Ruth is Head of the School of Law and Social Justice at the University of Chester, with overall academic leadership and management responsibilities for Chester Law School and the Institute of Policing. The Chester Law School  houses the award winning University of Chester Pro Bono initiatives, the Chester Community Law Project, and the University of Chester Law Clinic.

Ruth is a highly experienced academic leader, having been involved in the leadership and management of Law programmes and schools for over 25 years. Her experience spans both small and large HEIs, including, equally,  the academic and professional, and undergraduate and postgraduate study. She has a broad understanding of all aspects of academic life, having begun her career working in student support in FE colleges, 35 years ago.

Ruth is a barrister in England and a legal practitioner in Australia, having spent 8 years in practice on the Northern Circuit prior to becoming a full time academic. She brings all of her experience of practice, along with her wide-ranging knowledge of higher education academia. As such she is an expert in Legal Pracademia and education, firmly based in her experiences as both a legal practitioner and legal academic, fully supported by her higher degrees in Legal Education and Professional Studies in Education. She is a specialist in Family and Criminal Law – in particular in Domestic Abuse.

Ruth is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and is developing to become a Principal Fellow. She has numerous qualifications in Leadership and Management.

Ruth is passionate about transforming the outcomes for all groups of students. She was recognised by the Purpose Coalition Power List 2024

as one of ‘140 remarkable individuals’ as someone who is ‘actively engaged in roles that drive positive change, whether that be through innovation, community impact, or purposeful leadership’. She works nationally on ‘Breaking Down Barriers to Law‘ and works with the Solicitors Regulation Authority on tackling awarding gaps in outcomes of professional legal assessments.

Ruth chairs the CHULS ‘Events’ sub-committee, responsible for organising CPD events for Law School leaders nationwide. Examples of recent events include a year-long 5 week series of workshops exploring Pracademia and Law Academics, day events such as ‘Transforming Outcomes in Legal Education’ and evening seminars on topics such as AI and Legal Education.

Ruth is a trustee of the The Believe Foundation