Kate Fernandez

Kate Fernandez is a Senior Lecturer in Law at the School of Business and Law, University of Brighton. She is a qualified solicitor (non-practising) and module leader for LLB Contract Law and LLB Professional Legal Practice 2. She completed her PhD in contract law and legal history at Lancaster University in 2018 and earned a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) from the University of Brighton in 2023.

Education:

• Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, University of Brighton (Awarded: 1 Sept 2023)
• PhD in Law, Lancaster University (Awarded: 19 Sept 2018); Dissertation: 'An Historical Analysis of the Voidability of Contracts in the Long Eighteenth Century: Control vs. Protection'
• LLB (Hons) Law, Lancaster University (Awarded: 1 Jul 2014)

Kate's research focuses on contract law and legal pedagogy, particularly the integration of game-based learning and gamification to enhance student engagement in legal education. Her work bridges historical legal analysis and modern teaching innovations. She has a strong interest in the evolution of contract law during the 18th and 19th centuries, especially regarding the legal capacity of infants.

Her recent publications highlight a shift toward experiential and interactive teaching methodologies in law. The 2025 article on game-based learning signals a growing trend in pedagogical research aimed at improving first-year student comprehension and motivation in challenging subjects like contract law.

Scientific Awards:

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Kate is actively involved in academic and professional development. She has organized and participated in numerous events, including workshops on client interviewing, conferences on teaching innovations, and panel events for law students seeking training contracts. While no specific grants are mentioned, her active research and conference participation indicate ongoing scholarly engagement. She is also open to supervising postgraduate research in contract law, legal history, and legal education.

She is associated with the broader academic community through her membership in the Higher Education Academy and participation in the University of Brighton's Research and Knowledge Exchange conference. Her work contributes to both doctrinal legal scholarship and the advancement of legal teaching practices.