University of Warwick Associate Professor Gary Watt has been named as the national Law Teacher of the Year 2009.

The award is run in association with the UK Centre for Legal Education (UKCLE) and is sponsored by Oxford University Press. 

Gary Watt beat off competition from three other finalists to collect a cheque for £3,000 at an award ceremony, held last week. The judging process has taken several months and involved nomination forms, campus visits to observe teaching, and interviews with the candidates, their students and heads of department.

Gary Watt said he was delighted to win the award: “Teaching keeps you honest, you cannot teach without passion. For me it is much more than giving information to my students, I want them to be inspired by what they are learning.”

Alison Bone, who presented this year’s award said she was delighted by the teaching talent she had witnessed this year. She said: “It’s heartening to see the dedication and commitment to teaching that all the finalists have demonstrated. I’m pleased to be part of an award that formally rewards and recognises such talent.”

This year’s other finalists were Andrea Biondi, King’s College London, Martha-Marie Kleinhans, University of Reading, Anna Lawson, University of Leeds.

Notes to editor
To arrange an interview with Gary Watt, call Kelly Parkes-Harrison, Communications Officer, University of Warwick, k.e.parkes@warwick.ac.uk, 02476 150483, 07824 540863.

For photographs or further information about the Law Teacher of the Year Award please contact:
Clare Weaver, Oxford University Press, 01865 353041 clare.weaver@oup.com
Tracey Varnava, UK Centre for Legal Education, 02476 523071 T.Varnava@warwick.ac.uk