A law lecturer with almost 40 years in the job has been reunited with students he taught over five decades.

Stephen Foster, head of law at Coventry Law School after joining in 1977, was visited by five former students who now practise at Midlands firm Band Hatton Button.

Nick Button, who was taught in the late 1970s, is now a partner and head of the firm’s commercial property department, while Jon Wilby, who graduated in 1989, is a partner and head of litigation.

Nineties student Michelle Gavin is also a partner and head of the wills, trusts and probate department, while 2010 graduate Aimee Knight is a trainee solicitor in the same department. Paralegal Francesca Knight, who qualified in 2012, is the latest member of the firm to come off the Coventry University production line.

For Foster, it was a chance to reflect on a lifetime in teaching and celebrate Coventry Law School turning 50 this year.

‘Over the past 40 years I’ve taught around 10,000 students and attended 50 graduation ceremonies,’ said Foster.

‘As a lecturer it’s quite rare to catch up with former students, let alone ones spanning so many years, so it was brilliant to meet up with Nick, Michelle, Jon, Aimee and Francesca, all of whom reflect the different generations I have taught.

‘They all showed great promise and enthusiasm as law students at Coventry, and it is always encouraging when those skills are rewarded with success.’

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