Professor Jane Williams

Professor

Law

+44 (0) 1792 295815

jane.m.williams@swansea.ac.uk

Office - 136
First Floor
Richard Price Building
Singleton Campus

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

Research Links

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0467-2317

ResearchGate

About

Jane’s career spans private practice at the Bar of England and Wales, UK and Welsh Government legal work and professional training, prior to joining Swansea University in 2000. Her academic work features extensive public and policy engagement. She founded and edited the Wales Journal of Law and Public Policy 2001 – 2006 and was pivotally involved in civil society efforts to secure legislation on the rights of the child in Wales and the establishment of the Welsh Youth Parliament. She co-founded the Observatory on Human Rights of Children and secured grant funding to establish the Children’s Legal Centre Wales. From 2014 – 2020 Jane led successive grant-funded projects developing human rights approaches to empowering children as researchers and agents of change. Her innovations in teaching include the introduction of modules on Street Law and Human Rights Approaches to Research with Children. Jane’s academic publications are in the fields of devolution, child law and children’s rights.

Jane holds the following qualifications:

MA Cantab, 1978
LLM London, 1979
Barrister, Inner Temple, called 1980

Areas Of Expertise

Public Law
Human Rights
Legal status and agency of children
Participative rights and co-production
Law and public policy
Public legal education
Devolution and multi-level governance
Administrative justice

Career Highlights

Teaching Interests

Jane has contributed to team teaching on Public Law, Tort Law, Family Law, Legislative Drafting and Multi-level Governance. She created innovative modules on Street Law, Child Law and Human Rights Approaches to Research with Children. She is currently working to develop interdisciplinary teaching aimed at enhancing current and future professional practitioners’ knowledge and skills for practice on children’s human rights and on dialogical approaches to human rights education as buffer to extremism.

Research Collaborations

Publications

Research Highlights

Murphy, A., Roberts, L., Williams, J., Chicken, S., Clement, J., Waters-Davies, J., & Tyrie, J. (2024). Participative rights in Welsh primary schools: Unpicking the policy rhetoric. Policy Futures in Education, 0
https://doi.org/10.1177/14782103241257281, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66394
Williams, J. & Eirug, A. (Eds.). (2022). The Impact of Devolution in Wales: Social Democracy with a Welsh Stripe?. University of Wales Press.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65961
https://www.uwp.co.uk/book/the-impact-of-devolution-in-wales/
Williams, J. (2022). Globalisation and the Ideologies of Children’s Rights. In Joseph Zajda, Yvonne Vissing and Suzanne Majhanovich (Ed.), Globalisation, Comparative Education and Policy Research (pp. 13-34). Springer International Publishing
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-92774-5_2, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65958
Charles, A., Williams, J., & Mabophiwa, P. (2022). Project Evolve: Exploring the Potential of Music-Based Support for Young People
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64056
Williams, J. (2022). Threads in Policy on Children and Young People: Rights and Well-being. In J Williams and A Eirug (Ed.), The Impact of Devolution in Wales: Social Democracy with a Welsh Stripe? (pp. 179-204). University of Wales Press
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60317
https://www.uwp.co.uk/book/the-impact-of-devolution-in-wales/

All Research

Journal Articles

Murphy, A., Roberts, L., Williams, J., Chicken, S., Clement, J., Waters-Davies, J., & Tyrie, J. (2024). Participative rights in Welsh primary schools: Unpicking the policy rhetoric. Policy Futures in Education, 0
https://doi.org/10.1177/14782103241257281, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66394
Croke, R., Dale, H., Dunhill, A., Roberts, A., Unnithan, M., & Williams, J. (2021). Integrating Sustainable Development and Children’s Rights: A Case Study on Wales. Social Sciences, 10(3), 100
https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci10030100, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56453
Rees, O. & Williams, J. (2016). Framing Asymmetry: Devolution and the United Kingdom’s Four Children’s Commissioners. The International Journal of Children's Rights, 24(2), 408-433.
https://doi.org/10.1163/15718182-02402002, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa26976
Williams, J. (2012). General legislative measures of implementation: individual claims, ‘public officer’s law’ and a case study on the UNCRC in Wales. The International Journal of Children's Rights, 20(2), 224-240.
https://doi.org/10.1163/157181811X570744, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa8424
Hayes, J., Hayes, M., & Williams, J. (2010). Re MA (Care Threshold): “Shocking” abuse followed by a “staggering” ruling on likely significant harm’. Family Law
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa12905
Williams, J. (2007). Incorporating children's rights: the divergence in law and policy. Legal Studies, 27(2), 261-287.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-121X.2007.00049.x, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa2272

