Dr Neil Graffin

Professional biography

Neil is Senior Lecturer in Law and Head of Department at The Open University (OU). He is also the Chair of the Sanctuary Advisory Network (SAN) at the OU. 

Neil studied for a PhD in Law in Queen’s University Belfast, where he also completed both his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Neil is also as an Associate Lecturer with The Open University.

Research interests

Neil's research interests are within immigration law, asylum law, human rights, and wellbeing. 

 Neil is currently the principal investigator in a British Academy/ Leverhulme funded project which looks at the legal consciousness of search and rescue volunteers who save the lives of people making dangerous crossings in the Mediterranean. 

Neil is also conducting research on the supporting and guiding role of barrister's clerks in the legal profession. He is also conducting empirical research on perceptions of wellbeing amongst managers and leaders in the legal profession. 

Teaching interests

Neil is an Associate Lecturer on W211 Public law. He has previously taught various courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. Neil is currently supervising three PhD students. 

Impact and engagement

Neil is currently working on a project with the UK charity, LawCare, to develop online resources to promote psychologically healthy practices within the legal profession. 

External collaborations

Neil is academic consultant for the BBC production Parole. 

Neil is co-author of several executive education courses including:

• Search and rescue of refugees at sea which aims to provide an introduction to the law of the sea as it relates to maritime search and rescue.

• Fit for Law which is produced with LawCare and concerns emotional competence and professional resilience and is aimed at upskilling legal professionals to emotionally healthier ways of working. 

• Becoming a Barrister which is a set of resources produced for The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple to provide careers advice to school age children and their parents to pathways to careers in the Bar.