Sport Studies (CIES) in Neuchatel, Switzerland.

Sian is a Senior Tutor and joined the University in 2008, first teaching at the Chester centre and then transferring across when the Manchester Centre opened in 2009. Sian is the Subject Lead for Business Law and Practice and for Mergers & Acquisitions on the LPC and she also teaches Law of Organisations and EU law on both GDL and LLB. Sian teaches both during the week and also on some Saturdays and she is the Student Lead for the Part Time Weekend LPC.

Jacqui teaches at the Manchester centre having previously studied and then taught at the Chester centre. She teaches Tort on both the LLB and GDL courses, Dispute Resolution and Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence litigation on the LPC/LLM and Personal Injury litigation and Advocacy and Communication skills on the PSC. She is the local team leader of Tort on the GDL and the Module Lead for Tort on the LLB. Jacqui has also recently co-designed the Tort LLB course.

Carol teaches across the LLB, GDL and LPC courses but her main teaching is in Real Estate, on the Banking and Debt Finance elective and in Equity and Trusts. She has an additional role in the Manchester centre providing academic support to students with disabilities. She is the Manchester contact for study skills support. Carol was a ten year qualified banking lawyer before she started to teach at the Manchester centre when it opened in 2009.

Jill joined the University in 2009 as a Tutor and became a Senior Tutor and Fellow of The Higher Education Academy in 2012. She has taught a wide range of subjects including Introduction to Professional Practice, Business Law and Private Client on the LPC, Equity and Trusts on the LLB and GDL and Private Client on the Professional Skills Course. Jill is also a Senior Personal Tutor, providing student support and overseeing the role of personal tutors.

Johanna Smallman is a Senior Tutor who joined ULaw in 2018 at the Leeds campus and transferred to Manchester campus in 2021.

Catherine is a senior tutor who qualified as a solicitor in 1987. She joined the University of Law in March 2022 after a long career in legal education in Manchester.

Amy teaches Dispute Resolution, Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence, and Family Law and Practice on the LPC programme, and teaches on the SQE course. She has also taught Family Law and Academic & Professional Skills at undergraduate level. She is Student Head of the LPC Part-time Day and Evening course. Prior to joining the University of Law in 2018, Amy studied Law (LLB) at the University of Bristol before completing the LPC with ULaw at the Bloomsbury Campus. She undertook her training contract at Irwin Mitchell in Bristol before qualifying as a catastrophic personal injury lawyer at the same firm. She specialised in multi-track RTA, employers’ liability and occupiers’ liability claims.

Rachel joined the University in October 2019. She studied Law at the University of Leicester, before completing the LPC at the College of Law in Birmingham. Prior to joining the University, Rachel worked in private practice for around 15 years, specialising in Private Client work, including Wills, tax planning, Lasting Powers of Attorney, administering estates, setting up and administering trusts, advice relating to care fees and a small amount of Court of Protection work. Rachel has specialised in advising high net worth clients, small business owners and has been involved in a number of cross-border estate matters. Rachel successfully completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Trusts and Estates in July 2019.

Danielle was called to the Bar in 2007, and after completing an LLM (with a focus on Public International Law) in 2008, she was awarded a Sir Joseph Priestly scholarship by Inner Temple to undertake an internship with a defence team at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, The Hague. She completed a common law pupillage in 2011, eventually practising mainly in civil law. She is an ATC (Advocacy Training Council) accredited advocacy tutor.

Katie joined the University of Law’s Manchester campus in November 2018. She teaches Tort on the GDL and LLB and Employment Law on the LPC. Katie is also Head of the GDL Part-time Weekend cohort and a personal tutor. Prior to joining the University of Law, Katie completed the GDL and the LPC at the then, College of Law in 2009 and 2010. She undertook her training contract at Brabners LLP and qualified as a specialist employment lawyer at Shoosmiths LLP.

Laura studied Law (LLB) at the University of Liverpool before completing her LPC and securing a training contract at a medium sized Manchester firm. Prior to joining the University in August 2019, Laura worked in private practice and for several local authorities as a locum solicitor for almost 8 years, specialising in Child and Family law. In her role as Tutor at the Manchester Campus, Laura teaches Dispute Resolution on the LPC programme.

