Our impact

Centre for Law and Social Justice

people looking at the liberty building

Law and Social Justice supports scholars, activists, organisations and practitioners who are interested in and engage with questions about the existence of inequalities in welfare and social justice.

Our work considers the extent to which law can address these inequalities and help ensure that resources are shared more equitably. Further, we address the extent to which members of society have access to welfare provisions and access to justice according to their need, both in a legal and broader civil society sense.

Those working within Law and Social Justice have established international reputations across a range of areas including disability, health, access to justice, family relations, transgender rights, legal theory, reproductive rights, and human rights.

Research generated within the group interrogates the entrenched nature of inequalities and the evaluative frameworks and regulatory provisions (within law, public policy, and civil society norms) that aim to measure and promote welfare and social justice.

Centre aims

Our over-arching strategic aim is the production of high-quality impactful research which addresses law’s potential to promote social justice. This is underpinned by a strong, supportive culture for all its members.

The Centre strives to achieve four objectives:

  1. To produce internationally excellent and world-leading research: We will produce world-class outputs on the intersection of law and social justice;
  2. To create impact: Drawing directly on the research expertise of the Centre, we will contribute to legal and policy developments locally, nationally and internationally, and generate positive social change through broad public engagement;
  3. To share knowledge: We use our research and that of others to inform teaching and knowledge sharing, not only within the School’s undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, but also those outside the University including those who face injustice;
  4. To develop and protect an inclusive ethos: We encourage, expect and value contributions from members at all career stages.

Some examples of Centre for Law and Social Justice members’ recent engagement activities include: