Charlotte O'Brien

Professor Charlotte O'Brien is a faculty member at York Law School, specializing in EU social law, migration justice, and human rights. Her work bridges doctrinal and empirical study, focusing on Brexit's implications for citizenship, social security, and equality.

• Education: BA (University of Cambridge), LLM (University of Leeds), PhD (University of Liverpool), PGCAP (University of York)
• Key Roles: Director of Research, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Champion, PhD supervisor

Research Interests:
Her research examines Withdrawal Law, retained EU law, and the intersection of immigration law with poverty and xenophobia. She leads the EU Rights & Brexit Hub, analyzing Brexit's impact on EU nationals' rights and contributing to strategic litigation.

Scientific Awards:

• Legal Academic of the Year (Inspirational Women in Law Awards, 2022)
• Hart & Socio-Legal Studies Association Best Book Prize (2019)
• Shortlisted for BBC & BSA Ethnography Prize (2018)

Projects:
Her ESRC-funded projects include the EU Rights Project (2013–2017) and the EEA Public Services Research Clinic (2020–2023). These initiatives combined legal action research with ethnographic methods to address administrative barriers faced by EU nationals.