Catherine Hill

Overview

Catherine worked as a sub-editor at Butterworths Law Publishers, sub-editing Halsbury's Statutes whilst undertaking the postgraduate Diploma in Law and Bar Vocational Course.

Catherine then practised from the Chambers of Desmond de Silva QC for 9 years undertaking Criminal defence work. Catherine was regularly briefed in long, multi-defendant trials - serious drugs (importation, production, supply), violent disorder and fraud, also murder trials (as junior), and kidnap and torture cases. Catherine has examined child witnesses, child and adult victims of sexual offences and vulnerable and intimidated adult witnesses with a variety of special measures in place. She has also had experience of examining witnesses using British Sign Language and Tactile Signing interpreters. In addition to regular Court of Appeal appearances Catherine was also instructed as junior counsel in the House of Lords and the Privy Council. Whilst in practice she delivered CPD training to CPS lawyers (regular new legislation updates and charging standards) and Local Authority solicitors (including environmental law offence updates).

At The City Law School, Catherine is a past coordinator of Criminal Advocacy and also Deputy Course Director (BPTC). She currently lectures and teaches in Criminal Advocacy, Criminal Litigation and Conference Skills and currently coordinates the Conference Skills course. She has also taught Civil Advocacy, Ethics, Negotiation Skills and Advanced Criminal Litigation and been part of the pupillage advisory team. She has judged moots and mock trial competitions. Catherine has undertaken significant course design and development work. In 2004 she co-designed the (then) new examination-in-chief taught course and assessment model. She has authored many course materials and assessment cases covering all of the Criminal skills subjects.

Catherine has delivered CPD training for the School, has delivered Higher Rights Advocacy training to City firms and has delivered Inns Advocacy CPD training. Catherine received the inaugural City University Excellence in Teaching Award in 2005 and has previously been nominated for the Student Voice Award.

Before becoming a lawyer Catherine was awarded a scholarship to the Royal College of Music and studied there for seven years. In any spare time she pursues this interest and also those of travel and sea swimming.