Durham Law School

Durham Law School is at the cutting edge of global law and policy research and engagement. Scholars working in DLS share a conception of law as having social functions that is grounded in certain universal values, and one of those functions is to regulate conduct (personally and publicly).  

Our teaching is research-led with staff teaching in their areas of specialisation. DLS is strongly expanding its PGT portfolio with the introduction of new programmes in bio-law, intellectual property, finance law and commercial arbitration. 

1. Criminal Justice – Dr Hannah Bows 

Evidence submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service Homicide Consultation and produced Guides for practitioners on Community Care Inform; she is Specialist adviser to the Women and Equalities Committee - Preventing VAWG Inquiry. 

2. Climate Action – Dr Petra Minnerop 

DLS has taken a leading role in the process of engaging with the United Nations Framework Convention and Climate Change (UNFCCC). A Durham delegation attended COP26 and will continue to be part of the yearly conferences and meetings. DLS is leading the COP Steering Group across the University through a new Sustainable Development Research Centre. 

3. Human Rights and Public Law Centre – Dr Dimitrios Kagiaros  

In 2021, the centre submitted a Human Rights Act response, which was cited multiple times in the eventual IHRAR report to government. In 2022, the centre submitted a response to the Ministry of Justice’s consultation on reforming the Human Rights Act 1998. 

4. New Cyberflashing Criminal Offence in Northern Ireland – Professor Clare McGlynn QC (Hon) 

Clare McGlynn's research has led to a new law being introduced in Northern Ireland in March 2022 to criminalise cyberflashing, the sending of genital images to another without consent. Professor McGlynn advised the Justice Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly, who found Professor McGlynn's evidence 'compelling'. 

5. Citizenship test research - Professor Thom Brooks 

Thom Brooks was invited by the House of Lords’ Justice and Home Affairs Committee to pitch for a possible inquiry. Brooks recommended the Committee launch an inquiry into the Life in the UK citizenship test and it was accepted, leading to the formal start of an inquiry. 

6. Academic partner to the government's WPS Helpdesk - Dr Catherine Turner 

Since 2021, DLS has been the academic partner to a newly established Helpdesk facility that provides high-quality research and analysis on Women Peace and Security to departments across government. The Helpdesk is funded by the FCDO and runs for a period of three years. 

7. Financial Law – Dr Federico Lupo - Pasini 

As co-convenor of the SLS Banking & Finance section, Federico Lupo Pasini is organizing a conference on financial law that will gather all the main financial law academics in the UK to discuss new issues in the regulation and law of finance and the status of the discipline.