Dr Claire-Michelle Smyth

About

My research interests are within the areas of International Law and Human Rights with a specific focus on Social and Economic Rights and Women's rights. 

I have teaching and supervision expertise in these areas in addition to private law areas of mainly Equity and Trusts and Contract Law. I research and publish widely within these areas. 

In addition to my teaching and research at Kingston University I am also the Postgraduate Law Coordinator working to enhance the provisions of LLM and PhDs. 

Academic responsibilities

Associate Professor of Law, Postgraduate Law Coordinator

Qualifications

  • BA
  • LLB
  • LLM
  • PhD

Teaching and learning

My teaching expertise includes International Law, International Human Rights, European Convention on Human Rights, Social and Economic Rights, Contract Law and Equity and Trusts. 

I am also interested in applications from potential PhD students in the above areas.

Qualifications and expertise

  • B.A Psychology, 1997-2000
  • Diploma in Legal Studies (Merit), 2000-2002
  • Accounting Technicians Ireland Certificate (Merit), 2002-2003
  • LL.B (hons) Irish Law: Griffith College Dublin, Dublin 8, 2007-2009
  • LL.M (hons) International Human Rights Law: Griffith College Dublin, Dublin 8, 2010-2011
  • Post Graduate Certificate in Education and Training , 2012
  • PhD ‘Ireland, the ECHR and the Justiciability of Social and Economic Rights': Queens University Belfast, 2015

Undergraduate courses taught

Postgraduate courses taught

Research

Books

  • Contract Law (Stott and Hall, forthcoming 2023)
  • Principles of the Law of Equity and Trusts in Ireland (Clarus Press 2019)
  • With Marcus Gatto, Comparative Contract Law (Business Expert Press 2018)
  • European Employment Law: A Brief Guide to the Essential Elements (Business Expert Press 2017)
  • Social and Economic Rights in Ireland (Clarus Press 2017)

Edited Collections

  • With Jack Thompson and Richard Lang (eds) Contemporary Challenges in Human Rights Law (Cambridge Scholars Publishing 2020)
  • With Richard Lang (eds) The Future of Human Rights in the UK (Cambridge Scholars Publishing 2017)

Book Chapters

  • ‘The Impact of the Economic Crisis on Socio-Economic Rights' in Tanya Ni Mhuirthile and James Gallen (eds) Law Responsibility and Vulnerability (Routledge, 2021)
  • ‘Repealed the Eighth' in Claire-Michelle Smyth, Jack Thompson and Richard Lang (eds) Contemporary Challenges in Human Rights Law (Cambridge Scholars Publishing 2020)
  • ‘Social and Economic Rights; The Struggle for Equivalent Protection in International Law' in Lora Wildenthal and Jean Quataert (eds) The Routledge History of Human Rights (2nd Ed, Routledge 2019)
  •  ‘Social and Economic Rights in a Post Neo Liberal Society' in Claire-Michelle Smyth and Richard Lang (eds) The Future of Human Rights in the UK (Cambridge Scholars Publishing 2017)
  • ‘Social and Economic Rights in the Irish Courts and the Potential for Constitutionalisation' in Tom Hickey, James Gallen and Laura Cahillane (eds) Judges, Politics and the Irish Constitution (Manchester University Press 2016)

