Centre for Justice, Law and Society

Research within Derby Law School and REF UoA-18 is carried out under the umbrella of the Centre for Justice, Law, and Society (CJLS). The CJLS was launched in October 2023 as a vehicle for realising our research and REF ambitions. The Centre has three active research clusters:

Applied Clinical Legal Education and Access to Justice, which interrogates the role of public services in building a better society
International, Environmental, and Human Rights Law, which focuses on sustainable solutions in the theory, practice, and development of international law, environmental law, and human rights law
International Economic and Commercial Law, which focuses on normative developments in international economic law and international commercial law

Our aims

To produce robust, quality and innovative legal and interdisciplinary scholarship from diverse perspectives and across legal sub-fields
To impact on local and global policy through engagement with policymakers and stakeholders in the conduct of our research
To foster a research environment which is conducive to the development and delivery of cutting-edge research in response to contemporary and future challenges

Research Centre Leads

Professor Hakeem Yusuf

Hakeem Yusuf is Professor of Law and Global Studies at the University of Derby's Law School. He was awarded the prestigious John T Saywell Prize for Canadian Constitutional Legal History in 2015 by th...

Professor Chrispas Nyombi

Dr Chrispas Nyombi is Associate Professor of International Commercial Law. He joined the University of Derby in October 2021. Prior to this, he worked at Canterbury Christchurch University (Reader in ...

Our research

Launch of the Centre for Law, Justice and Society

We launched our (CJLS) Centre for Law, Justice and Society in the summer of 2023. Some of the Centre's activities include:

Three successful Law conferences

This attracted leading scholars and practitioners from around the world. These include International Law in Context (June 2023), Clinical Legal Education (September 2023) and White-Collar Crime (December 2023). Staff and PhD students within UoA 18 presented papers at these conferences. This has contributed positively to our research environment and networking opportunities for staff and PhD researchers.

CJLS research seminar series

Launched in September 2023. Each Cluster is responsible for four research seminars every academic year. These research seminars run fortnightly and involve external speakers, cluster members and PhD students within the Unit. There was an 'International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on Climate Change Roundtable Webinar' with Ambassador Namira Negm (Former Legal Counsel to the African Union and Director of the African Migration Observatory) in November 2023. The seminars series act as a peer review mechanism for UoA 18 staff while supporting the development of a research culture within the Unit.

Research workshops and training

All researchers linked to UoA 18 (Law) were given a unique opportunity to gain insight into the inner workings of REF from a REF2021 Panel Member for UoA 18, Professor Adam Geary in April 2024.

We have also had a writing retreat in June 2024 with a REF session led by Professor Donald Nicolson, University of Essex.

Research Income

Our staff encouraged and supported to generate external income. Recent research awards include successes:

Michala Meiselles: Society of Legal Scholars (September 2023: £2,187.50)
Dr Eghosa Ekhator: AHRC Research Grant (November 2024: £30,000)
Professor Flora Huang: British Academy (September 2024: £10,000)

External Engagements

Our staff are engaged in several governmental and non-governmental consultancy roles, with organisations with a broad variety:

African Union (Dr Eghosa Ekhator)
Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Professor Chrispas Nyombi)
The African Human and Peoples Rights Commission (Professor Joshua Castellino)
The International Association of Restructuring, Insolvency & Bankruptcy Professionals (Dr Jennifer Gant)
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Dr Michala Meiselles)
The Astana International Finance Centre in Kazakhstan (Professor Flora Huang)

In summary, the abovementioned activities have resulted in the creation of an intellectual setting within the CJLS and Derby Law School in which academics and postgraduate students are able to exchange ideas, present research papers, and engage with leading scholars and legal practitioners.

Research Clusters

An open book on a table in front of blurred figures in judicial dress

Clinical Legal Education and Access to Justice Research Cluster

The Clinical Legal Education and Access to Justice Research Cluster interrogates the role of public services in building a better society.

Multiple hands reaching towards each other against a globe background

International Environmental and Human Rights Law Research Cluster

The International Environmental and Human Rights Law Research Cluster is the intellectual home for research into the theory, practice, and development of all areas of public international law.

City skyline with skyscrapers against a pink sunset

International Economic and Commercial Law Cluster

The International Economic and Commercial Law Cluster brings together the corporate, finance, economic, technology and commercial law facing researchers into a single collaborative space.

Join us

If you are interested in joining this research centre, want to find out more or are interested in applying for a PhD in this area, please contact Professor Hakeem Yusuf or Professor Chrispas Nyombi.