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Diane Nixon

Year of Call:

1997

Education:    

Coleraine High School, Co. Londonderry

Wadham College, Oxford, MA Jurisprudence

Keble College, Oxford, Special Diploma in Social Studies              

Inns of Court School of Law, BVC, very competent

Awarded Harmsworth Scholarship and Accommodation by the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple 1996

Career:          

Called to the Bar 1997, Middle Temple

Pupillage at Hardwicke Building supervised by PJ Kirby, Kenneth Craig, Philip Kremen and Nigel Jones

Tenancy at 9 King’s Bench Walk, Temple, London

Member of the Criminal Bar Association

Lecturer and Co-Founder of the Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Legal Practice, University of Ulster: responsible for Course Director Duties, Joint Co-ordinator of Criminal and Civil Litigation Modules as well as Skills Development

Called to the Bar of Northern Ireland

Diane’s extensive grounding in civil and criminal litigation at Hardwicke Building followed by general criminal practice in London and Leeds means that she is well able to deal with any criminal case or client with which she is presented. Her positive approach coupled with her ability to provide practical reasoned advice, both orally and in writing and within short time-frames, make her very popular with professional and lay clients alike. She is particularly skilled in dealing with sensitive issues involving vulnerable witnesses and clients, including the very young, as well as sensitive information for example that relating to intelligence provided to prosecution agencies. 

Her practice encompasses advisory work: her recent involvement in an application to the Criminal Case Review Commission resulted in a reference being made. 

Diane has appeared before all manner of tribunals and has acted as a Leading Junior as well as been led. The types of case she has undertaken in the past include child rape, involving the rape of a 5-year-old by his brother, baby manslaughter, to fraud and Appeals to the Court of Appeal involving HM Revenue and Customs. Whilst her practice is mainly Defence-based, she also prosecutes.   

Diane also practises in Northern Ireland, where she lectures at the University of Ulster. She is the joint co-ordinator in the Criminal and Civil Litigation Modules and undertakes the Course Director duties, which involved liaison with many institutions, including the Law Society of Northern Ireland.