Episode 2 - GenAI as a grad attribute

Mark Johnson

A Senior Lecturer in Law with a specific interest in property law within an applied curriculum, together with student employability and placements. Prior to joining the university, I trained and practised at a global law firm in Sheffield for nearly a decade. With my practice background I am passionate about encouraging students to see the practical application of their knowledge and skills to prepare them as 'world ready citizens'.

I have a keen interest in the impact of Generative AI on both the learning of our students and the employability skills needed to prepare them for modern legal practice.

My main teaching and research interests lie in the Law of Property (in which I also practised) and in clinical legal education and in particular, the embedding of employability skills and experiences into the curriculum. I am module leader for our core law module: the Law of Trusts. I am also actively involved in research in this field, and in particular the use of technology to modernise legal practice in the making of wills.

Given my practise background I have been a leader in the provision of student placements at local legal settings throughout the region. This has encompassed placing students in law firms (including international, national and local firms), local authorities, in-house legal departments, and charities. As part of an applied curriculum at the Institute of Law and Justice, such placements have provided students with unparalleled opportunities to experience the practise of the legal principles they have studied and to begin building a professional network.