Andrew Lika

My DPhil project extends my work in the MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice. My research aims to understand how truancy prosecutions work in practice, mapping the path to prosecution from its inception in schools, to local authorities who act as prosecutors, and, finally, the magistrates’ court where a parent’s (potentially criminal) fate is decided.

I hold a BA in Law from St John's College, University of Cambridge, where I earned the Larmor Award and Gold Pro Bono Award for my voluntary work with Level Up and Advocacy After Domestic Abuse. Since 2019, I have been an Ask Me Ambassador for Cambridge Women's Aid, raising awareness of domestic abuse through community outreach and fundraising. I have gained valuable legal experience as a trainee solicitor with Vardags and a Public Law and Human Rights paralegal with Irwin Mitchell. I have recently worked as a SEND Teaching Assistant at Impington Village College and a Guest Lecturer in Criminal law at UCL. These diverse experiences in the legal world and the education sector have significantly contributed to shaping my research project.  I am currently on the 1+3.5 pathway and am deeply grateful to the ESRC Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership for their generous support in funding my postgraduate studies.