Ian Leigh

Ian Leigh is a Professor in the Durham Law School at Durham University, where he has held the position since 1997. He has also held visiting roles at universities including Otago, Florida, and Melbourne. His academic career spans research in religious liberty, national security law, human rights adjudication, and local government law. Leigh’s work bridges legal scholarship and policy, with contributions to international bodies like the European Union, Council of Europe, and UNDP.

Leigh’s research focuses on intersections between law and religion, intelligence oversight, and human rights. He has authored or edited over a dozen books, including Religious Freedom in the Liberal State and International Intelligence Cooperation and Accountability. His policy reports, such as Making International Intelligence Cooperation Accountable, have been translated into multiple languages.

Leigh teaches advanced courses on law and religion, public law, and the relationship between the state and individuals. He advises the ‘Impact of Religion’ programme at Uppsala University and collaborates internationally on human rights projects. His grants and policy work reflect a commitment to democratic governance and legal accountability in security and intelligence contexts.