Brian Farrell

Brian Farrell serves as Associate Professor of Instruction at the University of Iowa College of Law, holding key leadership roles including Associate Director of the UI Center for Human Rights, Director of the Citizen Lawyer Program, and Director of the undergraduate Human Rights Certificate program. He additionally maintains an adjunct lecturer position at the Irish Centre for Human Rights, University of Galway.

Education:

• BA, St. Ambrose University, 1995
• JD, University of Iowa College of Law, 1998
• LLM, National University of Ireland, Galway, 2002
• PhD, National University of Ireland, Galway, 2014

His research centers on International Law and Human Rights, with specialized focus on habeas corpus mechanisms in global contexts and criminal justice reform. Teaching emphasizes practical application through courses in international law, criminal law, and human rights, informed by his field experience in judicial systems and innocence advocacy.

Scientific Awards:

• Fulbright Senior Lecturer (2012) for teaching at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Bulgaria

Professor Farrell co-founded the Innocence Project of Iowa and contributed to judicial reform as a member of the Iowa Judicial Branch Court Navigators Pilot Project Task Force. His clinical programs provide students with direct human rights advocacy experience through the Citizen Lawyer initiative and undergraduate certificate curriculum. Prior to academia, he practiced law in Iowa and Georgia, grounding his teaching in real-world legal challenges.