Christopher Sykes
Christopher Sykes
Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for LLM Legal Practice
Legal Technology and Innovation in Law
My profile
Biography
I joined Manchester Law School in January 2023 having spent the previous four years at BPP Law School. I am an MMU alumnus - studied my GDL and LPC at Manchester Law School many years ago. I qualified as a solicitor specialising in criminal defence, and while I no longer practice law I retain a strong interest in that area.
I left practice to teach law and legal skills in Spain, before co-founding a legal technology business in Hong Kong. This is what brought me into the world of ‘legaltech’. On leaving that business I joined BPP as a tutor where I focused on the design and teaching of tech and innovation related programmes.
I now teach digital skills and legal technology, and I supervise projects and dissertations based on this area. I am the Programme Leader for the LLM in Legal Practice, and unit leader of Legaltech Projects on the LLB and both Professionals in Practice and Digital Lawyering on the LLM LP.
I’m very proud to be part of Manchester Law School who are leading the way in legaltech education for future lawyers.
Interests and expertise
My area if expertise is in innovation in law, and I am particular interested in the education of future lawyers in terms of preparing them for 21st Century practice and technologies. I am also interested in ensuring that Manchester is a hub for innovation in law.
I was recently appointed Deputy AI Lead for the Faculty of Business & Law.
Projects
I am working on interdisciplinary research projects in legal technology, where we hope to combine expertise in computing, business and law.
Teaching
I teach Digital Skills for Lawyers, Professionals in Practice, Digital Lawyering and occasionally Criminal Law. I also supervise undergraduate legal technology projects and dissertations.
I also collaborate with organisations outside of the UK including ISDE and UNIA in Spain, and British Law Centre across central and eastern Europe.
Career history
2023 -
Senior Lecturer at Manchester Law School
2019-2023
Lecturer, Lead Designer, Senior Lecturer/Module Leader: BPP Law School
2012-2014
Teacher of law and legal skills in Madrid: law firms and universities
2005-2011
Trainee solicitor, solicitor: criminal defence