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Professor Frances Ridout, LLB hons, BVC, MA, SFHEA

Frances

Director of the Legal Advice Centre (Clinical Legal Education), Barrister & Professor of Clinical Legal Education and Pro Bono


Room Number: Mile End
Website: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/lac/

Profile

Frances is the Director of the Legal Advice Centre based within the Department of Law and a practising barrister. In addition to her duties as the LAC Director, Frances teaches two LAC modules; The Practice of Law in a Clinical Environment and StreetLaw which are on the undergraduate degree. Frances is an expert in the current law surrounding the sharing of intimate images, and regularly speaks on this topic. She is also Deputy Director for Queen Mary's Hub for Professional Practice, which aims to impact the future of practice through research-informed life-long education

Prior to joining Queen Mary University, Frances was working at the independent criminal bar.  She practiced from 15 New Bridge Street Chambers, where she remains an associate tenant. Her work included conducting criminal and quasi criminal cases – mainly funded through legal aid.  Frances also has extensive experience of representing those who have been arrested at the police station.

Frances has experience of prosecuting and defending in high profile matters such as the LIBOR prosecutions conducted by the Serious Fraud Office and the trial of Asil Nadir in relation to Polly Peck. Her experience spans criminal law, procedures, evidence and disclosure. While in practice she regularly appeared at the Crown Court, Court of Appeal, High Court and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Most notably Frances represented Terrance Calix in the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in his 2013 appeal for damages for false imprisonment and malicious prosecution

Throughout her career Frances has worked on social justice cases, human rights issues and pro bono matters. She remains, as she has always been, committed to the provision of legal services for those who cannot afford to pay for representation.

Frances is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Undergraduate Teaching

Frances is the course convenor for the undergraduate optional modules; LAW6156: The Practice of Law in a Clinical Environment, and Law6462: Public Legal Education and Community Street Law.

Research

Publications

Books

  • Street Law: Theory and Practice by Frances Ridout and Linden Thomas, 2023, Bloomsbury – A student text book to support students on credit bearing and co-curricular programmes.
  • The Provision of Immigration Advice and Services by University Law Clinics, The Clinical Legal Education Handbook, Edited by Linden Thomas and Nick Johnson, 2020 - open access publication
  • Regulation of Barristers and University Law Clinics, The Clinical Legal Education Handbook, Edited by Linden Thomas and Nick Johnson, 2020 - open access publication

Articles

Blog posts

Public Engagement

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