Alexia Zimbler

Overview

Alexia Zimbler, Associate Professor, Joint Head of Department Professional Programmes (CLS), Barrister, SFHEA, MA Law, MA Academic Practice

Alexia practised at the Bar for over 25 years, specialising in Criminal Law. She started at 2KBW, then to Broad Chare (now Dere Street) Chambers in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, before returning to the South-East where she continued specialise in criminal defence work at the highest level and Family Law specialising in Public Law children cases.

She was an External Examiner for the BSB for 8 years, an Advocacy Trainer with the ATC for over 15 years, an examiner for Higher Rights of Audience for the SRA (Solicitors) and part of the team responsible for assessing CPS advocates. She has been a Pupillage Supervisor since 2005 and continues to train on the Vulnerable and Child Witness course at Lincoln's Inn, as part of the National Training Programme. She is also part of the Assessment Team for the Ethics in Pupillage course for the BSB.

Alexia joined City Law School to teach on the BVS in January 2020 initially as a break from practice, before realising teaching was a wonderfully fulfilling experience and deciding to stay. Her substantial experience at the Bar enables her to teach the students the reality of current practice. She designed and runs the Advanced Criminal Advocacy elective and is also involved with the award-winning Pupillage Advisory Service and runs advocacy workshops for students preparing for interviews. For the last 2 years she has been Module leader for Conference Skills, and Criminal Advocacy (XIC and XX), part of the 2-man team who redesigned the Criminal Advocacy course to ensure students have access to knowledge and skills needed to practice criminal law in the current climate.

Alexia was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2022 and became a Senior Fellow of the HEA. She was appointed Deputy Head of Department (Professional Programmes) in May 2023 and in April 2025 was promoted to Head of Department, Professional Programmes, a role she holds jointly with Amanda Clarke. She and Amanda work closely with the BVS and SPP(SQE) teams to maintain the exceptional reputation and highest standards everyone has come to expect from CityStGeorge's and CLS. Alexia was promoted to Associate Professor in 2026.

Alexia has also completed MA in Academic Practice having undertaken in-depth research on the use of Single Best Answer & MCQ assessment processes. With St George's Medical School now part of City, and SBA's used for a large proportion of medical knowledge assessments, she hopes to expand the research further. She also has a particular interest in the use of psychology by advocates in Crown Court trials and the knock-on effects of on court advocacy by the use of 'trial science' and jury selection in the US. and hopes to undertake research in this area if she ever has time!

Due to her own background she particularly seeks to promote the Bar as a career to students from minority and/or disadvantaged areas. She works closely with the Widening Participation team running workshops for students aged 10-18.

She is a member of the Centre for Law, Crime & Justice and volunteers as a family lawyer with CLAC.

Qualifications

• BSc Hons Biology, Imperial College London, United Kingdom

Postgraduate training

• MA Academic Practice, City University, London, United Kingdom
• MA Law, City, University London, London, United Kingdom
• Diploma in Law, City, University London, London, United Kingdom
• Bar Vocational Course, Inns of Court School of Law, London, United Kingdom

Employment

• Associate Professor, City University, United Kingdom, May 2026 - present
• Joint Head of Department Professional Programmes, City St George's, United Kingdom, May 2025 - present
• Senior Lecturer, City, University of London, United Kingdom, August 2022 - present
• Assistant Dean (Student Recruitment) Postgraduate and Professional Programmes, City, University of London, United Kingdom, September 2021 - present

Fellowships

• Senior Fellow, Higher Education Authority, December 2022 - present

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