Erika Rackley

Professor Erika Rackley is a Professor of Law at the University of Kent's Kent Law School. Her academic career includes previous chairs at Birmingham and Durham Universities, alongside administrative roles such as Deputy Head of School and Director of Research. She co-leads major research initiatives like the Women’s Legal Landmarks Project and co-authors leading tort law textbooks.

Her research focuses on judicial studies, law and gender, image-based sexual abuse, and feminist legal history. Key projects include analyses of Lady Hale’s jurisprudence, judicial diversity reforms, and legal responses to image-based abuse. Rackley’s work has influenced UK legislation, judiciary practices, and international rulings, including a 2021 Indian Supreme Court judgment.

Publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches to legal reform, with over 65 works in areas like Feminist Judgments, Image-Based Sexual Abuse, and Judicial Appointments. She has secured grants from AHRC, ESRC, and the Leverhulme Trust, and contributes to media commentary on legal issues.

Teaching focuses on tort law, with prior modules in gender and law, criminal law, and legal methods. Rackley supervises PhD students on topics including judicial diversity in Cyprus, civil actions for rape, and Russian tort law.

• Grants: AHRC, ESRC, British Academy, Leverhulme Trust
• Key Projects: Feminist Judgments Project, Women’s Legal Landmarks
• Labs/Teams: Collaborations with Rosemary Auchmuty, Rosemary Hunter, and interdisciplinary research networks
• Future Work: Expanding feminist legal history and judicial diversity studies