Penelope Russell

Penelope Russell is a Lecturer in Law at the University of Sheffield's School of Law, specializing in family law and legal history. She transitioned from a nine-year career as a family law solicitor to academia in 2003, teaching undergraduate family law, criminal law, and justice. Russell chairs the Law School Ethics Committee, contributes to the textbook 'Family Law' (OUP 2022), and serves as an external examiner for the University of Law's LLM LPC program.

Her research bridges historical and contemporary family law issues, focusing on topics like child custody in mid-Victorian England, step-parent parental responsibility, and financial support in divorce cases. Recent publications include empirical studies and historical analyses, reflecting her dual expertise in legal practice and jurisprudence. Russell's work has appeared in journals such as the American Journal of Legal History and The Journal of Legal History.

Scientific awards include Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA). She pioneered active learning pedagogies in her seminars, incorporating debates, role-plays, and collaborative exercises. Russell supervised research projects on domestic violence services, cost barriers in care proceedings, and legal professional culture.