I realised I wasn\u2019t that interested in practising law in the courtroom, but rather critiquing law. This is what led me to academia.<\/p>\n
Could you tell us about your studies since graduating with your undergraduate degree from Kent?<\/strong><\/p>\n I completed my Master\u2019s at Kent too, in Medical Law and Ethics with Human Rights Law. Before starting, I realised my main legal interests lie broadly within medical and family law after studying them both at undergraduate level. The units offered on the Kent LLM \u2013 and the fact I was able to have a \u2018major\u2019 and \u2018minor\u2019 element to the degree \u2013 were both massive selling points. I was also able to include my knowledge of family law within some of the medical law units offered, and my dissertation was essentially a hybrid of the two areas looking at the law\u2019s understanding of the \u2018family\u2019. I am also currently completing my PhD researching queer families and birth registration.<\/p>\n Tell us about your current work.<\/strong><\/p>\n I am currently a PhD candidate at the University of Bristol, having started my studies in 2020 and will also be a Teaching Associate while finishing my PhD. A Teaching Associate is basically a \u2018mini-lecturer\u2019 (that\u2019s how I understand it!) and is a massive step from the hourly-paid teaching I am used to, and which I did throughout my second and third years. I will currently be teaching Tort Law and Child Law units, meaning it was invaluable to have studied these at undergraduate level already. My post-PhD goal is to pursue further research and teaching opportunities.<\/p>\n Can you tell us about other jobs you have had and how they helped you?<\/strong><\/p>\n I had a full-time job in-between my Master\u2019s and the PhD as a Research Assistant at the Law Commission of England and Wales. For various reasons, this is viewed as a prestigious role within the field of law and showcases that, among other things, candidates are able to research complex areas of law with high levels of skill, and can write cogently and persuasively. These are essential attributes when completing a PhD.<\/p>\n How did your time at KLS contributed to your career trajectory?<\/strong><\/p>\n My time at Kent Law School contributed massively to my career trajectory. It is one of few critical law schools in the UK (this was a massive selling point in deciding where to study back in 2015!) and I have truly taken its teachings with me throughout my career so far \u2013 and always will. I consider myself to be a critical scholar who refuses to take law at face value. It was through taking units such as: Race, Religion and Law; Gender, Sexuality and Law; Family Law; and Law and Medical Ethics at undergraduate level which made me enjoy approaching law this way, and why I continue to do so. It also opened the door to becoming more acquainted with various theoretical perspectives on law, such as feminist and queer\/trans theory.<\/p>\n