Prior to her academic career, Lisa worked in Operations, Marketing and Strategy in the food retail and social media sectors. Lisa moved into teaching in 2008 and has taught across a variety of cohorts specialising

Susannah qualified as a Solicitor in 2013 and worked for two High Street Firms, specialising in Family Law, with a specific focus on complex cases involving Domestic Abuse and also Private Children matters. Susannah also spent time working within the Wills and Probate department and the Costs Department. Whilst in practise, Susannah provided training for numerous external organisations and members of the public in relation to Family Law (specifically on Children, Domestic Abuse, Forced Marriage and FGM). In addition, Susannah was an active Board member for Safety4Sisters, a group campaigning for the rights of women who have an insecure immigration status and who are also impacted by Domestic Abuse. Susannah has been teaching at the University of Law since 2018 and her main teaching areas are that of Wills and Succession, Family Law and Criminal Law.

Lottie joined the University of Law’s Manchester campus in February 2020, having previously taught as a Visiting Lecturer in Chester. Prior to joining the University of Law, Lottie studied Law at the University of Liverpool, before completing the LPC (part-time) at the (then) College of Law. She undertook her training contract at Pannone LLP before moving to Hill Dickinson LLP upon qualification.

Richard joined the University of Law in May 2020. Previously, Richard studied Law at the University of Leeds, before completing the Legal Practice Course and qualifying as a solicitor in 2011. Richard worked in private practice for 12 years, specialising in Civil Litigation and developing a keen interest in mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. In Richard’s later years in practice, he progressed to the position of Legal Director, managing trainee solicitor and paralegal staff and becoming integral to his firm’s recruitment, financial planning and marketing strategies. In his role as Tutor, Richard has experience teaching on our undergraduate and postgraduate courses, with a focus on contractual and tort based modules. Richard has most recently taught Dispute Resolution on the Legal Practice Course and Advocacy on the Solicitors Qualifying Examination course.

Sohail comes from a science background having graduated from King’s College London, University of London. He later re-trained and qualified as a Solicitor in 2007. He is a keen advocate and has spent most of his legal career practising in Courts and Tribunals. His most recent role was with the CPS as a Crown Prosecutor in which he prosecuted hundreds of criminal cases right across the full spectrum of Criminal Law. He holds a particular interest in Domestic Violence and Hate Crime. He is passionate about the law and providing students with a stimulating academic experience whilst equipping them with the right practical skills to be successful in the real world. He teaches across both undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Helen qualified as a solicitor in 2008 and has over 11 years’ experience working in three different High Street and specialist family law firms in Milton Keynes and in Manchester. Helen specialised in children law and has extensive experience representing children and parents in complex care proceedings and adoption matters. In practice Helen was a member of the Law Society Children Panel and regularly represented both parents and children in court. In her role at the University of law Helen will be teaching across the cohorts and in particular the Family elements.

Mark graduated in History from Edinburgh University, before completing the GDL and LPC at The University of Law in Chester. Mark qualified as a solicitor in 2006 and worked in Commercial Real Estate at leading firms in London and Liverpool for 11 years, specialising in retail sector work. He requalified as a teacher in 2018 and spent 2 years teaching History at a secondary school in Liverpool before joining The University of Law in Manchester in 2020. Mark teaches across all courses, with a particular focus on Land Law and Real Estate.

Rowena joined the University of Law in 2020. She studied English and Latin at the University of Nottingham, before converting to law and qualifying as a solicitor in 2012. After five years in practice at Mills & Reeve LLP, Rowena taught English in Chile before completing an MSc in Educational Psychology at the University of York. Rowena teaches across both undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Kellie joined the University of Law in 2020 after spending over 10 years working as a solicitor in the property department of a high street firm in Lancashire. Kellie specialised in both residential and commercial conveyancing matters. In her role at the University of law Kellie teaches Land Law and Real Estate across all cohorts.

