Elaine Freer

Dr Elaine Freer is a part-time College Teaching Officer at Robinson College, University of Cambridge, where she supervises Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure and Evidence, and Criminology modules. She holds a PhD from Keele University (ACORN & Inner Temple funded), an MPhil in Criminology from Cambridge, and a law degree from the same university. Her research focuses on criminal law, sentencing, disciplinary proceedings' interplay with criminal cases, and criminal procedure/evidence, with affiliations to the Cambridge Centre for Criminal Justice (CCCJ).

Her career combines academic teaching with legal practice: after completing pupillage at leading London criminal chambers, she has maintained dual roles since 2016. Notable publications include A Practitioner's Guide to Ancillary Orders in Criminal Courts (2024) and Social Mobility and the Legal Profession: The Case of the English Bar (2018), alongside influential articles on appellate courts, expert testimony, and sentencing reforms. She has received prestigious scholarships, including the Cloth Fair Scholarship and Lord Denning Scholar recognition.

Her research explores socio-legal dynamics in professions, particularly the English Bar’s socio-economic diversity challenges. She frequently critiques legal frameworks impacting criminal justice outcomes, advocating for procedural fairness and evidence reliability. Her work bridges academia and practice, informing both policy and teaching.