Mr Alan Birbeck

I am academic lead for
UG Criminal Litigation;
PG Criminal Law and
PG Public Law.
I have a proven track record of leadership delivering for students on operations, policy, skills and teaching.

In September 2014 I became a full-time law lecturer but maintained an associate practice at the bar.

My career bridges the academic and practitioner communities. I am committed to LSBU’s desire to provide a quality legal education embedded within the wider legal and local community.
I support the Law Division mission of promoting Human Rights, the rule of law and social justice through my teaching and impact.

TEACHING AND ROLES
My teaching and roles portfolio includes
-Academic lead for Undergraduate Criminal Litigation (including Advocacy and Criminal Evidence) on the LLB Law Programmes
-Academic lead for Postgraduate Criminal Law on the LLM/PGDL Legal Studies
-Academic lead for Postgraduate Public Law on the LLM/PGDL Legal Studies (Post January 2022)
-Supervising Undergraduate and Postgraduate projects and dissertations
-Academic Lead for the Law Division Assessments, Student Skills and Support; and Timetabling co-ordinating policy and operational delivery for 700 students and 25 staff
EXPERIENCE
As Course Director of Undergraduate Law programmes September 2016-August 2020 I additionally synergised strong working links between students, academic staff, and the University’s professional services teams in relation to a variety of issues, including:
- Assessments - including drafting assessment policy; leading operational strategy and aligning to secure parity and rigour in internal and external processes.
- Communication - Working with the Director of Education and external consultants to re-structured student facing communications sites to align to Course, Employability, Skills, and tutoring. The project provides ‘consistent compelling content’ to support students.
- Curriculum development -in particular in light of the professional bodies’ proposed changes to legal education, including PSRB compliance and revalidation.
- Digitally enhanced learning - in particular, the use of formative activities, student feedback and reflection; using advocacy to enhance teaching and active learning piloting the use of Panopto.
- Estates -supporting the student and staff experience of the estate.
- External examiner inclusion in the LSBU community of practice; franchising frameworks; inclusivity in the curriculum; integrated library and learning resources; marketing (including outreach, website, and video promotions).
- Multiple Choice Testing -drafting mock SQE style questions for a partner SQE provider
- Senior Fellow status with the Higher Education Authority.
- Student curriculum pathways (alumni, careers, options talk, and support).
- Student journey scheduling and support (frame working the student journey through marketing, enrolment, Induction, Foundation, teaching pathways, through to graduation and employability and alumni).
- Regulatory compliance and development; study skills support and supporting student and academic wellbeing.
- Validation preparing reports on assessment; structure and strategy.

