Elizabeth Conaghan

Recent and Current Projects

Elizabeth’s teaching practice is informed by two key themes: inclusivity and embedding employability, both of which are informed by her background and pedagogic research. She recently worked with the Head of School, local law firms, and student partners to redesign the Commercial Law module to embed more practical skills and include authentic assessment. Elizabeth was recently commissioned to co-write a book chapter on embedding employability in law schools.

Elizabeth also has a particular interest in understanding the role of emotion in student learning, particularly students' reported experiences of tutorial participation and group work and whether such experiences are affected by gender and/or intersectionality. She has undertaken qualitative and quantitative research in this area and presented her findings at the International Conference on Gender Research in 2020 and 2022.

Allied to this, Elizabeth views the role of the creative arts as offering a complimentary space for students to enhance their learning. In 2019, she initiated and produced a staff-student production at Minghella Studios of “The Disappearance of Miss Bebb”, a play written by Alex Giles about the campaign for women to be allowed to practise law. The play was inspired by an article written by Professor Rosemary Auchmuty at the School of Law about the life of Gwyneth Bebb. The play formed part of the ‘100 Years of Women’s Voices Programme’ which Elizabeth led and which included the play, a symposium, an art exhibition, and a commemorative book (edited by Dr Madeline Davies at Department of English Literature).

Elizabeth is currently working with RABBLE Theatre and the playwright and author, Zannah Kearns, to commission a play (funded by the Vice Chancellor and the School of Law) about the Post Office Horizon Scandal.