I started off my career as a secondary school teacher of Economics and Accounting for seven years.  I then graduated with an LL.B from Edinburgh University in 1992.  From 1999 to 2007, I headed up the Scottish Child Law Centre.  I am a qualified solicitor, Safeguarder for the Children’s Hearing System, Reporter in Family Law Actions in Edinburgh Sheriff Court and trained and experienced mediator.  After several years of invitations to lecture both on the undergraduate LL.B, post graduate Diploma in Professional Legal Practice (DPLP) and Professional Competence Course, I was appointed as a Teaching Fellow in the Law School in 2008.

My particular area of interest is Child and Family Law and I have recently been Acting Course Organiser for both Family Law Ordinary and Family Law Honours.

My work on the DPLP includes lecturing in Accounting, teaching Financial Services and Related Skills, Professional Skills and Responsibility and Interviewing, Presentation and Negotiation Skills.

As from September 2011, I am the Course Organiser for Employment Law Ordinary and Tutor Mentor.

Courses Taught
Employment Law Ordinary (Course Organiser)
Financial Services and Related Skills (DPLP)
Professional Skills and Responsibility (DPLP)

Past and Current Legal Work
Contributor to Greens Weekly Digest from 1992-2000;
Currently annotating the Children’s Hearings (S) Act 2011 for W Green;
Supervisor for Division C (Child Law) of the Social Work Statutes, published by W Green;
External examiner for the Domestic Relations and Family Law Honours courses for Strathclyde University Law School

Affiliations
I am, or have been, a member of the:
Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights (2002-2007);
Scottish Government’s UNCRC Group (2005-2007);
Education Advisory Group for the Govan Law Centre’s Education Law Unit (2004-2007)
Scottish Government’s Research Group on Understanding Child Contact Cases (2005-2007)
Justice for Children Group (monitoring the Vulnerable Witnesses (S) Act 2004) (2004-present);

Chapters
Social Work and the Law in Scotland, Edited by D. Baillie, K Cameron, L, Cull, J Roache and J West (The Open University, 2003)
Various legal articles for Youth Matters (the  bi-annual publication for the Scottish Child Law Centre)

Papers and Presentations
Holyrood Conferences – “Youth Justice – Co-operative Solutions to Offending”:
Presentation Title –  “Antisocial Behaviour (S) Act 2004 – Is it HR Compliant?” (Jan 2005)

City of Edinburgh Council Education Department – Conference for Teachers on Education (Additional Support for Learning (S) Act 2004 (Nov 2005)

Holyrood Conferences – “Bullying and Victimisation”
Presentation Title –  “Bullying in School – the Remedies?” (Dec 2005)

Govan Law Centre Education Law Unit
Presentation Title – “School Outings and Trips – The Legal Consequences” (Jan 2010)

Central Law Training Education Update Conference
Presentation Titles – “The Legal Implications of School Trips”, and
                                  “Mediation in Education Matters” (Sept 2010)

University of the West of Scotland/NHS Lanarkshire  – “Lost in Transition” Conference
Presentation Title – “Consent and Confidentiality – Children’s Rights in Surgical, Medical and Dental Decisions” (Jun 2011)