2:1 degree in law from the University of Sheffield. My studies included a research module on the law relating to nervous shock.

I am currently on the Bar Vocational Course at the College of Law in London, starting September 2002.

My main paid employment, just before I started the BVC, has been with Wright Hassall Solicitors in Leamington Spa, for whom I worked for eight months as a paralegal. For one of the firm's newsletter's featuring a piece on the department I worked in (Housing), please click here. 

In addition to this work, my employment has consisted of a number of varied roles, including as a sales negotiator for Malcolm Hawkesford Estate Agent. This involved all the skills required for sales, such as confidence, tact and alacrity of thought and expression. I have spent three months with Warwickshire County Council, gaining a useful insight into local government through my employment, and as an office operations administrator for Codemasters Software Ltd. Working for this thriving new company meant undertaking a number of roles, including drafting letters, and making written communication with external contacts.

Voluntary experience:

I have undertaken eight mini-pupillages (legal work experience with barristers) in London (including 1 Hare Court, Old Square Chambers, 18 Red Lion Court,) and Birmingham (One and Four Fountain Court). These experiences have been extremely interesting and informative about the legal profession and have helped me to develop skills of analysis and presentation, which I expect to be helpful in any career.

Pro-bono work at the College of Law, on the London Property Tribunal Service. Currently, I have represented one case, which settled, and hope to take further cases under this scheme and to work towards qualifying with the Free Representation Unit in the near future. To see a PDF file with details of the College of Law scheme, please click here.

I have been elected to the staff-student committee at the College of Law.

Personal Work

My interest in reading and correspondingly, writing, particularly history and English literature has existed throughout my life. I won prizes for English in every one of my last four years at school, with history and politics added to these at certain stages. I regularly research and write articles of historical and political interest and have had some published, for example, two in "Finest Hour", the international journal of the International Churchill Society, and in "Churchilliad", a Canadian political journal, in late 2002.

I am currently the Public Relations Officer for West Herts Scouting association, which involves me in writing press releases to promote events, involving contact with newspapers, as well as writing, collating and editing Association newsletters.

In December 2002, I spent a week shadowing my Member of Parliament, Caroline Spelman, which was a thoroughly enjoyable insight into a prominent politician's daily life.

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I have taken GCSE courses in French and German, achieving Grade "A" in both. I have a good knowledge of and ability to use both these languages, and an elementary knowledge of Spanish and Latin. Not wishing this knowledge to fall to waste now that I have left full-time education, I have taken a further course in German.

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My interest in reading and correspondingly, writing, particularly history and English literature has existed throughout my life. I won prizes for English in every one of my last four years at school, with history and politics added to these at certain stages. A compliment to this is the fact that I am an avid observer of British political life. I am an enthusiastic amateur historian and archaeologist, writing pieces on various subjects after field and desk work. 

I have, in Sepember 2002, had two articles about Winston Churchill published in "Finest Hour" magazine, the quarterly journal of the Churchill Centre in Washington D.C. with thousands of readers throughout the English-Speaking world. Another article, published in October 2002, was on the subject of the state of Britain's Parliamentary Democracy, and was published in "Churchilliad", the journal of the Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy, a Canadian society, based in Toronto. 

In relation to my interest in Winston Churchill, I was asked to speak on the BBC's live "Great Britons" programme, in November 2002. I also edit a prominent Churchill website. 

On another topic, in Summer 2002, an article by me on Moated Manors in the Heart of England (my local area), was published in "Heart" magazine, the magazine of the Heart of England Tourist Board.

I am currently the Public Relations Officer for West Herts Scouting association, which involves me in writing releases to promote events, involving contact with newspapers, as well as writing, collating and editing Association newsletters.

I am a keen actor and have taken part in over thirty productions, as part of school, local amateur and semi-professional companies. I have played many roles including Hamlet (2001), Romeo, Macbeth, Malvolio, Shylock, and Puck from Shakespeare, many of them at the prestigious Pendley Manor Shakespeare Festival in Hertfordshire. In addition to "Hamlet", in 2001 I was a member of a semi-professional touring production of Ben Elton's "Silly Cow". Apart from pure enjoyment, I also believe that this pursuit develops public speaking and presentation skills in a way that is quite unique, involving clarity of speech and an element of persuasiveness.

