A Hallam law professor has joined the board of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to help develop the legal profession and education

Press contact: Jo Beattie | j.beattie@shu.ac.uk

Professor of legal education, Elizabeth Smart, is one of four new members of the board who took up their places this month.

Prof Smart is a practicing solicitor with 28 years’ experience and is director of SHU Law, a subsidiary of Sheffield Hallam University, which is a not for profit teaching law firm.

She has worked in both higher education and as a consultant for a range of UK police forces, promoting equality and diversity, and is currently a member of the Independent Ethics Panel for the Police and Crime Commissioner of South Yorkshire.

Professor Smart said: “I am delighted to have been appointed at such a pivotal moment in the development of legal education and the profession more widely against the backdrop of a post Brexit world still coming to grips with the impact of a pandemic.

“There are many challenges which lie ahead but I feel confident that we will be able to meet that challenge and transform the way students can qualify as a solicitor whilst maintaining public confidence in the profession as a whole.

The other new board members are Ann Harrison, Dermot Nolan, Vikas Shah MBE.

Anna Bradley, Chair of the SRA Board, said: ‘I am delighted that after an open and very competitive recruitment process, we have both strengthened the Board and increased our diversity. I welcome our new Board members and look forward to working with the whole Board in addressing the needs of legal service users in what is a complex and fast-changing landscape.

‘We have a challenging programme ahead of us at what is an uncertain time for everyone. Vikas, Dermot, Ann and Elizabeth will help us bed in a comprehensive reform programme, transform the way that would-be solicitors qualify, anticipate change and support innovation and technology.”

More about the Board.