Skip navigation

Meet the Team

Our service is provided by law students who are supervised by qualified lawyers.

Find out more about our supervising team in the drop down boxes below.

 

Clinical Supervising Lawyers:

headshot image of Charlotte DickinsonI studied Law at Northumbria University and graduated in 2012, I then worked in a variety of local law firms obtaining valuable experience as a paralegal in litigation.

I then joined a leading commercial North East law firm as a paralegal in 2014 and began my training contract in 2017. 

I qualified into the commercial property team in 2019 and gained experience in drafting a wide variety of property documents, including, leases, licences to occupy, licences to alter, transfers and contracts. As well as dealing with property finance and corporate support work. 

After a period of maternity leave, I returned in September 2022 back to my litigation roots and worked in the firm’s property disputes team where I dealt with residential property issues such as possession claims, disrepair and access injunctions as well as commercial property disputes. 

I have worked in the Student Law Office since January 2023 and specialise in housing, property, civil and commercial matters.

In my spare time, I enjoy reading, doing pilates classes and spending time with my family. 

I joined Northumbria University in March 2023 as a Clinical Supervising Lawyer in the Student Law Office.

Before joining the University, I worked in private practice where I specialised in a wide range of Civil and Employment cases. These included various types of land disputes, breaches of contract, contentious probate and Consumer Rights disputes. I also have experience in Unfair Dismissal, Redundancy, Constructive Dismissal and Discrimination claims.

headshot image of Kerry DrabbleI am a Clinical Supervising Lawyer in the Student Law Office at Northumbria University.

I graduated from Newcastle University with the highest grade in my cohort in 2017. I undertook a training contract at a leading northern law firm and was admitted as a solicitor in 2020. I then spent three years working as a commercial litigator before moving to a top 20 law firm to focus on contentious trusts and probate matters. I joined Northumbria University in 2025 as a supervising lawyer and specialise in civil litigation.

I have a broad range of experience in dealing with civil disputes, having acted on numerous inheritance disputes and commercial disputes relating to professional negligence, partnerships, breach of contract, defamation, breach of directors' duties and misrepresentation. I received a testimonial in the Legal 500 stating that I was "meticulous, incredibly hardworking and responsive - a pleasure to work with" and clients have also commented on my professional, patient and personable approach.

headshot image of Leanne SutherlandI have worked in the legal sector for 21 years and qualified as a family practitioner in 2009. I left private practice to join the Student Law Office in September 2024.

I practised exclusively in Family Law, which included undertaking most of my own advocacy within court proceedings. I have experience in dealing with complex care cases including non-accidental injuries.

I specialised in children matters, particularly when children services were involved and regularly acted for parents and grandparents in care proceedings. Additionally, I have been a member of the Law Society Children Panel since 2014 which means that I also regularly represented children in public law children proceedings.

  • I have also been a Resolution accredited specialist in Private Children Law and Domestic Abuse since 2015.
  • I am a Committee Member of Northeast Resolution and a member of their national group Parenting after Parting.
  • As I am a member of Resolution, I strongly believe in dealing with family matters in a non-confrontational way to ensure the best outcome for each family.
  • I am also a Trustee of the charity Open Clasp based in Newcastle West End Women in Need.

I am very family orientated and enjoy reading and the theatre.

I started my career in the Metropolitan Police Service and was granted a career break to study law at the University of Northumbria in 1992.

I was one of the first on what was then know as the ‘exempting degree’ which introduced the Student law Office.

I completed my Training Contract with the Crown Prosecution Service, following which I worked as a criminal law defence solicitor for several major northeast firms over a 22 year period.

In 2018 I re joined the CPS as a Senior Prosecutor in the RASSO (rape and serious sexual offences) team and the Crown Court Team.

In 2023 I came full circle and returned to Northumbria University as a Solicitor Supervisor in the Student Law Office.

I am a Grade 1 CPS agent and have High Rights of Audience in the crown court

headshot image of Louise DoddI am a former graduate of Northumbria University which afforded me with the excellent opportunity of gaining practical legal experience in the Student Law Office. 

I subsequently completed my training contract with Ward Hadaway LLP and qualified in 2017 into Family Law. I have invaluable experience of advising clients on all aspects of relationship breakdown and I have specialist knowledge in children proceedings and alleged safeguarding concerns. I also assist with private client matters, including wills and LPAs.

