Mr Stephen Clear

Lecturer in Constitutional and Administrative Law, and Public Procurement, Law

Overview

Stephen Clear has been teaching Law at Bangor since 2011. Originally from London, he graduated from the University of Wales in 2010 with a First Class Honours LLB. He subsequently completed an LLM by Research at Bangor University in 2012. Stephen's teaching and research interests are in the areas of: Public Law: Constitutional and Administrative Law; Public Procurement Law; and Legal Education and Mooting.

From September 2021 until January 2024 Stephen was the Law Subject Lead in the School of History, Law, and Social Sciences. Prior to that, he served as Bangor Law School's Senior Tutor from 2016 until 2021.

Public Law: Constitutional and Administrative Law

Stephen has held module leadership responsibility for the teaching of Public Law: Constitutional and Administrative Law at Bangor University for the past ten years. 

Stephen's Public Law research has been published in a variety of journals, including: European Public Law (Wolters Kluwer), European Politeia (EPLO), Legal Studies (Wiley), Pouvoirs (Cairn International, France), and the Journal of the Oxford Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (Oxford University). In 2014, Stephen was part of a research team commissioned by the then National Assembly for Wales' Independent Remuneration Board to empirically investigate barriers to standing for the Welsh Assembly (now Senedd).

Stephen has also made several media appearances through being invited to contribute towards Public Law debates, including for BBC Politics Wales, LBC News, Sputnik News, BBC Question Time Extra, and BBC Radio Five Live. He also frequently writes for The Conversation on recent UK constitutional developments, with his contributions having an international readership in excess of 600,000- including republications by Reader's Digest, iNews, Yahoo UK, Delano Luxembourg, and Menafn. He has presented at a variety of conferences on matters of constitutional importance, both within the UK and internationally, including to audiences in China, India, Bahrain, and Ireland. Stephen has also been granted research awards by the Gladstone Library, Society of Legal Scholars, Santander Universities, and the Drapers Company for his research activities in these fields.

Since 2014, Stephen has worked in cooperation with both UK and Welsh parliamentarians, Government officials, and judges in order stage annual field trips to London, in order for his students to practically apply the Public Law concepts explored within his classes. 

Public Procurement Law

Along with Dr Ama Eyo, Stephen co-authors Sweet and Maxwell's (Thomson Reuters) leading reference work in this field, Public Procurement Law and PracticeMore broadly, his procurement research has been published by: the European Public Law journal (Wolters Kluwer), as well as European Procurement & Public Private Partnership Law Review (Lexxion).

In November 2023 Stephen was appointed Co-Consultant Editor of Halsbury's Laws of England for the inaugural Volume 85A on Procurement Law. Published by Lexis Library, the collection is considered the most comprehensive narrative statement of the laws of England and Wales, as a trusted encyclopaedic source. 

Between 2011 and 2018, Stephen was the Legal Research Officer to the Institute for Competition and Procurement Studies (ICPS). He previously supported the work of the 3.7 million Euro Winning in Tendering project, which was aimed at transforming the public tendering experience of Small Indigenous Suppliers (SISs include both SMEs and Third Sector organisations such as Charities) in the INTERREG Ireland/Wales region. In doing so he assisted on the 'Remedies Law' work package through conducting case law statistical analysis, and contributing to the development of new learning resources and teaching materials. Stephen also served as a Public Procurement Law Specialist (in July 2015) to the TESLA (Transnational Ecosystem Laboratory & Actions) project, a 3.8 Million Euro INTERREG IVB North West funded project. The aim of TESLA was to support the growth and development of early stage High Potential Start Up (HPSU) companies in Ireland, Wales, Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands through a programme of transnational pilot innovation and business support initiatives. Throughout this period, Stephen was also a member of the Project Management team for the Welsh Government sponsored annual Procurement Week events, and the Welsh National Procurement Awards.

Legal Education and Mooting

Stephen has led the teaching of both Legal Skills and Mooting Skills at Bangor University for the past ten years. Stephen has contributed to the Association of Law Teachers Annual Conference on several occasions; as well as presented at the Professional Legal Education Conference staged by the Centre for Professional Legal Education at Bond University in Queensland, Australia. He frequently contributes to the University's CELT training seminars, and has been invited to contribute to other Universities' teaching and learning workshops. Stephen has also worked as part of a Bangor University wide team exploring interventions for retention and supportive transitioning from Further Education (FE) to Higher Education (HE) learning.

