The Queen’s Law faculty continues to expand its research and teaching capacity with the addition of Professor Lisa Kelly. A former Trudeau scholar, Kelly holds a SJD from Harvard Law School and is a former fellow of the Centre for Reproductive Rights and Columbia Law School in New York City.

“I chose Queen’s Law because of its stellar reputation for quality research and teaching, particularly in the area of criminal law,” says Kelly.  “When speaking with faculty and alumni of Queen’s, I have heard again and again that it is a school that places great value on the student experience and is committed to fostering a collegial learning environment.  This was a very important draw for me as I embark on my first year of teaching.”

During the upcoming academic year, Kelly will be teaching criminal law and evidence. She speaks excitingly about these subject areas. “Criminal law and evidence are fascinating areas of study because they deal with some of the most serious and direct ways that individuals experience law and state power.” Furthermore, Kelly aims to explore links between different areas of the law rather than getting boxed into one or two subject areas. “I look forward to exploring connections in my teaching and scholarship between criminal law and family law, another of my areas of specialization to date – specifically, interrogating the ways in which the state regulates family and other intimate relationships and the consequences this has for differently situated groups and individuals.”

This builds on Kelly’s previous scholarship into how the law interacts with diverse groups. Her doctoral dissertation, “Governing the Child: Parental Authority, State Power, and the School in North America,” concerned legal struggles over race, corporal punishment and the disciplinary reach of school authorities. “I am especially interested in the class, race, and gender dimensions of criminal law and enforcement and of the rules of evidence,” she says. “From the point of initial contact with the police through the trial or plea bargaining process, the background of an accused person or of a crime victim can bear significantly on how the matter is resolved.”

Students can look forward to an engaging classroom experience when they learn with Kelly. “I look forward to sharing my work with students and, importantly, to gaining insights from them. Queen’s Law is very much at the forefront of embracing new approaches to law teaching, including the use of technology and alternative modes of evaluation. As a professor, I am committed to using varied pedagogical approaches that will enable students to gain the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in law school and in their subsequent careers. This is a very exciting moment to be joining Queen’s Law and I am delighted to be a part of it.”