Lecturer joins elite club of Agricultural Law experts

Posted 17 July 2023

A Senior Harper Adams Lecturer has been awarded Fellowship of a select band of agricultural professionals with fewer than 200 members globally.

Senior Lecturer Andrew Black secured Fellowship of the Agricultural Law Association (ALA), an accolade often regarded as the highest in the legal sector, at the start of the summer.

The Association was founded in 1975 and is devoted to representing the law of agriculture and business of the countryside.   Andrew – who studied at Harper Adams then worked in industry before returning to teach the professionals of the future -  joins a group of less than 200 experts in the world who can call themselves a fellow of the ALA.

Andrew, who teaches on Harper Adams University’s Land and Property Management courses, said: “I specialise in teaching Agricultural Law at Harper Adams and I really enjoy making what can be a very complex subject accessible  - and even fun - to all students.

 This award feels like a recognition of the 20 years I have spent teaching and practicing in this specialist area and allows me to promote the work of the ALA, in particular its growing student membership, sponsorship and engagement.”

The Fellowship was awarded after Andrew completed a tough entrance course and examination. These covered all aspects of agricultural law, taxation, business structures, diversification and policy across a detailed scenario-based environment.

Andrew added: “I feel rather humbled, firstly to have been selected to undertake the course, as this considers a wide range of factors including service to the industry and relevant experience   - although I will have been qualified as a Chartered Surveyor for 20 years in December, so I ticked that box!

“Secondly, it feels great to have passed the tough examination to be accepted into the highest level of the organisation.”