Interview with Professor Melanie Williams

Name: Professor Melanie Williams
Job: Head of the Law School in Cornwall
Based in: School of Law, Cornwall Campus

What has been the most rewarding moment of your career so far?

Of course coming to Cornwall and being involved in developing a new branch of the School of Law in such a fantastic setting! The whole process was pretty hairy to begin with – for the first several months, I had no colleagues, no building (I was 'camping' in a student bedroom from around January to July 2007, with a phone and a computer) and no students. Our secretary, Irene, took up her post on 17th September 2007 (notice how the date is engraved on my memory), just a few days before the students arrived – nailbiting stuff! – but of course I had terrific support from colleagues here at Tremough and at Streatham. It was a real delight to see the whole thing take shape, students going to first lectures, setting up their student law society (the 'Lyonesse', sister to the Bracton) and also to see the professionalism and dedication of new colleagues in making the whole thing 'work' – quite magical really. We have a terrific, lively and inspiring 'team' of legal academics here in Cornwall.

What has been your major research achievement?

Although there have been other things since, I am still particularly attached to a (quite eccentric) research experience. I entered the profession pretty late and within a couple of years won an AHRC research leave award. Attached to a one term sabbatical, this gave me approximately nine months research time and I saw it as a kind of 'make or break' opportunity, given my late entry into the profession. With three young children at home, I realised I would need some 'space', so I bought a second hand static caravan, moved boxloads of research material into it and did a full 5 day week there for the whole period. This resulted in my book, Empty Justice – One Hundred Years of Law, Literature and Philosophy, which received very good reviews – the outlay on the caravan paid off in terms of helping my research and career profile! Funnily enough, my husband, a GP would invariably turn up for a cup of tea on his 'rounds', plant himself in a chair in the little sitting room (despite the presence of our home nearby) and fall asleep for a few minutes – he is pretty thick-skinned and not very receptive to the hint, that I had bought a static caravan in order to work in solitude...! He has always been a fantastic support though, so I am obliged to be a little indulgent...

What do you hope to achieve within the School of Law in Cornwall in the future?

Apart from delivering the qualifying LLB – which makes significant demands on colleagues here (though we have some great collaborative teaching arrangements with colleagues at Streatham for some modules) we are in the process of developing a diverse range of UG modules, such as Advanced Criminal Law and Theory, Human Rights and Human Dignity, Commercial Law, Law and Literature, Law and Language, and Medical Law and Ethics. In addition we hope to create some innovative PG opportunities – we are looking at possibilities in Environment, Health and Medical Law and Policy, and Law, Theory and Culture for example. We are also in talks with local professionals in practice and local government to further the development of our student work experience opportunities. The legal profession has been terrifically supportive of the Exeter Law in Cornwall venture. Finally, we hope to develop opportunities for 'knowledge transfer' in the local and wider community – for example through a series of public lecture and debates.

If you weren’t an academic, what would you be?

Do you mean, what would I choose to be, assuming I could be successful, or what 'could' I do? I am interested in everything, from philosophy to psychology to science, art, journalism – there aren't enough lifetimes. I might have enjoyed being a novelist or poet or painter if I thought I had the talent! I can indulge quite a few vicarious journeys through the experiences of my daughters. The youngest just won the painting prize at the Slade School of Art – she paints wonderful portraits as well as dreamy landscapes. On a more practical level though, I really love being with small children and I do enjoy teaching – another daughter has just begun a BEd with QTS [qualifying teacher status] and her first day was spent in a plastic pinny painting, exploring shades of her favourite colour (pink!) and painting from nature as part of the planning for a primary level art class – she said it was terrific fun! And the third daughter is currently working as a production assistant at the BBC, learning about the making of documentaries and meeting a whole range of people. When all is said and done though I do feel privileged to be able to pursue scholarship – it is so great to be able to participate in the 'theatre of ideas'.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I love walking in the wilds with my family when I get the chance, I also have a great love of gentle cycling. Sometimes we go camping as we are possibly the most incompetent campers in the world and find the absurdity of placing ourselves in that position, where brewing a cup of tea is a major challenge, a refreshing diversion – very different from the focus in either medicine or law. I do enjoy making attempts at writing poetry as well as reading good poetry sometimes too.

What do you like best about living in Cornwall?

The views, the sea, the evocative atmosphere. I am half Cornish but have only lived here since joining the University of Exeter. All but a couple of distant relatives are dead – but I am aware of all sorts of associations with names and places and some tragic family stories in wild landscapes, very Hardyesque.