Overview

The legal academics within the Law School build on Keele University’s long-standing reputation for excellence in socio-legal scholarship and contextually-aware doctrinal legal work. 

Keele is committed to supporting research of the highest quality, which has the potential to generate impact in legal and policy fields. Established areas of strength include Gender Sexuality & Law and Professional Ethics (PEAK – see Ethics entry for details) and newer innovative groups address Globalisation & International Law and Legal Education & Professional Practice. 

In addition to these clusters, research covers a number of cross-group thematic areas including healthcare law and bioethics, governance and regulation, and globalisation and international development. See the A-Z directory of research for full details of supervisory capability, including individuals who work outside of these areas.

Facilities

Research postgraduates enjoy dedicated office space with IT facilities and have access to the University Library with its extensive online journal and database collections. Law PGR students are encouraged to take advantage of a regular series of research facilitation events and to participate in a range of research seminars from work-in-progress events to international conferences. The Centre for Law, Ethics and Society, to which academics in the Law School belong, has also secured ESRC funding for the Post-Graduate and Early Career Scholars’ Network in Law, Gender, and Sexuality (PECANS).

Research Staff and Students

Keele provides a supportive environment which encourages staff and students to produce excellent work across law and socio-legal studies. Staff publish widely, writing both monographs and articles for leading international peer-reviewed journals. Research students are encouraged to participate in national postgraduate conferences, and the internal seminars and research events which take place on a regular basis.

Research interests

• Criminal Law
• Evidence/ Sentencing
• Gender, sexuality and law
• International Law and Human Rights
• Law and Literature
• Law and Religion
• Legal Education
• Legal profession and legal services
• Legal Theory
• Medical / Health Care Law
• Property Law
• Tort Law
• Contract Law
• Disability Law