She is the former Master of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, since her appointment in October 2013 and was succeeded to the position in October 2019 by Sally Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Huyton.
She is Professor of Criminal and Penal Justice in the Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge.
In addition to her academic work, she was a Recorder of the Crown Court from 2002-2014 , and is a Bencher of the Middle Temple.