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Contact

Email

s.m.z.king@dundee.ac.uk

Phone

+44 (0)1382 381078

Biography

I joined the University in 2013, making the switch from practising law as a solicitor, in the dispute resolution department at Tods Murray in Edinburgh, to academia and teaching law. Alongside teaching students the rules of property law and conveyancing (the process of buying or selling property) in Scotland, I am interested in legal skills education, helping our undergraduates acquire and develop the skills they need for a successful career, whether in the law or otherwise. Much of this focuses on developing communication skills and empathy but I am also interested in developing our students’ preparedness to deal with conflict, which is an inevitable part of life as a lawyer. This sits well with mediation and I was delighted to be given the opportunity to join the University’s Early Dispute Resolution team in the summer of 2017. 

As a lawyer working in dispute resolution, I spent a number of years surrounded by and assisting clients in dealing with conflict. My role meant I often joined the conflict at a late stage once parties’ positions had been entrenched, communication had long since ceased and the doors of the court were beckoning. In my experience, the time and costs associated with court actions and the all or nothing outcome means there is often no real winner. Mediation offers parties an excellent way to deal with conflict at an early stage, in a safe, supported and confidential environment. 

Within the University I am interested in helping promote a positive environment, both for students and colleagues. As well as being a member of EDR, I am a member of the School of Social Sciences Wellbeing Working Group and have completed ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training).

 

Research

Scots private law, in particular property law and commercial law.

View full research profile and publications

Teaching

Sarah teaches on the following courses:

- Commercial Law

- Scottish Property Law

- Real Estate and Commercial Practice (Honours)

- Law in Practice (Honours)

- Scots Property Law (Honours)