Articles

  • ‘Derived Rights and a new era for Social and Economic Rights Jurisprudence' (2022) Irish Law Times
  • ‘Vulnerability, Social and Economic Rights and Austerity in Ireland' (2020) 16 Irish Law Times 238
  • 'Restrictive Abortion Laws as Torture in International Law' (2016) 34(9) Irish Law Times 127
  • ‘The Emergence of Justiciable Social and Economic Rights in the European Court of Human Rights' (2014) 3(1) Irish Community Development Law Journal 97
  • ‘The Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights in Ireland; Will it make a difference?' (2014) 2 Socio-Legal Studies Review 1
  • With S. Kelly "Drug Consumption Rooms: Toward the Right to Health for Addicts" (2013) 31(13) Irish Law Times 197
  • With S. Donoghue, ‘Abortion for Foetal Abnormalities in Ireland; The Limited scope of the Irish Governments response to the A, B and C Judgment'(2013) 20 European Journal of Health Law 1
  • ‘Late Stage Abortion for Foetal Abnormality and Euthanasia: Two Sides of the Same Coin?' Part Two Irish Law Times (2012) 30 (17) Irish Law Times 259
  • ‘Late Stage Abortion for Foetal Abnormality and Euthanasia: Two Sides of the Same Coin?' Part One Irish Law Times (2012) 30 (16) Irish Law Times 242
  • ‘The Constitution at 75: Time for a New Interpretation' Irish Law Times (2012) 30(9) Irish Law Times 130
  • ‘Is there any future for Social and Economic Rights in Ireland'(2011)  Dublin Legal Review Quarterly

 Conferences

  • ‘Judicial (non) Engagement with Article 45' Irish Housing Commission Conference, Dublin (May 2022)
  • ‘Derived Rights in the Irish Constitution' AHRI Conference, University of Pretoria (September 2020)
  • ‘Judicial Interpretation: O'Donnell v South Dublin County Council' (invited) DCU (January 2020)
  • ‘Repealed the Eighth' Contemporary Challenges in Human Rights Law, University of Brighton (November 2019)
  • ‘Social and Economic Rights: Ireland and International Obligations' The Constitution at 80, University of Limerick (November 2017)
  • ‘Legislative Supremacy; A Death Knell for Social and Economic Rights' International Society of Public Law, Copenhagen (July 2017)
  • ‘Social and Economic Rights in International Law' Just Fair Event, University of Brighton (November 2016)
  • ‘Social and Economic Rights in a Post Neo Liberal Society' The Future of Human Rights in the UK, University of Brighton (November 2016)
  • ‘The Economic Crisis and Social and Economic Rights' Accountability for Vulnerability, Dublin City University (September 2016)
  • ‘The Deserving Abortion in International Law' Reproductive Justice, The Unfinished Revolution, Ulster University (June 2016)
  • ‘Social and Economic Rights in the European Convention on Human Rights' International and Comparative Law in the 21st Century, Lessons Learned, Griffith College Dublin (June 2016)
  • ‘One article; Two Interpretations' Irish Society of Comparative Law (June 2015)
  • ‘Utilising the ECHR Act 2003 to further justiciability of SER in Ireland' Contemporary Issues in Socio-Economic Rights, Dublin City University, March 2015.
  • ‘Recent Trends towards justiciability for SER; A Cause for Celebration?' (Invited) Trinity College Dublin FLAC Annual SER panel, February 2015
  • ‘Social and Economic Rights in Ireland; the Road not Taken' Judges, Politics and the Irish Constitution, Dublin City University, September 2014
  • ‘The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 and its failure to protect and vindicate the rights of women in Ireland', The Challenges for Legal Thought in a Contemporary Society, Newcastle University April 2014
  • ‘The Plight of the Elderly living in Social Isolation' Social Justice and the Law Conference, Griffith College Dublin, September 2012

Conference Organisation

  • Contemporary Challenges to Human Rights Law (with Richard Lang) University of Brighton (December 2018)
  • Social and Economic Rights: From International Law to Everyday Life (with Just Fair) University of Brighton (December 2017)
  • Remembering Srebrenica: Reflections on Genocide, University of Brighton (May 2017)
  • Bringing Rights Home: Social and Economic Rights (with Just Fair) University of Brighton (November 2016)
  • The Future of Human Rights in the UK (with Marie Benedicte-Dembour) University of Brighton (November 2016)
  • Judges, Politics and the Irish Constitution (with Laura Cahillane, James Gallen and Tom Hickey) Dublin City University (September 2014)

Research student supervision