Jennifer studied Law (LLB Hons) at Newcastle University before completing a Masters degree in Health Care Ethics and Law at the University of Manchester. Following completion of the LPC, Jennifer trained at Pannone LLP before moving to Halliwells and then Clyde & Co to specialise in defendant catastrophic injury work. Jennifer worked in private practice for 14 years dealing predominantly with large loss RTA cases. She joined the University of Law’s Manchester campus as a Tutor in December 2020, having previously taught as a Visiting Lecturer. Jennifer teaches on both our undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Douglas is a barrister and tutor on the Bar Practice Course (BPC). He also teaches on other undergraduate and postgraduate Law courses, inc. GDL, LPC and LLM. His main expertise is in Crime and Regulatory Law, International Law, and Human Rights. Called to the Bar in 2008, Douglas draws upon over a decade of experience at the Bar, where he has prosecuted and defended cases attracting national media coverage. He began his career at leading chambers in London, which included secondments to the CPS and NMC, and also worked in-house for one of the country’s leading Professional Regulatory firms, before joining St John’s Buildings, in Manchester. He has previously undertaken human rights work in Africa and India, and has also lived in South Korea, Turkey and Russia.

James is a barrister and tutor on the Bar Practice Course and is the BPC Civil Team Leader. He also teaches Commercial Dispute Resolution on the LPC, as well as contract law and public law at undergraduate level. James oversees the Bar Society and Advocacy Scholars in their organisation of mooting competitions. Called to the Bar in 2006, James was a tenant at 8 King Street and then St John’s Buildings, undertaking commercial / chancery work and also personal injury. James moved in-house with a leading defendant insurance firm, undertaking counter fraud work, including the investigation of complex fraud rings. James additionally has undertaken industrial disease and severe traumatic brain injury work from a claimant perspective. Away from campus, James is a trustee of a charity working to help disadvantaged young people.

Alexandra studied Law at Lancaster University before completing her LPC at the University of Law in its first year in Manchester in 2009/2010. Alexandra trained at BLM before moving to Clyde & Co to specialise in defendant occupational disease, predominantly handling asbestos litigation. She joined the Manchester campus as a Tutor in September 2021, teaching tort on the LLB.

Kevin was a police officer for over twenty years. After leaving the police he was managing director of a UK international business in Egypt and then China. He has an LLB in Law and postgraduate qualifications in Philosophy and Theology. Prior to joining the University of Law, Kevin was teaching with the Open University and Jiao Tong University in Shanghai.

Laura was called to the Bar in 2011, having previously obtained a masters in Employment Law and an LLB in Law with American Law which saw her spend a year studying at South Texas College of Law in Houston. Laura worked in the public sector before moving into private practice where she specialised in personal Injury. In her role as Tutor, Laura teaches on both our undergraduate and postgraduate courses, predominantly Public and Employment Law.

Shamin studied Law at Keele University before completing his LPC at The University of Law in 2012/2013. Shamin trained at Napthens LLP before moving to DLA Piper UK LLP upon qualification and then Fieldfisher LLP specialising in banking and restructuring. Shamin joined the Manchester campus as a Tutor in September 2021 and teaches on both our undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Shamin teaches Business Law on the LLB; Business Law & Practice and Banking and Debt Finance on the LPC; and Law of Organisations on the GDL.

Aisling studied Law at the University of Central Lancashire, where she also completed her LPC. She began her legal career with a small high street firm which covered several areas of general practice before undertaking her training contract with a PI firm in Liverpool. She qualified as a solicitor in 2012, specialising in clinical negligence claims on behalf of claimants. She worked at Slater and Gordon Lawyers for 7 years, progressing to Senior Associate and securing Clinical Negligence Specialist Accreditation with the Law Society. Aisling joined our Manchester campus in 2021 and teaches on both undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Kate Hammond studied Marine Ecology at the University of Liverpool, she completed the CPE part time at MMU and the LPC at the College of Law. She qualified as a solicitor in 1996 and was a head of a Personal Injury department. She moved to the Crown Prosecution Service in 2001 as a Senior Crown Prosecutor. She was granted Higher Rights in 2006 and became a Crown Advocate prosecuting in the Crown Courts for the CPS. She was called to the Bar in 2013 by Lincoln’s Inn and moved to the criminal bar, at first joining Central Chambers and latterly Cobden House Chambers in Manchester, where she is still a member. Kate has joined as a tutor mainly covering crime and criminal litigation.

