I trained as a solicitor within private practice. I  pursued a specialism in family law, initially undertaking divorce and financial remedies, private law Children Act and domestic violence work.  To enable me to focus solely on child protection work I moved to work for a local authority, where I remained for fourteen years. My practice in local government included care proceedings, adoption proceedings, forced marriage and secure accommodation orders. I progressed to become Principal Solicitor with the local authority, managing a team of child protection and adult social care lawyers and delivering complex legal advice on strategic issues.

I have a particular interest in adoption and sit as an independent chair for the panel of a Greater Manchester regional adoption agency.

I remain closely connected with family legal practice through my strong links with lawyers and social workers. I am a member of the Manchester Family Court Education and Training Committee and also the sub committee for the Manchester Local Family Justice Board annual conference, hosted by Manchester Metropolitan University.

I am an External Examiner for the University of Westminster.

My main focus is upon teaching family law, both at undergraduate level and also on the LLM in Legal Practice.   I also teach Constitutional Law given my professional background working within local government.  

My expertise lies in the area of child protection, given my years providing legal representation for a local authority and undertaking advocacy within the family courts. I have a developing research interest in adoption, and also the needs of care experienced children and young people.