Research in Action

Navigating public perceptions of justice in frontline services

In this episode of Research in Action, Professor Joe Tomlinson explores what fairness means in everyday encounters with public services, from welfare systems to mental health care. Drawing on extensive research, he explains how people’s experiences of processes and not just outcomes, shape trust in government, their willingness to engage, and even wellbeing. The conversation explores how perceptions of justice are formed, and what “good” system design really looks like in practice. Highlighting the importance of dignity, respect and context, this episode provides insight into how fairer processes can improve both individual experiences and the effectiveness of public policy.

Accident: Bringing legal cases to life through theatre

This episode explores Accident, a collaboration between law and theatre. Lloyd Gash discusses how a real legal case was transformed into a fictionalised stage production to examine themes of justice, responsibility and interpretation, and how theatre provides an opportunity to explore justice beyond the classroom.   The conversation considers whether performance can heighten both empathy and legal understanding, make legal concepts more accessible while bridging the gap between law and creative practice.

Children in police custody: Exploring a child-first vision for policing

In this episode of Research in Action, Dr Miranda Bevan explores what happens when children enter police custody. Drawing on her research, she reveals how current practices, from detention conditions to strip searching, can impact vulnerable young people.  The discussion highlights emerging reforms, including shorter detention time limits, improved frontline decision-making and greater access to legal advice, all aimed at creating a more “child-first” approach to policing.   With insights into racial disparities and the experiences of children in care, this episode shines a light on an often-hidden part of the justice system, and what needs to change.

Research in Action - Connecting systemic risks and international legal practice

In this episode of Research in Action, Helen Wright speaks to Dr Trevor Clark about how international law firms and lawyers play a critical yet often overlooked role in shaping financial markets and systemic risk. Drawing on extensive empirical research and interviews with senior lawyers for his book ‘Financial Markets and the Ethics of Legal Practice’ Dr Clark explores ethical pressures within international legal practice, implications for lawyer independence, and how these dynamics can contribute tomarket opacity and financial instability.

Research in Action - The Laws of Social Reproduction

In this episode of Research in Action, Helen Wright speaks to Professor Prabha Kotiswaran and the team behind the EU-funded project, The Laws of Social Reproduction, about how law shapes women’s paid and unpaid labour in India. Drawing on six years of interdisciplinary research into carework, surrogacy, sex work, domestic labour, and unpaid domestic and care work, they explore how ‘social reproduction’, a term that encompasses the work that sustains life, is often hidden, undervalued, or criminalised.  Combining fieldwork, feminist legal theory and policy engagement, their research shines a spotlight on this hidden engine of society by rethinking how laws and policies recognise (or refuse to recognise) women’s reproductive work, including the idea of an ‘Indian Care Manifesto’ that centres care at the heart of justice and equality.