Anya Swift (Horwood) was called to the Bar in 1991 by Inner Temple. In September 1991 Anya joined a Common Law set in Liverpool, 2nd Floor Peel House, which then became 25-27 Castle Street where she specialised in Crime. In 2009 she joined the Crown Prosecution Service as a Senior Crown Advocate and was trial counsel in many of the most serious cases in Liverpool and Cheshire. In 2018 Anya returned to the independent Bar and remains a door tenant at Exchange Chambers. Anya will be teaching criminal skills, criminal litigation, evidence and sentencing on the Bar Practice Course in Liverpool, and criminal modules on other University of Law courses. Away from campus Anya is a Trustee of a Liverpool based charity.

Elizabeth studied Law at the University of Warwick before completing her LPC at ULaw Manchester. She undertook her training contract with a medium-sized firm in Shropshire, and qualified as a solicitor in 2015. Elizabeth gained practice experience in both Family Law and Private Client during her 6 years in practice post-qualification. Elizabeth completed the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (“STEP”) Diploma in Trusts and Estates in May 2021. She joined ULaw in September 2021 and currently teaches across the LPC, GDL and PgDL programmes.

Rachel teaches on both our undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Rachel joined the Manchester campus as a Tutor in October 2021, teaching the Law of Tort on the LLB and Dispute Resolution on the LPC. Rachel commenced her legal career working at Stephensons Solicitors LLP, in the personal injury department. Rachel later worked at Weighmans LLP and Keoghs LLP in the Counter Fraud department.

Nikki studied law at the University of Leicester, and subsequently took her LPC, qualifying as a solicitor in March 2008 after completing her training contract at a mid-sized commercial firm in Manchester. After qualification, she initially worked in private practice, specialising in Insolvency and Restructuring, at both the firm she trained at, and subsequently a national firm. Following this, she moved to an in-house counsel role, specialising in all business and commercial matters. Nikki joined the University of Law in November 2022 and is currently teaching Law & Business on the LPC.

Mark joined the University of Law in October 2021 and has been teaching on a variety of programmes including the LPC and GDL. Mark started work in a cross border (England/Wales) High Street practice in 1993 and qualified as a Solicitor in 1995. During his 28 years with the practice he dealt with a variety of property transactions and private client matters and held a management role as from 2002 until 2021. Mark represents the views of Solicitors at a national level and is the elected Law Society Council Member for the constituency of Cheshire & North Wales. He was first elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2019 for a further term of four years. Mark has a keen interest in the growing divergence as between the laws of England and Wales and has sat on the Law Society Wales Committee since 2014 and chaired the Committee from 2017 to 2021. He also sat on Law Society Board from 2018 to 2020.

Tom qualified as a solicitor in 2007 and worked for 14 years in large commercial firms in Manchester, specialising in commercial property. Tom joined the University of Law in September 2021. He teaches on the LLB, LPC and SQE courses, with a focus on Land Law, Real Estate and Professional Skills.

Rebecca studied Biological Sciences at Edinburgh University before completing the GDL and the LPC at Manchester Metropolitan University. Rebecca has worked in a variety of firms from high street to multi national and has had a career focused primarily in insurance litigation. Rebecca joined the University of Law in November 2021 and teaches on both undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Katherine was called to the Bar in 2006. She practised in family law as a member of Coram Chambers where she remains a door tenant. She has also worked in-house at a national children's charity. She joined the University in 2022.

Sally joined the University in 2022. She studied History and French at University before converting to Law and qualifying as a Solicitor in 2004. After working in private practice, Sally has spent the last 14 years working for Local Authorities in their child protection teams. Sally also conducts seminars for MBL. At the University, Sally teaches on the LPC.

Helen joined the University Manchester Campus in 2022, having previously taught as a Visiting Lecturer at Liverpool. Prior to joining the University, she worked in private practice in property, having qualified as a Solicitor in 2009. She studied her degree at the University of Liverpool and started working in private practice in 2006 whilst studying the LPC. In 2015 she completed her LLM. Helen teaches on the LPC Real Estate and Advanced Real Estate.