Law teacher celebrates the completion of her PhD

A law teacher from Anglesey went from ‘Miss’ to ‘Dr’ last week as she graduated from Bangor University with a PhD in law.

Emma Roberts was officially awarded her degree after successfully defending her dissertation, which examined the impact of European regulation in the area of conflict of laws on claimants of tort actions, under rigorous examination by Professor Alan Reed of Northumbria University in April.

The former pupil of Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni is now looking forward to training the next generation of young lawyers as she continues teaching A-level Law at Ysgol Dyffryn Ogwen and Ysgol David Hughes – a job she has held down through her PhD.

“Teaching Law to school children can be very challenging, since the examination board prepares a demanding syllabus and the children usually have little to no previous knowledge or understanding of our legal system”, says Dr Roberts, who has pioneered a Welsh-medium GCSE course and also acts as Senior Examiner for a major examination board. “It is a source of such gratification to end the year with great results from my pupils and to have inspired many of them to continue studying Law at university, many of them following in my own footsteps and coming to Bangor.”

Emma first joined Bangor Law School as an undergraduate in 2004, and was one of the first ever to graduate from Bangor University with a Law degree. She returned in October 2008 with a desire to continue with the research she began with her undergraduate dissertation. “I enjoyed my student experience so much the first time that I couldn’t wait to resume my studies here”, she says. “I originally enquired about the possibility of commencing a Masters by Research, but I was informed of a Scholarship opportunity for a PhD.” Not only did Emma win this School funding, but she also secured a prestigious scholarship from the Drapers’ Company and Thomas Howell Trust.

“It has been an honour to have been part of Bangor Law School in different capacities for almost a decade, and a privilege to be graduating this year for the second time ahead of its 10th anniversary”, says Dr Roberts, who has also contributed to the teaching of several modules. “The School continues to grow from strength to strength and offers a positive student experience within a friendly, supportive and cohesive study environment.”

Publication date: 16 July 2014