Chris Riley (2022) – bio

Chris is a Principal Lecturer in Law and Head of Clinical Provision at Sheffield Hallam University. He is instrumental in the development of award-winning clinical and applied learning initiatives that benefit hundreds of students across the Law programme at his institution and externally.

Chris has championed the fusion of law and practice throughout his career and has extensive experience in creating innovative clinical and applied learning opportunities for students. Chris is committed to learning approaches and pedagogy that have a positive impact on students’ experiential learning and the clients they work with. His particular focus is on the development of criminal justice clinical legal education with a national and international reach, which has been recognised by numerous award nominations. He was directly responsible for the development of a Criminal Appeals Clinic and the establishment of an innovative Prison Law Clinic in 2014, as well as overseeing the expansion of the Refugee Rights Hub. Such initiatives provide opportunities for hundreds of students.

Chris is passionate about creating innovative opportunities to increase the confidence and aspirations of his students at his own institution and others here in the UK and the US. He was responsible for developing international opportunities and creating a new summer clinical programme for students in the US who work at the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice here in the UK. Most recently, Chris has worked with the Head of Law to successfully launch an SRA regulated teaching Law practice aimed at promoting social justice and access to justice for the most vulnerable and marginalised in society.

Throughout his career, Chris has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in teaching and the provision of cutting-edge clinical and applied learning initiatives that have been nationally recognised, most notably as Legal Education Provider of the Year at the Solicitors Journal Awards 2017. His students have also nominated him for Inspirational Teacher of the Year since the award began in 2011. Chris has consistently received excellent feedback from his students and has been nominated for an institutional Inspirational Teacher Award each year since its launch in 2011.