Senthorun Raj

Dr. Senthorun (Sen) Raj is a Reader in Human Rights Law and Deputy Faculty Head of the Doctoral College at Manchester Law School. He holds editorial roles for Palgrave’s Socio-Legal Studies Book Series, leading the Queer Law sub-series and Feminist Legal Studies as a Reflections Editor. His interdisciplinary work bridges cultural studies and law, focusing on LGBTIQ+ rights, emotion, and legal reform.

Dr. Raj earned a BA (Hons), LLB (Hons), and PhD from the University of Sydney, where his Honours thesis on sexual orientation asylum claims won prestigious awards. He completed a PGCert in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education and is a UK Higher Education Academy Fellow.

His research explores emotions in legal judgments, particularly how they shape LGBT rights globally. Major works include The Emotions of LGBT Rights and Reforms (2025) and Feeling Queer Jurisprudence (2020). He co-leads the Queer Judgments Project, reimagining legal rulings to better serve marginalized communities.

Teaching focuses on Criminal Law, Equality Law, and International Human Rights Law. He supervises PhD students researching LGBTQI rights in the Caribbean, queer stereotypes, and creative-critical methodologies. His professional service includes UKRI Interdisciplinary Assessment College membership and prior roles with the QAA and Amnesty International UK.

Key awards include the Australian Lesbian & Gay Archives Thesis Prize and University of Sydney Medal. He has held visiting positions at NYU’s Center for Human Rights and Global Justice and is a Churchill Fellow. His media contributions span The Conversation, The Guardian, and BBC Radio 3.