Strathclyde alumnus Dr Michelle Donnelly completed her undergraduate and postgraduate studies in law at the University. She worked in student support, teaching and research roles and then returned to the University in 2021 as a lecturer at the Law School with her former PhD supervisors becoming her colleagues.
What’s your Strathclyde story?
I first came to Strathclyde as a student where I completed my LLB. and PhD. at the Law School. I later worked in various student support, teaching, and research roles, within and beyond Strathclyde. I moved to the University of Stirling for my first permanent academic post.
I returned to Strathclyde in July 2021 to take up my current role as a Lecturer in Law. I work across child and family law and mainly focus on compulsory state intervention in family life in cases of child protection and childhood offending.
I’m interested in how children and families’ experiences can be improved, and rights assured, in civil and criminal justice processes.
What initially attracted you to Strathclyde?
As a student, I was attracted to Strathclyde for its modern Law School with a commitment to social justice. The University of Strathclyde Law Clinic, which supports access to justice in the local area and where I volunteered as a student adviser, was a big pull for me.
As a member of staff, I was interested in returning to Strathclyde to work alongside the mentors who shaped me as a student and an early career researcher.
I was also keen to forge new relationships with colleagues working in research centres aligned with my interests – like the Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice (CYCJ).
What inspired you to enter your field?
I was attracted to learning about the legal discipline but never had a strong desire to enter the legal profession, even after working in a law firm throughout my undergraduate degree.
I loved engaging with bigger ideas during my Honours year and became increasingly intrigued by the relationship between law and society - of the interaction between legal norms, institutions and those affected by them. This influenced my desire to pursue socio-legal research.
What advice would you give to anyone starting out in your field?
Challenge everything.
What has been the most memorable moment of your career to date?
I feel very privileged to have the career I have, and I’ve already enjoyed quite a few memorable moments. Being invited as an early career researcher to participate in the British Academy’s “Childhood Policy Programme” sticks out as a highlight.
More recently, since being back at Strathclyde, I presented at the International Society of Family Law Conference in Tobago.
My paper “Wrongs and Rights in Scottish Child Justice” was based on research locating the Scots child justice approach within international and regional human rights frameworks, highlighting several areas of challenge and opportunity.
The experience of visiting the Caribbean, and of connecting with family law researchers and practitioners from all over the world was unforgettable.
What current trends do you see influencing your field/profession?
One of the big trends influencing my recent work is the proposed incorporation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into domestic law, which should give children’s rights greater legal force in Scotland.
Last year, I was involved with delivering a special CPD course on children’s human rights, organised by the Institute for Inspiring Children’s Futures and led by Visiting Professor Ann Skelton who is a member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
The course was an enriching experience and the learning from it has fed into the development of a new postgraduate module which I’m introducing in the Law School next year.
Tell us about any initiatives or projects you are currently involved in.
I’m a mentor on the Strathclyde Cares Programme for care-experienced students and student asylum seekers. This is a noteworthy initiative, supported by the good people at Who Cares? Scotland. I was part of a large group of staff who were awarded a Strathclyde Team Medal for their contribution as mentors earlier in the year.
I’m just finishing off an international, comparative child protection project, led by the European University Viadrina, involving research partners from over 30 countries. Alongside colleagues in CYCJ and Education, I’m also involved with developing a new, participatory project on justice inequalities and intersectionality for children in conflict with the law.
Any special thanks or shout-outs you’d like to give to colleagues who have helped or inspired you throughout your career here?
So many Strathclyde colleagues have helped me, supported me and inspired me over the years.
Special shout-outs must go to Professors Claire McDiarmid and Kenneth Norrie who supervised my Ph.D. research on the children’s hearings system.
Getting the chance to work with them again was one of the reasons I wanted to come back to Strathclyde. It was a bit weird returning as their colleague, but I think I can now even count them as friends!
What keeps you busy outside of work?
First and foremost, my family and friends. I love to travel and cook. I’ve recently taken up swimming which I try to integrate into my work routine.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Country music.
In one word describe what Strathclyde means to you.
Community.