His pedagogical investigations have been published by the Journal of Commonwealth Law and Legal Education; Euroempleo Journal (Cadiz, Spain); and the Law Teacher journal. His research into the 'expectation v reality gap' in respect of mooting was also awarded a Stan Marsh Prize by the Association of Law Teachers at their 52nd Annual Conference (Portsmouth University, 2017). More recently, Stephen's empirical investigations have sought to map the impact of Brexit on Legal Education; as well as the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the teaching of Law in Wales. 

In 2022, Stephen was interviewed by the Solicitors Journal regarding making the transition from legal practice to legal academia. 

Stephen is also the School’s Mooting Director. He was responsible for the introduction of Bangor Law School’s first internal competitions in 2008-2009, the McLaren Criminal Law Moot and Cwpan Griffiths Welsh Moot. He has since spearheaded the School’s entry into several prestigious national and international competitions, and continues to teach Mooting Skills as part of the Legal Skills and Advanced Mooting modules. Having fostered strong links with Caernarfon’s Criminal Justice Centre; Manchester’s Crown Court; Salford’s Magistrates’ Court and Manchester’s Civil Justice Centre, as well as a host of leading judges, Bangor's Law Department has celebrated much success in mooting. For example, in 2014 Stephen coached Bangor Law School towards success in the Lexis Nexis Welsh National Mooting Competition. Further afield, in 2015, Stephen co-coached, Bangor’s undergraduate team in their entry to the KK Luthra International Criminal Law Moot Competition, which took place in New Delhi, India. In March 2015, Stephen was appointed the Lead Moot Master for the All Wales Lexis Nexis National Moot Court Competition. Since then, Stephen has coached students in their entry to prestigious national competitions including: BPP's Advocate of the Year Competition, the Inns of Court College of Advocacy and Oxford University Press National Moot, and the Blackstone's Criminal Advocacy Mock Trials Competition.

School Responsibilities

Within the School of History, Law and Social Sciences, Stephen currently serves as: 

  • Director of Mooting.
  • Personal Tutor.
  • School Field Trips Coordinator. 

Stephen has previously served as the School's Law Subject Lead; Bangor Employability Award Lead, a member of the Postgraduate Taught Programmes Committee, a member of the Special Circumstances Committee, a member of the Unfair Practice Committee, has been an internal examiner for LLM by Research degrees, and has served as the Law School's former Social Media Officer. 

University Responsibilities

Across the wider University, Stephen currently has responsiiblities in respect of:

  • Associate, Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT)
  • Peer Reviewer/Assessor for HEA Fellowship Awards by CPD, CELT Bangor

Stephen formerly sat on the Deputy Vice Chancellor's Senior Tutor Group, as well as the University's Hardship Fund Committee. He also previously sat on the Pro-Vice Chancellor's University Employability Task Group, in representing the former College of Business, Law and Social Sciences. 

 

Other Responsibilities

More broadly, outside of the University:

  • In 2018 Stephen was invited to join the 'Law Panel' as a judge for the International Undergraduate Awards (a global award programme under the patronage of the President of Ireland, Michael Higgins). He was thereafter re-invited to join the law panel in 2019, 2022 and 2023.
  • In 2019 Stephen was invited to join the North West Law Careers Action Network as the representative from Bangor University. 
  • Stephen currently serves as an External Examiner for Law and Politics modules at Manchester University.
  • Stephen currently serves as an External Examiner for Law at the University of Hull. 

Teaching and Supervision

Teaching:

Stephen currently teaches the following modules at Bangor University:

  • SXL 1110/2210 Public Law: Constitutional and Administrative Law (Module Leader)
  • SXL 1115/2215 Legal Skills (Module Leader)
  • SXL 0001 Introduction to Law and Justice (Contribution)
  • SXL 3070 The UK, EU Law and Brexit (Contribution)
  • SXL 4009 Legal Research Methods (Contribution)
  • SXL 3113 Dissertation (Undergraduate Research Project Supervision)
  • SXL 4300 Dissertation (Masters Research Supervision)

At Bangor University, he has also previously taught: 

SXL 2130/3130 Media Law (Contribution: Undergraduate Level); SXL 4438 Procurement Relationships and Ethics (Contribution: Masters Level); SXL 4419/4109 Legal Research Methods (Module Coordinator: Masters Level); LLM Procurement Law, Strategy and Practice by Distance Learning (Programme Contributions); SXL 4731/4831 Procurement Research and Skills; SXL 1116 Legal Skills with Professional Legal English (Module Leader); SXL 2220 Advanced Mooting and Legal Ethics (Module Leader); SXL 2121/3121 Company Law; SXL 1114 Law for Non Lawyers; and SXL 2120/3120 Administrative Law. 

Stephen has also led upon the Legal English, Mooting, and Common Law Research and Study Skills components of the former Law School's Legal English Summer School, as well as joint summer school programmes with Bangor's Confucius Institute.

Teaching Awards:

  • Awarded a Bangor University Teaching Fellowship, in recognition of his outstanding contribution in teaching and pastoral care (July 2022). 
  • Highly commended in the category of 'Teacher of the Year' and 'Activities through the Medium of Welsh' for activities in North Wales pertaining to Public Law and Parliament, in the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle, and the Lord Speaker, The Lord Fowler's Your UK Parliament Awards (2020)
  • Highly commended 'Teacher of the Year,' in the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt Hon John Bercow's Your UK Parliament Awards (2019)
  • Nominated for LawCareers.Net Law Teacher of the Year (LCN) (2017)
  • Awarded a national Stan Marsh Bursary to attend the Association of Law Teachers (ALT) Annual Conference (2017)
  • Shortlisted for Outstanding Pastoral Support, Student Led Teaching Awards (SLTA) (2017) 
  • Awarded the International Student Support Award, Student Led Teaching Awards (SLTA) (2015)
  • Awarded a Drapers Company Medal for an ‘Outstanding Postgraduate Contribution to the University’ (2015)
  • Awarded Bangor University's Postgraduate Teacher of the Year, Student Led Teaching Awards (SLTA) (2013)
  • Nominated for Bangor University's Teacher of the Year, Student Led Teaching Awards (SLTA) (2012)
  • Shortlisted for Postgraduate Teacher of the Year, Student Led Teaching Awards (SLTA) (2012)

Research

Public Law: Constitutional and Administrative Law

Stephen's interests in Public Law include: matters relating to the future for the UK-Union, and the relationship between devolved administrations and the Westminster Parliament; as well as, more broadly, issues concerning fundamental constitutional principles (the Rule of Law, Separation of Powers, and Parliamentary Sovereignty); Human Rights, and Judicial Review. 

Public Procurement Law

Stephen's research interests in the field of Public Procurement Law are linked to his broader interest in Administrative Law and Judicial Review.

Legal Education and Mooting

Stephen has a pedagogical interests in matters relating to legal education, particularly in respect of internationalisation; employability; wellbeing and fostering a sense of community; and expectation v reality gaps.

Selected Publications

Consultation Responses

  • Written response (focusing on public law standards and judicial review issues under the Bill of Rights) to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s Consultation on Decriminalising TV Licence Evasion (March 2020).
  • Written response (focusing on the use of electronic platforms to categorise areas of Welsh law, as well as comparative analysis of the skills suggestions for the Cyfraith Cymru/Cymrulex in light of existing resources, such as legislation.gov) to the Welsh Government’s The Future of Welsh Law: Classification, Consolidation, Codification consultation (February 2020).
  • Written evidence (focusing on the effects of Brexit on legal education for Wales, the rest of the UK, and the rest of the EU) to the House of Commons' Exiting the European Union Inquiry on The Progress of the UK's Negiotations on EU Withdrawal (February 2019).
  • A written response (focusing on legal education: Brexit and mooting; and civil law: public procurement and justice for SMEs)  to the Commission for Justice in Wales' call for evidence (June 2018).
  • A written response (focusing on the jurisprudential concept of 'community', and the consequences of boundary changes for North Wales constituencies) to the Boundary Commission for Wales' consultation on '2018 Review of UK Parliament constituencies in Wales' (December 2016).
  • A written response (focusing on the UK Regulations and judicial review) to the European Commission's consultation on Remedies in Public Procurement (April 2015).
  • A written response to the Ministry of Justice's consultation on Balance of Competences: Fundamental Rights Review (January 2014).
  • A written response (focusing on commercial judicial review and public procurement) to the Ministry of Justice's Consultation on Judicial Review: Proposals for Further Reform (November 2013).

Other

Stephen is also regularly invited by Oxford University Press and Routledge (Taylor and Francis Group) to peer review publications and e-learning material relating to Constitutional Law, Legal Skills, Legal English, Law Student Employability, Mooting and Advocacy Skills.

Stephen also regularly posts blogs pertaining to Public Law issues, as part of his WordPress pages entitled 'Public Law Reflections.'

