Frances Ridout, LLB hons, BVC, MA, SFHEA

Director of the Legal Advice Centre (Clinical Legal Education), Barrister & Reader in Clinical Legal Education and Pro Bono

Room Number: Mile End
Website: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/lac/

Profile
Teaching
Publications
Public Engagement

Profile

Frances is the Director of the Legal Advice Centre based within the Department of Law and a practising barrister. In addition to her duties as the LAC Director, Frances teaches two LAC modules; The Practice of Law in a Clinical Environment and StreetLaw which are on the undergraduate degree. Frances is an expert in the current law surrounding the sharing of intimate images, and regularly speaks on this topic. She is also Deputy Director for Queen Mary's Hub for Professional Practice, which aims to impact the future of practice through research-informed life-long education

Prior to joining Queen Mary University, Frances was working at the independent criminal bar. She practiced from 15 New Bridge Street Chambers, where she remains an associate tenant. Her work included conducting criminal and quasi criminal cases – mainly funded through legal aid. Frances also has extensive experience of representing those who have been arrested at the police station.

Frances has experience of prosecuting and defending in high profile matters such as the LIBOR prosecutions conducted by the Serious Fraud Office and the trial of Asil Nadir in relation to Polly Peck. Her experience spans criminal law, procedures, evidence and disclosure. While in practice she regularly appeared at the Crown Court, Court of Appeal, High Court and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Most notably Frances represented Terrance Calix in the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in his 2013 appeal for damages for false imprisonment and malicious prosecution.

Throughout her career Frances has worked on social justice cases, human rights issues and pro bono matters. She remains, as she has always been, committed to the provision of legal services for those who cannot afford to pay for representation.

Frances is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Undergraduate Teaching

Frances is the course convenor for the undergraduate optional modules; LAW6156: The Practice of Law in a Clinical Environment, and Law6462: Public Legal Education and Community Street Law.

Research

Publications

Books

Street Law: Theory and Practice by Frances Ridout and Linden Thomas, 2023, Bloomsbury – A student text book to support students on credit bearing and co-curricular programmes.
The Provision of Immigration Advice and Services by University Law Clinics, The Clinical Legal Education Handbook, Edited by Linden Thomas and Nick Johnson, 2020 - open access publication
Regulation of Barristers and University Law Clinics, The Clinical Legal Education Handbook, Edited by Linden Thomas and Nick Johnson, 2020 - open access publication

Articles

The Art of Adapting Open Educational Resources for Street Law: Copyright the Card Game a Case Study, Frances Ridout, Jane Secker, and Chris Morrison.
The Applicability of the UK Computer Misuse Act 1990 onto Cases of Technology Facilitated Domestic Violence and Abuse; Francesca Stevens, Leonie M Tanczer, Frances Ridout and Shane D Johnson.
"The 4th UK and Ireland Best Practice Street Law Conference 2019”, Frances Ridout, The International Journal of Public Legal Education Vol 4 No.1 (2020)
"Immigration University Clinics and regulation: a working case study", Frances Ridout, Deirdre Gilchrist, Jeremy Dunn, The International Journal of Clinical Legal Education Vol 25, No 3 (2018) 135-149
"Review of StreetLaw: Democracy for all – Learners Manual”, The International Journal of Public Legal Education Vol 2 No. 1 (2018).

Blog posts

Public Engagement

Frances is a member of the Pro Bono and Social Responsibility Committee of the Bar Council.
In summer 2020 Frances was invited by the Legal Services Board to be part of an evidence gathering panel about grass roots advice services.
Frances is one of four co-hosts on the podcast ReImagine Law which is about legal careers and education. Episodes can be found on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Pick-up Artists and image based sexual abuse, Newsweek
Frances contributed to the Law Commission consultation and pre-consultation on Intimate Images
Dawes Centre for Future Crime Cybercrime Conference “Unpacking Image-based Sexual Abuse Legislation” - July 2021.
BBC Radio Humberside, April 27 2016.
'Victims of revenge porn turn to students for legal advice', The Guardian
The Family Law Week
UK StreetLaw Best Practice Conference; September 2016; “Undertaking StreetLaw in Schools – SPITE for Schools.”
Regulation Matter; “Taking Pride in Modern Legal Services”; July 2017
Public Policy Exchange Conference; March 2017; “Revenge Pornography, two years on: Building Partnerships and Addressing Gaps in the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015.”
Sex Rights and Pleasure Lab Conference; Institute of Development Studies; January 2017; “Digital Sexual Violence”.
Frances remains a door tenant at 15 New Bridge Street chambers. Whilst in post she retains her link with the profession and regularly appears in court conducting criminal cases. She also regularly attends the police station representing those who require a ‘duty solicitor’.

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Areas of study

Study at Queen Mary

Experience Queen Mary

Research and Innovation

Research by faculties and centres

Collaborations and partnerships