Biography
Dr Lydia Bracken is an Associate Professor in Law and Assistant Dean for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Faculty of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) at the University of Limerick (UL). She is a graduate of UCC (BCL; LLM; PhD) and the Honorable Society of King's Inns (Barrister-at-Law degree). Lydia also completed a Masters in Teaching, Learning and Scholarship at UL. Lydia researches in the areas of child and family law, with a particular focus on the legal recognition of 'non-traditional' and 'new' families.Lydia is the author of two books, Same-Sex Parenting and the Best Interests Principle (Cambridge University Press, 2020) and Child Law in Ireland (Clarus Press, 2018), and has published her research in a range of high-ranking national and international journals. Lydia's research has been influential in guiding national debates on law reform in Ireland and abroad: for example, Lydia has presented her research to the Special Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy; the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on the rights of the child in domestic and international surrogacy; the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health during pre-legislative scrutiny of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017; as well as the European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) Task Force on LGBTI Rights; and her research has been cited by the Law Commission for England and Wales and the Law Commission for Scotland, among others. In April 2023, Lydia was selected as an inaugural member of the Young Academy of Ireland.
Lydia chairs the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Athena SWAN Self-Assessment Team and led the faculty's successful Bronze Athena SWAN award application in 2020. She is a member of a number of University-level committees including the University of Limerick Athena SWAN Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee and the Human Rights, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee.
Lydia is the inaugural course director of both the Graduate Certificate/Diploma in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and the Bachelor of Arts in Applied Policing and Criminal Justice. She was Director of Clinical Legal Education at the School of Law, UL from 2016 -2019.
Research Interests
My research interests are in the areas of child and family law and European human rights. In particular, I am interested in examining the legal recognition of 'non-traditional' and "new" families and exploring how such recognition can be provided in a manner that respects the rights and interests of children. Topics within my research include issues pertaining to parentage, parental responsibilities and guardianship, adoption, and the legal regulation of assisted human reproduction including surrogacy.I am interested in supervising doctoral research that pertains to any of my core research areas listed above. Interested students should first compile an outline research proposal before contacting me on Lydia.Bracken@ul.ie to discuss further.
Professional Activities
Award
- 2023 - Invited Visiting Professorship, University of Zurich, Human Reproduction Reloaded Project
- 2023 - Appointed as Inaugural Member, Young Academy of Ireland (April 2023 to April 2027)
- 2021 - Irish Research Council New Foundations 2020
- 2021 - National Forum Seminar Series 2021/22
- 2020 - Local Enhancement Project
- 2019 - National Forum Seminar Series 2018/19
- 2019 - National Forum Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund (Collaborator)
- 2019 - National Forum Seminar Series 2019/20
- 2019 - Erasmus+ Mobility Grant
- 2016 - Irish Research Council New Foundations 2016
- 2014 - Aidan Synnott Travel Bursary
- 2013 - Department of Children and Youth Affairs Research Scholarship
- 2012 - School of Law Research Scholarship
Outreach
- Street Law: Experiential practicum where final year law students taught law at a local DEIS secondary school. Organised in collaboration with the UL Access Office and the secondary school.
Association
- Council Member , Irish Association of Law Teachers, Council Member (until 2022)
- Member , Health Research Institute
Other
- Management Committee, COST Action: LGBTI+ Social and Economical (in)equalities (2020 to present)
- Board Member, Council of Gaisce: The President's Award (2017 to 2020)
- Editorial board member, Irish Judicial Studies Journal (2018 to present)
- External Examiner, Atlantic Technological University, Donegal (2019 to 2023)
- Inaugural Member, Young Academy of Ireland (April 2023 to April 2027)
- External examiner, Trinity College Dublin School of Law (2023 to 2026)
Committee
- University of Limerick Universal Design for Learning Steering Committee and Special Interest Group ,
- University of Limerick Education and Student Experience Committee ,
- University of Limerick Human Rights - Equality Diversity & Inclusion Steering Committee ,
- University of Limerick Human Rights - Equality Diversity & Inclusion Committee EHR Strategy Subgroup ,
- University of Limerick Internationalisation at Home EDI Working Group ,
- University of Limerick Age Friendly University Working Group ,
- University of Limerick Ethnic Diversity Forum Steering Group ,
- University of Limerick Athena SWAN Equality Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee ,
- University of Limerick Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Athena SWAN Self-Assessment Team ,
- University of Limerick Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Widening Student Participation Working Group ,
- University of Limerick Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Management Committee ,
- UL Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Strategic Planning Group ,
- UL Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Undergraduate Teaching and Learning Board,
- UL Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Postgraduate Teaching, Learning and Recruitment Board,
- Former Chair (until submission of application) University of Limerick Athena SWAN Inclusivity' Working Group,
- UL Gender Identity and Expression Policy Working Group (until completion of policy in 2022),
- UL40 Mature Student Scholarship Committee (until 2022),
- University of Limerick Covid 19 Space Management Committee (until 2022),
- UL Equality and Human Rights Sub-Committee on Academic Structures for Inclusive Learning (until 2021),