Barrister Profile

Main Areas of Practice

Administrative Law or Judicial Review
Land Law
Personal Injury
Public Inquiries

Biography

Sophie primarily practices in civil law matters in the County Court and High Court. In particular, she regularly acts in personal injury actions, chancery matters and commercial disputes.

Sophie is also a member of the Counsel Team to the Muckamore Abbey Hospital Inquiry.

She also provides advice to various public bodies in legacy matters, including inquests.

Since being called to the Bar, Sophie has been appointed to the Government Legal Service for Northern Ireland (GLSNI) Civil Panel of ‘B’ Counsel and the Coroners’ Service Panel of Counsel.

Qualifications

LLB Law with First Class Honours - St Aidan’s College, Durham University (Ranked 1st in College)

• Commendation for Academic Excellence, 2014
• Commendation for Academic Excellence, 2015
• Commendation for Academic Excellence, 2016
• Forsters LLP Land Law Prize (1st in year, Land Law)

Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Legal Studies with Distinction – IPLS, QUB (Ranked 1st in Class)

• Eoin Higgins Prize (top Bar trainee)
• Williamson Trust Fund Prize (highest exit examination result)
• JPB Maxwell Scholarship (1st placed Bar trainee)
• International Law School Mediation Competition (2nd place, 2017)

Experience

At Durham University,Sophie developed a particular academic interest in medical law and ethics. She continues that interest having gained experience on pupillage in a number of related areas including: medical negligence actions, medical treatment related inquests, hearings in the Mental Health Review Tribunal and declaratory orders relating to patients’ capacity and their best interests. During her time at Durham University, Sophie also delivered a number of talks to her peers on legal policy and human rights issues including immigration, sex work and abortion. She also completed criminal and civil law mini-pupillages at Trinity Chambers and Parklane Plowden.

Sophie graduated Durham University with First Class Honours, ranking as the first-placed graduate in her college and the fifth-placed graduate overall.

At the Institute of Professional Legal Studies, Sophie was selected to compete at the International Law School Mediation Competition in Glasgow, achieving a second-place finish with a team of her peers. She also undertook training in the Industrial Tribunal as part of a pro bono advice programme for trainees.

Sophie graduated from the Institute of Professional Studies with a Distinction and as the first-placed trainee Barrister that year. She also ranked as the first-placed Bar trainee in the exit examination.

Since her call to the Bar, Sophie has been appointed to the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel, the Government Legal Service for Northern Ireland (GLSNI) Civil Panel of Counsel and the Coroners’ Service Panel of Counsel.