Book Chapters

Williams, J. (2022). Globalisation and the Ideologies of Children’s Rights. In Joseph Zajda, Yvonne Vissing and Suzanne Majhanovich (Ed.), Globalisation, Comparative Education and Policy Research (pp. 13-34). Springer International Publishing
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-92774-5_2, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65958
Williams, J. (2022). Threads in Policy on Children and Young People: Rights and Well-being. In J Williams and A Eirug (Ed.), The Impact of Devolution in Wales: Social Democracy with a Welsh Stripe? (pp. 179-204). University of Wales Press
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60317
https://www.uwp.co.uk/book/the-impact-of-devolution-in-wales/
Williams, J. (2014). England and Wales. Litigating the Rights of the Child Springer
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa19541
Williams, J. (2013). The Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure 2011 in the context of the international obligations of the United Kingdom. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in Wales (pp. 49-64). Cardiff: University of Wales Press
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa12883
Hoffman, S., Williams, J., & Hoffman, S. (2013). Accountability. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in Wales (pp. 167-180). Cardiff: University of Wales Press
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa12884
Marshall, K., Marshall, K., & Williams, J. (2012). Children's commissioners: representing children's interests and views. Children's Services: Working Together (pp. 36-49). Pearson
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa12885
Williams, J. (2010). Remedies. The Law and Social Work (pp. 110-125).
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa12902
Williams, J. (n.d.) Implications for Administrative Justice of Wales' Unique Child Rights Laws2017-09-01 | book-chapter. In S.Nason (Ed.), S.Nason (ed.) Administrative Justice in Wales and Comparative Perspectives University of Wales Press
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52694

Conference Contributions

Morgan, J., Paiement, A., Seisenberger, M., Williams, J., & Wyner, A. (2018). A Chatbot Framework for the Children’s Legal Centre. In Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence and Applications (pp. 205-209).
https://doi.org/10.3233/978-1-61499-935-5-205, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa48384
http://ebooks.iospress.nl/volumearticle/50853

Edited Books

Williams, J. & Eirug, A. (Eds.). (2022). The Impact of Devolution in Wales: Social Democracy with a Welsh Stripe?. University of Wales Press.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65961
https://www.uwp.co.uk/book/the-impact-of-devolution-in-wales/
Williams, J. (Ed.). (2013). The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa12869
Invernizzi, A. & Williams, J. (Eds.). (2011). The Human Rights of Children: From visions to implementation. Ashgate.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa5052

Other Research Outputs

Charles, A., Williams, J., & Mabophiwa, P. (2022). Project Evolve: Exploring the Potential of Music-Based Support for Young People
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64056

Supervision

The article 9 right to religious manifestation: The perceived victim status of Muslim women in the European Court of Human Rights (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Tom Hannant
Should school exclusions be banned?«br /»«br /»«br /»«br /»«br /»«br /» What are the most effective and beneficial ways in which children’s voices are heard and listened to in more than a tokenistic way, which is essential to their development, keeping them in education, promoting their wellbeing, and empowerment? (current)

DBA

Other supervisor: Dr Simon Brooks

Taught Modules

LAA103 Law of Tort 1

The Law of Tort is a branch of the civil law which provides possible remedies for the protection of a person¿s interests in relation to different forms of loss which may be experienced as a result of different types of incident. Examples of loss considered in this module include physical damage to the body or to property, injury to reputation and injury caused by the condition of premises. In deciding whether there is liability in tort, the claimant is required to demonstrate that he was owed a duty by the defendant and it may be vital to determine the degree to which one side or the other was to blame for what happened. It may matter whether the defendant caused the injury deliberately, negligently, or there may be liability even though the person who has caused the damage was not to blame at all.
LAA103C Cyfraith Camwedd

The Law of Tort is a branch of the civil law which provides possible remedies for the protection of a person¿s interests in relation to different forms of loss which may be experienced as a result of different types of incident. Examples of loss considered in this module include physical damage to the body or to property, injury to reputation and injury caused by the condition of premises. In deciding whether there is liability in tort, the claimant is required to demonstrate that he was owed a duty by the defendant and it may be vital to determine the degree to which one side or the other was to blame for what happened. It may matter whether the defendant caused the injury deliberately, negligently, or there may be liability even though the person who has caused the damage was not to blame at all.
LAA124C Cyfraith Camwedd

The Law of Tort is a branch of the civil law which provides possible remedies for the protection of a person¿s interests in relation to different forms of loss which may be experienced as a result of different types of incident. Examples of loss considered in this module include physical damage to the body or to property, interference with use and enjoyment of land and injury caused by the condition of premises. In deciding whether there is liability in tort, the claimant is required to demonstrate that he was owed a duty by the defendant and it may be vital to determine the degree to which one side or the other was to blame for what happened. It may matter whether the defendant caused the injury deliberately, negligently, or there may be liability even though the person who has caused the damage was not to blame at all.
LAA210 Family Law: Parents & Children

