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鈥檚 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鈥檓 interested in how children and families鈥� 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 , 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 鈥� like the .
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鈥檝e already enjoyed quite a few memorable moments. Being invited as an early career researcher to participate in the British Academy鈥檚 鈥淐hildhood Policy Programme鈥� 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 鈥淲rongs and Rights in Scottish Child Justice鈥� 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鈥檚 rights greater legal force in Scotland.
Last year, I was involved with delivering a special CPD course on children鈥檚 human rights, organised by the Institute for Inspiring Children鈥檚 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鈥檓 introducing in the Law School next year.
Tell us about any initiatives or projects you are currently involved in.
I鈥檓 a mentor on the for care-experienced students and student asylum seekers. This is a noteworthy initiative, supported by the good people at . 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鈥檓 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鈥檓 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鈥檇 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鈥檚 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鈥檝e 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.