Connor Raine is a law lecturer at our London Bloomsbury campus. Here, he shares his passion for teaching and his insightful advice to current students.
By April Baniqued. Published 25 March 2026.
Talk us through your experience.
Before joining The University of Law, I was a solicitor working in the Dispute Resolution department of a firm in Essex. My workload primarily consisted of property disputes. I worked on a variety of claims, including residential landlord-tenant possession, disrepair matters, easements and adverse possession disputes, and probate claims. I enjoyed the varying areas of law that I encountered.
What sparked the decision to go into teaching?
After about five years in practice, I found that a lot of my time was taken up managing client expectations and their involvement in litigation. For instance, this involved obtaining instructions from clients and ensuring they met deadlines. I wanted to focus more on researching and understanding the law. I saw teaching law as a way to do that.
How did you find yourself working at the University?
I had always thought that you needed a PhD to teach in Higher Education so I wasn’t sure what opportunities would be available. When I started looking out of interest, I quickly found that the University encouraged applications from people with experience in legal practice. I applied for a role as a Lecturer and now here I am.
What achievements are you most proud of?
I am most proud of qualifying as a Solicitor. It takes a lot of work to reach that point. I was the first in my family to go to University and I didn’t grow up knowing people in the legal profession or have any connections to rely on. I think this achievement is largely due to my hard work.
I am grateful for my parents. They have supported me throughout my studies and are the reason my academic and professional achievements were possible.
What keeps you passionate about your role in the University?
It's rewarding when students take time out of their busy timetables to thank me for helping them. It makes me feel like I have made a small difference to their time studying here.
It's also great when students are genuinely passionate about a subject and show it in class. It's inspiring to share the same interest. I enjoy helping them develop their understanding.
What can students look forward to when they walk into your classroom?
When students step into my classroom, they can expect a safe and supportive learning environment. I encourage everyone to participate. I want them to freely suggest ideas and make mistakes without fear of judgement. My classroom is also a relaxed space where interaction between students is key to learning.
What advice would you like to give to students?
Make the most of your time here at the University. Remember, you are here to learn. Make sure you do the necessary preparation and consolidation work for workshops.
Also, don’t be afraid to get things wrong; you can learn a lot from mistakes. Workshops are a place for experimenting and learning.
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