Academic:

1. St Catharine's College, Cambridge University 1975 - 1978 - BA Honours Degree in Law 1978.
   MA Honours Degree in Law, 1981.
2. Vrije Universiteit, Brussels, Belgium 1986 - 1987 Ll.M. (Magna Cum Laude) International and Comparative Law, including EU Law.

Professional:

1. Queen's University of Belfast 1978 - 1979, Certificate of Professional Legal Studies; awarded Thomasina McKinney Prize, First Solicitor Pupil 1979.
2. Admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland, October 1979.
3. Admitted to the roll of Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Judicature of England and Wales, March 1990 (non-practising).

Career:

C & J Black Solicitors, Belfast, Assistant Solicitor 1979 - 1982, admitted as a Partner 1983.

Areas of Practice:

Principally business related fields and in particular company and commercial law, commercial property, employment and media.

Relevant Activities:

1. Chairman of Belfast Solicitors' Association 1989 - 1990.
2. Chairman of Industrial Tribunals 1994 - 1997 (part-time)
3. Former member of the Law Society's Non-contentious Business Committee.
4. Member of the Northern Ireland Solicitors' European Group.
5. Member of the Employment Lawyers Group of Northern Ireland.
6. Member of the Company and Commercial Lawyers Group.