Selected Presentations

  • 'Co-Investigating the Experiences of Both Legal Education Facilitators and Law Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic' Aberystwyth University Teaching and Learning Seminar Series (2021) delivered with Dr Ama Eyo.
  • ''To Disruption...and Beyond': Strategies for Teaching Public Law During Times of Unprecedented Constitutional Change' Association of Law Teachers Annual Conference, Aston University (2021). 
  • 'Understanding the Experiences of Legal Education Facilitators and Learners During a Pandemic: Are We All in This Together?' Association of Law Teachers Annual Conference, Aston University (2021) delivered online with Dr Ama Eyo.
  • 'The Future is Now: Community Building and Narrowing the Expectation-Reality Gap Between Legal Education and Legal Practice' 2020 Professional Legal Education Conference, Centre for Professional Legal Education, Bond University, Queensland Australia (2020). 
  • 'From Brexit to COVID-19: Revolving Legitimacy, Devolution and the 'New' British Constitution'  Society of Legal Scholars (SLS) Annual Conference Public Law Stream, Exeter University, England (2020) delivered virtually owing to COVID-19.  
  • 'Supporting Law and Business Students' Mental Wellbeing in the Age of Resilience and Hybrid/Distance Learning' Society of Legal Scholars (SLS) Annual Conference Legal Education Stream, Exeter University, England (2020) delivered virtually with Sara Fisher from North Wales' Business School, Glyndwr University. 
  • 'Are They Hearing What We Are Saying?' Facilitating A Community Based Approach to Effective Feedback, Association of Law Teachers (ALT) Annual Conference, University of Stirling, Scotland (2020)- delivered electronically owing to COVID-19.
  • A UK Constitution in Crisis?, Presentation to the Royal University for Woman Bahrain at Bangor University (2020)
  • Great Expectations: Strategic Approaches in Teaching Towards Retention, Annual CELT Teaching and Learning Conference, Bangor University (2017)
  • Expectations, Employability and Mooting: Is this the Real Life? Is this Just Fantasy?, Association of Law Teachers (ALT) Annual Conference, Portsmouth University (2017)
  • With M. Parker, Home v International Law Student Expectations: Understanding and Embracing Internationalisations within the Classroom to Facilitate Peer-to-Peer Learning, Association of Law Teachers (ALT) Annual Conference, Portsmouth University (2017) 
  • International Mooting Research Skills and UK Moot Courtroom Etiquette, Symbiosis International University, Law School, Noida, India (2015)
  • Judging Public Procurement Disputes: The Necessity of Commercial Judicial Review, Society of Legal Scholars (SLS) Annual Conference, Nottingham University (2014)
  • The Silent Constitutional Power? The Role and Legal Limits of the United Kingdom's Monarchy, Renmin and CUPL Chinese Summer School, Bangor's Confucius Institute (2014)
  • Justifying Commercial Judicial Review: A Public Procurement Case Study, Legal World Series, Bangor (2014)
  • The Peer-Led Revolution: Achieving Internationalisation for Law Students' Benefit, Higher Education Academy Social Sciences Annual Learning and Teaching Conference, Teaching forward: the future of the Social Sciences, Birmingham (2014)
  • Closing the Expectation Reality Gap and Promoting Internationalisation:  A Legal Studies Peer-to-Peer Learning Case Study, ADU Annual Learning and Teaching Conference, Bangor (2014)
  • Understanding Public Procurement Judicial Review: Beyond Government Consultations and Reform, Society of Legal Scholars (SLS) Annual Conference, Edinburgh University (2013)
  • With A Griffiths, Law Graduates and the Legal Profession: Wales' Perspective, Conwy & Denbighshire Skills Forum, Denbighshire County Council (2013)

Research Awards

  •  Awarded a Santander Universities Mobility Award to research devolution comparisons between the UK and Spain in 2020-2021, £1,000 (2020)
  • Awarded the Ernest Walder Scholarship by Gladstone's Library to conduct research into the future of the UK Union in May 2020 (2019)
  • Awarded the Stan Marsh Best Poster Prize by the Association of Law Teachers, at the 52nd Annual Conference, Portsmouth (2017) 
  • Awarded the Edward Elgar Publishing ‘Best Poster Prize’ by the Society of Legal Scholars, at the 105th Annual Conference, Nottingham (2014)
  • National Assembly for Wales’ Independent Remuneration Board research grant, Barriers to Standing for the Welsh Assembly led by Professor Dermot Cahill, Professor Kostas Nikolopoulos and Professor Catherine Robinson (2014)
  • Awarded a Bangor University 125th Anniversary Bursary for PhD research (2011)
  • Awarded a Drapers Company Scholarship for LLM research (2010)
  • Awarded an Eric Kemp prize by the Ecclesiastical Law Society for achieving a first class grade in Law and Religion (2008)