TEACHING AND ROLES My teaching and roles portfolio includes -Academic lead for Undergraduate Criminal Litigation (including Advocacy and Criminal Evidence) on the LLB Law Programmes -Academic lead for Postgraduate Criminal Law on the LLM/PGDL Legal Studies -Academic lead for Postgraduate Public Law on the LLM/PGDL Legal Studies (Post January 2022) -Supervising Undergraduate and Postgraduate projects and dissertations -Academic Lead for the Law Division Assessments, Student Skills and Support; and Timetabling co-ordinating policy and operational delivery for 700 students and 25 staff I orchestrated the ‘Inspired by Law’ project LINKED HERE and our video story LINKED HERE, with Dr Michael Rodney and Kim Silver. The project celebrates lawyers and legal campaigners who have promoted human rights, the rule of law and social justice. The project is a student led, staff facilitated attempt to break down perceived and real barriers to the professions I have delivered Conference Papers on Advocacy ‘Aspiring to Inspire – Teaching Advocacy as a tool for student engagement’ at Nottingham Trent University’s International Conference on Advocacy Teaching and Inspired By Law at Sheffield Hallam University and within the University. I have been significantly involved in LSBU wide strategic projects including the Timetabling Committee Change Programme 2016-2020 (under the leadership of the PVC (Education)). Alan led on the student satisfaction stream reviewing strategy, systems, and training. The project delivered significant improvements for student and staff experience evidenced by improving NSS scores for organisation and management within the LSBU. I have also been actively involved in feedback contributions to publishers including Oxford University Press, Macmillan, Sweet and Maxwell on various publications including Blackstone’s Criminal Practice, English Public Law, and numerous law textbooks. He can offer both pre- and post-publication advice on academic and practitioner texts.
PROFILE From 2000-2003 I completed my LLB Law Degree at London South Bank University attaining a first-class degree. My studies included a dissertation critically evaluating the misconception, marginalisation and human rights implications of drawing of adverse inferences from silence in criminal cases. From 2001-2007 whilst undertaking my studies and professional training, I defended suspects at the Police Station in the South East of London. I defended a wide range offence from shoplifting to murder. From 2004-2005 I completed my MSc in Criminal Justice and Criminology at the University of Oxford, Lady Margaret Hall attaining an average of 66%. My studies included a dissertation, supervised by Professor Andrew Ashworth QC, proposing reform to the discretionary exclusion of improperly obtained evidence based around a legitimacy model. From 2005-2006 I completed the BPTC at BPP. I was rated outstanding in Criminal Litigation. I was awarded a Sweet and Maxwell Prize and an Exhibition Award by the Inner Temple. From 2006-2014 I was in full time practice at the criminal bar at a leading chambers. I earned a reputation for persuasive, realistic and robust Crown Court advocacy. I specialised in jury trials. My regular instructions covered a wide range of criminal cases including serious violent and sexual offences. From 2014-2016 I was a full time lecturer at LSBU specialising in Criminal Litigation, Evidence and Public Law. From 2016-2020 I was Course Director (CD) of Undergraduate Law courses (the third largest programme group at LSBU). In addition to my teaching in the CD this role I synergised strong working links with students, staff, and the University’s professional services teams to deliver a high-quality student and academic experience. From September 2020 I became the Law Division academic lead for Criminal Litigation (UG); Criminal Law (PG); Public Law (PG) Assessments, Skills and Timetabling.
EXPERIENCE As Course Director of Undergraduate Law programmes September 2016-August 2020 I additionally synergised strong working links between students, academic staff, and the University’s professional services teams in relation to a variety of issues, including: - Assessments - including drafting assessment policy; leading operational strategy and aligning to secure parity and rigour in internal and external processes. - Communication - Working with the Director of Education and external consultants to re-structured student facing communications sites to align to Course, Employability, Skills, and tutoring. The project provides ‘consistent compelling content’ to support students. - Curriculum development -in particular in light of the professional bodies’ proposed changes to legal education, including PSRB compliance and revalidation. - Digitally enhanced learning - in particular, the use of formative activities, student feedback and reflection; using advocacy to enhance teaching and active learning piloting the use of Panopto. - Estates -supporting the student and staff experience of the estate. - External examiner inclusion in the LSBU community of practice; franchising frameworks; inclusivity in the curriculum; integrated library and learning resources; marketing (including outreach, website, and video promotions). - Multiple Choice Testing -drafting mock SQE style questions for a partner SQE provider - Senior Fellow status with the Higher Education Authority. - Student curriculum pathways (alumni, careers, options talk, and support). - Student journey scheduling and support (frame working the student journey through marketing, enrolment, Induction, Foundation, teaching pathways, through to graduation and employability and alumni). - Regulatory compliance and development; study skills support and supporting student and academic wellbeing. - Validation preparing reports on assessment; structure and strategy.
CPD AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER PARTNERSHIPS I have delivered CPD training sessions to the professions including: 1) LASPO 2012 and criminal practice 2) People with Mental Health Issues and the Criminal Justice System - with Dr Neil Boast (a Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist) delivered a seminar on the Law and Practice 3) Intermediaries and the Criminal Justice System - with Triangle 4) Advocacy and practice management training for pupils
IMPACT As Course Director September 2016-August 2020 I: - Engaged significantly in outreach, recruitment, retention, and progression support projects improving Y1-Y2 progression from 65% to 80%; Y2-Y3 progression from 77% to 90% -Led on student satisfaction. The LLB reached an all-time high of 11th in the Guardian League Table for Law 2020 (Progressing from 50’s, 25th, 13th and finally 11th). -Fostered with the SU a supportive culture for student voice as part of the ‘How does it feel?’ training. -Led on significant improvements in timetabling, teaching and assessment. - Updated course and module structures and specifications, -Updated and focused the student offer and expectations for students and staff. - Worked as one of the leads for the 2019-20 new LSBU Student Charter. - Worked with the PVC (Education) on the Education Strategy Steering Group 2018-2020. From March 2020-June 2022 I was operational lead for the Law Division’s response to the Global Pandemic. I produced and co-ordinated the contingency plans, swiftly pivoting from face to face to online teaching and assessment within 5 days of the lockdown. The project was a success as evidenced by the 2020 NSS (a 95% overall satisfaction score and 90.4% satisfaction core with teaching).
EXTERNAL ACTIVTIES I am an external examiner for the University of Law (the UK’s largest professional legal education provider). I externally examine assessments and marking for the Advocacy and Advanced Criminal Practice Modules on their UK wide Legal Practice Courses. I also sit on exam boards and have advised on policy. I am a member of the Inner Temple (sitting on the library committee), the Criminal Bar Association and the South Eastern Circuit. I maintains an associate legal practice as a barrister specialising in Criminal litigation. At the bar I have been regularly instructed in a wide range of criminal cases including offences of arson with intent to endanger life, blackmail, child abduction, child cruelty, criminal damage (in particular large scale graffiti cases), drugs importations and supply, illegal use, sale and possession of firearms, fraud, and money laundering, facilitating breaches of immigration law, robbery, and serious violent and sexual offences. I defended in several of the August 2011 disorder cases in various matters of riot, violent disorder, affray, burglaries, and assaults. I have significant experience of defending young clients, clients with psychiatric issues and personality disorders, clients with learning difficulties and drug and alcohol addictions. I have argued submissions on areas of law as diverse as abuse of process, bad character, confiscation, the discretionary exclusion of evidence, fitness to plead, hearsay, mental capacity, sexual offences prevention orders, special reasons, ASBO’s and Restraining Orders. I was my Chambers Mini Pupillage co-ordinator supporting the Inner Temple Pegasus Access Scheme, promoting access to the bar based on ability rather than background.