1985-86              
Master of Public Health (MPH) at Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Thesis: Elderly in Iceland. Received study grants from the World Health Organization in Copenhagen and the Thor Thors Memorial Fund.

1980-81              
Advanced legal studies at Stockholm University, mainly focusing on insurance law. Received a study grant from Svenska Institutet. Thesis: Property Insurance in Iceland.

1980                   
Cand.Jur. from the University of Iceland, Faculty of Law, 23 February 1980. Thesis: Störf og starfshættir barnaverndaryfirvalda (Functions and Practices of Child Protection Authorities).

1975                    
Hamrahlíð College, University Matriculation Certificate, 16 May 1975.

From 1996
Supreme Court Attorney with own offices in Reykjavík from 1 January 1996 (DP SOLICITORS from 2003). Also the estate agency DP PROPERTY from January 2004.

1981-1995
Lawyer at the Ministry of Health and Social Security. Head of Administrative Services for legal, insurance and international affairs from 1 October 1990 to 31 December 1995. Head of Division for international affairs, social security and general legal issues from 1 August 1987 to 30 September 1990. Head of Division for the affairs of the elderly from 1 April 1983 to 1 June 1985. Remunerated secretary to three committees on the affairs of the elderly from 1 August 1981 to 1 April 1983.

1980-81
Lawyer at the Internal Revenue Directorate, Iceland (at intervals).

Licences
1994 Supreme Court Attorney, 23 June 1994.
1982 District Court Attorney, 12 July 1982, following an examination task.
2004 Licence to operate as a property, business and ship broker

For a number of years:

• Courses organized by the Institute for Continuing Education, University of Iceland on legal issues, particularly health law.

• University of Iceland, Faculty of Medicine, 6th-year law courses