This module examines the law relating to parenthood and the parent/child relationship in England and Wales. It focuses particularly on issues relating to parenthood, parental responsibility, children's rights, parental disputes over children and public law issues surrounding child protection.
LAA301 Family Law: Parents & Children

This module examines the law relating to parenthood and the parent/child relationship in England and Wales. It focuses particularly on issues relating to parenthood, parental responsibility, children's rights, parental disputes over children and public law issues surrounding child protection.
LAA368 Street Law

Street Law is a free legal education programme delivered to schools or community groups. It empowers people by informing them about the law, legal system and human rights in a democratic society. This module enables students to develop and deliver a Street Law session on a selected topic. Students will be supported to select a legal topic, conduct legal research and prepare a session suitable to the selected audience. Through a mixture of whole group workshops, supervision of their individual and team project work and through delivery and evaluation of their session, students will gain skills and confidence in communicating complex areas of law in ways which are accessible to members of the public. They will gain understanding of why law is sometime perceived negatively and about barriers to access to justice. They will develop strategies for challenging negative perceptions of law, building understanding and encouraging discussion. They will practise and improve their interpersonal skills (communication, negotiation, presentation, team-working, lawyering skills (client communication, public speaking, ability to explain the law to lay people), skills for service delivery (marketing and outreach, dealing with feedback and accountability) and will gain understanding of the legal needs of a particular client group and how to respond professionally.
LAAM36 Human Rights of Children

This module focuses on children's human rights. It will examine how children's interests are safeguarded in international human rights law, and how these are enforced in the system of international human rights. The module will adopt a thematic approach to discuss the challenge of implementing children's human rights at a national level, with a focus on State responsibility, incorporation or embedding children's human rights through law and policy, a Children's Rights Approach, children's participation in policy development, Children's Rights Impact Assessment, and accountability for children's rights. The emphasis in this module is on developing students' understanding of children's human rights and mechanisms to realise those rights in practice through law and policy,
LAQ224 Tort Law

The Law of Tort is a branch of the civil law which provides possible remedies for the protection of a person¿s interests in relation to different forms of loss which may be experienced as a result of different types of incident. Examples of loss considered in this module include physical damage to the body or to property, interference with use and enjoyment of land and injury caused by the condition of premises. In deciding whether there is liability in tort, the claimant is required to demonstrate that he was owed a duty by the defendant and it may be vital to determine the degree to which one side or the other was to blame for what happened. It may matter whether the defendant caused the injury deliberately, negligently, or there may be liability even though the person who has caused the damage was not to blame at all.

Career History

Professor, School of Law, Swansea University

2018 - Present
Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, School of Law, Swansea University

2000 - 2018
Government Legal Adviser, Home Office, Civil Service College, Welsh Office, National Assembly for Wales

1985 - 2000
Private practice at the Bar of England and Wales, London

1980 - 1985

Affiliated Positions

Acting Director, Morgan Academy

2019 - 2020

Key Grants and Projects

Little Voices Being Heard 2017 - 2020

Big Lottery People and Places , £246,654
Digital Capacity for Children’s Legal Information and Advice 2017 - 2017

Legal Education Foundation , £15,000
Children’s Legal Centre 2016 - 2018

Paul Hamlyn Foundation , £70,795
Public Legal Education in Wales 2016 - 2017

Legal Education Research Network, £2,900
Little Voices Shouting Out 2014 - 2017

Big Lottery People and Places , £229,523

Professor Jane Williams

Telephone number

Email address

LinkedIn Account

Research Links

About

Areas Of Expertise

Career Highlights

Research Highlights

All Research

The article 9 right to religious manifestation: The perceived victim status of Muslim women in the European Court of Human Rights (current)

LAA103 Law of Tort 1

LAA103C Cyfraith Camwedd

LAA124C Cyfraith Camwedd

LAA210 Family Law: Parents & Children

LAA301 Family Law: Parents & Children

LAA368 Street Law

LAAM36 Human Rights of Children

LAQ224 Tort Law

Professor, School of Law, Swansea University

Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, School of Law, Swansea University

Government Legal Adviser, Home Office, Civil Service College, Welsh Office, National Assembly for Wales

Private practice at the Bar of England and Wales, London

Acting Director, Morgan Academy

Little Voices Being Heard 2017 - 2020

Digital Capacity for Children’s Legal Information and Advice 2017 - 2017

Children’s Legal Centre 2016 - 2018

Public Legal Education in Wales 2016 - 2017

Little Voices Shouting Out 2014 - 2017