Media Appearances 

  • The Independent (UK), comments relating to circumstances under which an early general election could be called and constitutional conventions (October 2022). 
  • Western Mail (Wales)print newspaper republishing of research, under the title 'pressure mounts for PM admid pension fears' (October 2022). 
  • Zing News (Vietnam)a press interview relating to the constitutional process surrounding Rishi Sunak becoming Prime Minister (October 2022). 
  • The Guardian (UK)a press interview relating to King Charles criticisms of a lack of vocational education in the UK, and the constitutional conventions that now govern his actions as Monarchy (October 2022). 
  • Zing (Vietnam), a press interview relating to the resignation of Liz Truss as Prime Minister, and the Constitutional events that follow (October 2022).
  • Politico.EU (Brussels), a press interview relating to what we might now expect from King Charles III in respect of climate change activism, and the constitutional conventions surrounding his reign (September 2022). 
  • Talk Radio (Canada)a radio interview relating to what to expect from the reign of King Charles III (September 2022). 
  • Apple Podcasts (Global), an interview concerning what might change following the death of the Queen (September 2022). 
  • BBC Radio Wales, an interview relating to the constitutional elements surrounding the death of the Queen (September 2022).
  • Wired (UK), press interview relating to King Charles III and environmental activism (September 2022). 
  • Associated Press (America), news interview relating to the death of Queen Elizabeth II (September 2022). 
  • Wales Online (Wales), press interview relating to the Constitutional events surrounding the Crown passing to King Charles III (September 2022). 
  • Daily Amader, Shomoy (Bangladesh) press interview relating to what to expect from King Charles III (September 2022).
  • Nation.Cymru, Wales, press interview relating to whether King Charles will remain politically neutral (September 2022).
  • VEJA Magazine, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, online interview relating to Prince Charles' involvement with a Qatar Sheik and UK Constitutional Conventions (July 2022). 
  • Sputnik News, Rossiya Segodnya, online interview relating to the constitutional implications of the UK Government's proposed judicial review reforms (December 2021). 
  • Hekayat AI Cinema TV (Arabic) documentary interview on the reality of courtroom dramas and depictions of lawyers/judges within films (November 2021).
  • BBC Politics Wales, television interview focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic, devolution and divergence across the United Kingdom (May 2020).
  • LBC News, Global Player, invited to contribute towards a radio debate with Nick Ferrari, LBC Morning News on the question of what has the Human Rights Act 1998 achieved (February 2020).
  • Sputnik News, Rossiya Segodnya, Russia, radio interview, pertaining to UK constitutional law, Brexit and devolution (June 2018).
  • BBC Question Time Extra radio interview with Stephen Nolan, BBC Radio Five Live, on Westminster's relationship and legal obligations to the European Union, focusing on principles of parliamentary sovereignty and the European Communities Act 1972 (June 2014).

Other:

Other

Qualifications 

  • Certificate in International Politics (91% Pass) The International Business Management Institute, Berlin, Gerrmany (2020)
  • Certificate in American Government and Constitutional Foundations (77% Distinction) Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University (2018)
  • Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy by CPD, CELT Bangor (2017)
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (Stage Two: Complete Award) Bangor University (2014) A Class Distinction awarded
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (Stage One) Bangor University (2013)
  • LLM by Research, Bangor University (2012)
  • Certificate of Chinese Economics, Language and History, SILC, Shanghai University, China (2012)
  • City and Guilds Professional Development Award in Legal Assistance, Level 4 (2011)
  • LLB (Hons) First Class, University of Wales (2010)
  • Certificate of Commercial Awareness, BPP Manchester (2010-2015)

Professional Memberships

Stephen is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). He is also a member of:

  • Political Studies Association (PSA)
  • The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn
  • Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA) 
  • The Society of Legal Scholars (SLS)
  • Procurement Law Academic Network (PLAN)
  • International Bar Association (IBA) Public Law Group
  • Human Rights Lawyers Association (HRLA)
  • The Association of Law Teachers (ALT)
  • Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (IALS)
  • Socio-Legal Studies Association (SLSA)
  • Academic Member of the UK Constitutional Law Association (UKCLA)
  • Welsh Legal History Society 

Research areas and keywords

Keywords

  • K Law (General)

Research outputs (45)

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Prof. activities and awards (6)

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Accolades (8)

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