When not practicing law, I love to spend time with my family. I also enjoy writing children’s books about important topics in a child friendly way, I am involved in charitable work and take any opportunity to travel.

headshot image of Sarah WadeHaving studied at both Newcastle and Northumbria Universities I was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in August 2008.

On qualification, I specialised in family law, working for a large legal aid practice in Middlesbrough. In 2008, I moved to a practice in Gateshead, where I became a Partner and then on to a larger practice in Newcastle in 2011 for a further 12 years.  

I am an experienced practitioner in all aspects of family law including, divorce and financial separation, domestic abuse, private law children disputes and child protection matters.

Since January 2023 I have worked at Student Law Office at Northumbria University. I supervise student’s work on family cases and manage the team of lawyers based at the Student Law Office.

Academic Case Workers:

I graduated from the University of Birmingham with a first class BA (Hons) in Sociology and Cultural Studies in 2009. 

I completed the Graduate Diploma in Law at the University of Law (London, Bloomsbury) and the Legal Practice Course at Northumbria University, achieving distinctions in both. Prior to commencing my training contract, I worked as a financial analyst for the national commercial law firm, Womble Bond Dickinson LLP, where I completed the Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning. I completed my training contract in the Student Law Office at Northumbria University and was admitted to the roll in September 2016.

During my training contract, I was seconded to the International Family Law department of the regional legal aid practice, Ben Hoare Bell LLP. I have experience of all areas of family law however I continue to have a particular interest in cases with an international element.

I am also the module tutor for the Student Law Office, where I also continue to practice as a solicitor. In 2022, I completed a PhD by publication. My research focusses on domestic abuse and access to justice and protective remedies. My research also explores barriers to seeking/securing protection and the impact of major reforms which have taken place in the family justice system. I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Authority.

In my spare time, I enjoy reading, running and spending time with my family.  

I am a multi-award winning Assistant Professor and Solicitor in the Law School. 

I have practised law for a decade, qualifying as a solicitor of the senior courts of England and Wales. I joined Northumbria University in 2018 as a supervising solicitor within the Student Law Office, working with students on family law, civil and private client cases. I now balance my time between legal practice in the Student Law Office, lecturing and conducting research. Students and clients have commented on my supportive and inclusive approach to others.

I am an international speaker, and my pioneering Covid-19 research is held on the database for the World Health Organisation. The findings were submitted to the Home Affairs Committee and were presented to the Local Family Justice Board, of which I have recently become a member on the Learning and Development subgroup. 

Furthermore, I am a member of a panel of speakers with the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, presented the research to the then Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy for their seminar focused on the elimination of violence against women. I have published in relation to children in family justice, domestic abuse and clinical legal education.

In my spare time, I enjoy good food and all things comedy!

I qualified as a solicitor in 1996 and continued full time practise for two years specialising in personal injury litigation and actions against public authorities. 

Since 1998, I have worked for Northumbria University as a lecturer and also as a solicitor in our Student Law Office, specialising in civil dispute resolution, human rights and actions against public authorities and inquests. 

Since 2001, I have been a consultant with Ben Hoare Bell LLP where my work has focused primarily on actions against public authorities and inquests. I also teach civil dispute resolution to students on our law programmes.

I am a qualified solicitor with expertise in employment law. Having been qualified since 2007, I have advised both employers and employees across a wide range of employment related matters.

In 2017, I joined Northumbria University as an Assistant Professor, where I combine my legal practice with my academic role, contributing to the development of the next generation of legal professionals. Prior to my academic career, I worked as a solicitor for Northumbria Police, providing legal advice on various employment law matters.

In addition to my role at Northumbria University, I am a trustee for the Clinical Legal Education Organisation, a charity dedicated to developing clinical legal education—an approach that provides students with hands-on legal experience in real-world settings. I am also the Managing Editor of the International Journal of Clinical Legal Education, which publishes research and scholarship in this field.

Outside of work, I enjoy staying active through hiking and playing various sports, including visits to the gym and spinning classes. I also love spending quality time with my family, often enjoying days out with my children and exploring outdoor activities together.

Latest News and Features

Prof Alister Scott giving evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee
From l-r: North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness; Claire Malcolm, CEO of New Writing North; and Cllr Karen Kilgour, Leader of Newcastle City Council
Genomic medicine production
: Composite image of the Tycho Supernova remnant. Shock waves from such explosive events are believed to be the main drivers behind cosmic rays. Credit: MPIA/NASA/Calar Alto Observatory
Dr John Coxon
People & Planet University League 2025
City Campus East at Northumbria University
Taekwando competition with referee

Back to top