John Hardcastle General Information John joined Clerksroom in February 2019 as a civil practitioner with experience in the fields of personal injury, credit hire (claimant and defendant) and commercial and consumer contract law. Since joining Clerksroom he has further developed a growing property law practice (in particular cohabitation, trusts of land and residential and commercial landlord & tenant). John also has an interest and some past experience in the field of employment law. John regularly appears in the County Court in trials and interim hearings and is able to assist with the drafting of documents and the provision of written advice at any stage in proceedings. He is prepared to consider instructions on a CFA basis in the right case and is qualified to accept instructions directly from members of the public. He is further authorised to conduct litigation. Prior to practising as a barrister John was employed for 16 years as a full-time operational firefighter at busy city centre fire stations dealing with all manner of emergencies. It was whilst serving as a firefighter that John embarked upon a part-time law degree, qualifying as a barrister in 2011. After qualifying as a barrister and before starting in practice John taught law at undergraduate and postgraduate level at Sheffield Hallam University (teaching Equity and Trusts, Land Law and Intellectual Property Law) before accepting a prestigious fixed-term position in 2012/13 as a Judicial Assistant in the Court of Appeal to Lord Dyson, the then Master of the Rolls. John is also able to advise in conference (in person or remotely via video). He gives considered and robust advice and takes into account the client's attitude to risk and the commercial realities of the situation. John has recently returned to teaching law at Sheffield Hallam University as an Associate Lecturer (since October 2021) teaching Trusts & Equitable Wrongs, Land, Property Law & Practice and Dispute Resolution in Tort. Areas of law Property Law Contract (Commercial & Consumer) Personal Injury Credit Hire (Claimant & Defendant) Employment Law Education Called to the Bar, Inner Temple (October 2011) BPTC – Very Competent, Nottingham Law School (2011) LLB (Hons) 1st Class, Sheffield Hallam University (2010) Awards Inner Temple Exhibition Award and Duke of Edinburgh Entrance Scholarship (2010) Sweet and Maxwell Law Prize, Sheffield Hallam University (Student achieving the highest marks on the LLB) (2010) Russell, Jones & Walker Tort Law Prize, Sheffield Hallam University (Best student on the Tort Law Module) (2008) Oxford University Press Award for Law, Sheffield Hallam University (Best 1st Year student on division’s law degrees) (2007) Chief Fire Officer’s Commendation, South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue (Rescue of a man from a 150-foot tower crane) (2001) Recruit Instructors’ Award, Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue (1993) Personal Interests When not practising or teaching law, John’s interests are mainly in sport and fitness. With a particular interest in triathlon, he regularly competes in events around the country and overseas.