Staff profile

Ruth Dawson


Solicitor and Senior Lecturer in Law

Subject

Law

College

College of Business, Law and Social Sciences

Department

School of Law and Social Sciences

Email

r.dawson3@derby.ac.uk

About

I joined the University of Derby in September 2023 as a Solicitor and Senior Lecturer. I qualified as a solicitor in January 2010 and have worked both in private practice and in-house, as well as for a not-for-profit law firm at another university. 

My focus at Derby is on providing high-quality, practical teaching to our students who are the lawyers and professionals of the future, as well as on offering sound legal advice to those who cannot afford to pay for it themselves.

I co-run the SEND clinic which provides advice to families of children and young people with SEND.

Teaching responsibilities

I teach Criminal Law in second year and Family Law in third year.

Professional interests

I am particularly interested in clinical legal education, access to justice and best practice in this area. I believe that when done well, CLE is a powerful and effective tool for both students and the wider community. 

I am an accredited mediator.

Research interests

Membership of professional bodies

Qualifications

Experience in industry

I qualified as a solicitor in January 2010 in a London firm, where I stayed until the autumn of 2011 when I began working for British Telecommunications plc as a commercial litigator. 

I was fortunate enough to be offered some part-time lecturing work at Sheffield Hallam University alongside my BT role, which turned into a full-time role as a solicitor in SHU Law, running the Small Claims and Mediation departments, whilst teaching students from a practical viewpoint.

Additional interests and activities

I am a governor at two Derbyshire schools.