Dr Ana Speed

Ana graduated from the University of Birmingham with a first class BA (Hons) in Sociology and Cultural Studies in 2009. Ana completed the Graduate Diploma in Law at the University of Law (London, Bloomsbury) and the Legal Practice Course at Northumbria University, achieving distinctions in both. 

Prior to commencing her training contract, Ana worked as a financial analyst for the national commercial law firm, Womble Bond Dickinson LLP. Ana completed the Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning and advised clients about investment and retirement planning and family protection. 

Ana completed her training contract in the Student Law Office at Northumbria University and was admitted to the roll in September 2016. During her training contract, Ana was seconded to the International Family Law department of the regional legal aid practice, Ben Hoare Bell LLP. Ana has experience of all areas of family law however she continues to have a particular interest in cases with an international element. Ana's primary role is supervising clinical students in the Student Law Office, where they advise and represent members of the public on a range of family law matters. Alongside this, Ana runs a legal outreach clinic 'Empower 4 Justice' for Black and Minority Ethnic women in association with Ben Hoare Bell and the Angelou Centre. Ana supervises students in the Policy/Law Reform Clinic in which they conduct research with the view to influencing law reform or policy change. Ana is also the co-module tutor of the international family law module. The impact of Ana's work in meeting unmet legal need in vulnerable communities was recognised at the Law Works and Attorney General Student and Pro Bono Awards 2018, where a project she co-convened was awarded the ‘Best Pro Bono Activity’. 

Ana has recently completed a PhD by publication. Her research focusses on domestic abuse and access to justice and protective remedies. Her research also explores barriers to seeking/securing protection and the impact of major reforms which have taken place in the family justice system including the legal aid cuts introduced by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 and more recently, the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. Ana has also published around her clinical teaching. She is a co-convenor of the Family Justice Research Interest Group. Ana is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Authority.

Ana has won/been shortlisted for a number of prizes including being a finalist for Trainee Solicitor of the Year at the Northern Law Awards 2016. Ana was awarded the Winn Solicitors Prize (2012) for the best LPC performance in civil litigation and the David Gray Solicitors Prize (2012) for the best LPC performance in private client law.