Amy Lawton

About Amy Lawton

Dr. Amy Lawton is a Senior Lecturer in Tax Law and Director of Undergraduate Studies (Semester 2) at the University of Edinburgh's School of Law. She holds a PhD, LLM, and LLB, and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). Her work focuses on tax law, environmental taxation, and clinical tax education, with a particular emphasis on community engagement through initiatives like the award-winning Scottish Tax Clinic, which provides free tax advice to low-income individuals.

Education & Qualifications

• PhD in Tax Law
• LLM (Master of Laws)
• LLB (Bachelor of Laws)
• Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)

Research Interests

Amy's research explores the intersection of tax law and environmental policy, including environmental taxation mechanisms and their impact on business behavior. She also investigates clinical tax education, tax perception among professionals, and the role of tax in driving societal change. Recent work includes studies on regulatory tax impacts, marginalized taxpayer challenges, and the conceptualization of tax among professionals.

Key Contributions

• Founder of the Scottish Tax Clinic, which has saved tens of thousands of pounds for Scottish residents
• Author of over 35 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on tax law, environmental policy, and legal education
• Member of the Tax Research Network and contributor to policy bodies like HMRC and the Scottish Government

Grants & Collaborations

Amy has collaborated with institutions including the Office of Tax Simplification, Chartered Institute of Taxation, and the University of New South Wales (as 2020 Abe Greenbaum Research Fellow). Her work informs both academic discourse and practical policy reforms in tax administration and environmental regulation.