At University, I was involved with the Debating Society, and was elected to the committee. Naturally, the benefits of having to speak impromptu on a wide range of subjects, from political issues of the day through to purely trivial topics is clear, skills which will be invaluable in any walk of life, courtroom to customer care.

I have mooted (legal debate) for my University, most notably at Lincoln’s Inn against Leeds University, in November 1999. As a member of the Debating Society committee I organised and took part in a mooting competition during my final year at University. Now at the College of Law, I have participated in their internal mooting competition, both as a mooter and a judge. 

In November 2002, I won Lincoln's Inns "Crowther Shield" for public speaking.

I have applied to take part in the College of Law's negotiation competition in 2003.

I am a keen observer and participant in British politics. I am the Chairman of Conservative Future in Meriden (Caroline Spelman's constituency), and stood as a local government candidate in the Chelmsley Wood ward in Solihull in 2002. 

In addition, I have been walking in Snowdonia and the Lake District, so have been busy seeing parts of this country as well as abroad. In Summer 2001, I climbed Sca Fell Pike, raising money for Cystic Fibrosis.

I play the guitar to a high standard. This is not a purely recreational activity, as I have not had any lessons and have taught myself from the beginning by reference to records and music, which has required self-discipline and commitment.

I enjoy playing a wide range of sports on an occasional basis, but the most prominent would be hockey (at which I have represented my school and university), cycling, golf and sailing (at which I hold an R.Y.A. Level Two certificate).

Following a long involvement with the CCF at Berkhamsted, I have been a member of the University’s Officer Training Corps. This has required a great deal of mental and physical effort, in often difficult conditions; in order to develop the required leadership skills was, throughout, a challenging and invigorating experience. Furthermore, the planning and man-management lessons learnt are, as they are designed to be, directly relevant to either a military or a civilian career: I gained my Military Training Qualification Part 2 Certificate whilst with the Unit. 

In a more civilian capacity, I have recently taken my first flying lesson in a light aeroplane, with a view to eventually gaining my Private Pilot’s License, as time allows. Other interests that I occasionally pursue include birdwatching and astronomy. 

I am a member of a large number of organisations and societies, reflecting the range of my interests. These include Lincoln's Inn, The International Churchill Society, the Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy, The English-Speaking Union,  The National Trust, English Heritage, the Historic Houses Association, the Society of Conservative Lawyers, the Gallipoli Association and the Kenilworth History and Archaeology Society.

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Ms. Carol Matthews, Partner, Wright Hassall, 9 Clarendon Place, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. CV32 5QP

E-mail: carolm@wrighthassall.co.uk

Mr. Robert Lee, Partner, Wright Hassall, 9 Clarendon Place, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. CV32 5QP

Email: robertl@wrighthassall.co.uk

         Ms. Clare Campbell, Lecturer in Law, Law Department, University of Sheffield, Conduit Road, Sheffield. 

         E-mail: Clare.Campbell@sheffield.ac.uk

         Ms. Rhoda James, Lecturer in Law, Law Department, University of Sheffield, Conduit Road, Sheffield. 

         E-mail: R.James@sheffield.ac.uk

         E-mail: M.Llewelyn@sheffield.ac.uk

Journalistic:

 Tom Geoghegan, News Editor, Croydon Guardian, Guardian House, Unecol House, 819 London Road, Sutton, Surrey SM3 9RN

E-mail: tGeoghegan@london.newsquest.co.uk

Work and Personal:

 Stewart Regan, Operations Manager, Codemasters Software Co. Ltd. Low Farm, Stoneythorpe, Southam, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. CV33 0DL

E-mail: stewartr@codemasters.com

 Malcolm Hawkesford, Malcolm Hawkesford and Company, 14 High Street, Warwick. CV34 4AP (01926) 403308

E-mail: warwick@hawkesford.co.uk

 Mr. N. Stevens, Berkhamsted Collegiate School, Castle Street, Berkhamsted, Herts. (01442) 875216

E-mail: berkhamcoll@porthill.com

          Last Updated: 17 December, 2002

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