Fiona Kay

Fiona Kay is a Professor in the Department of Sociology at Queen's University, Faculty of Arts and Science. Her research examines inequality, professions, and law, focusing on how gender, race, and ethnicity impact hiring, promotion, and earnings within organizational contexts. She holds a PhD from the University of Toronto.

Research interests center on workplace diversity, legal professions, and access to justice. Key areas include: organizational barriers for underrepresented groups, lawyers' career trajectories, pro bono service impacts, and paralegal regulation. Methodologically, she employs longitudinal studies and mixed methods to analyze structural inequities.

Recent publications (2019-2024) predominantly explore gender/racial dynamics in law firms, skill development initiatives, and voluntary legal service. Trends show consistent focus on systemic barriers in professional environments and policy-relevant solutions for equity.

Awards include:

• Best Paper Award, Journal of Professions and Organization (2024)
• Lorne Tepperman Outstanding Contribution to Teaching (2024)
• Top Cited Article, Canadian Review of Sociology (2024)
• Chancellor A. Charles Baillie Teaching Award (2022)

Research funded by SSHRC, Law Foundation of Ontario, and Canadian Bar Association supports projects on U.S./Canadian law firm diversity, longitudinal lawyer careers, and paralegal education. She actively mentors graduate students in work/occupations and sociology of law.