Dr Michael Lane

Dr Michael wearing a suit and smiling

Lecturer in Law

Institute of Arts and Humanities

School of Law

Contact Details

email: m.lane@worc.ac.uk

Michael joined the University of Worcester as a Lecturer in Law in August 2023, having previously worked as a Lecturer at Newman University and visiting lecturer at Birmingham City University. He currently teaches across the University’s LLB and LLM programmes, and is a supervisor of two PhD students. Michael is also the research lead for the School of Law, and the deputy course leader for the LLM in Legal Practice. He is also the co-convenor of the Public Law Section of the Society of Legal Scholars, along with his colleague Dr Chris Monaghan, University of Worcester.

Michael has an LLB in Law (first class hons.), an LLM in International Human Rights (with distinction), a PhD in Law, and is an AdvanceHE Fellow. He has also trained at the Geneva Academy for International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights in Switzerland, and at the Siracusa International Institute for Criminal Justice and Human Rights.

Michael’s research is concerned with the relationship between international human rights law and institutions, and domestic legal systems. He is particularly interested in the United Nations bodies, notably the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). Michael’s research has been published in the Journal of Human Rights Practice, Human Rights Law Review, the Nordic Journal of Human Rights, and Legal Studies, among others. He regularly contributes written reports to United Nations bodies and has given evidence to delegations in Geneva to inform the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review. He also submits evidence to domestic inquiries in the UK and has appeared before select committees in Parliament.

Michael can provide training, capacity building and consultancy for individuals and organisations seeking to engage with the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. He is also welcoming PhD applications on projects related to his areas of expertise.

Teaching Interests

Michael has been teaching in higher education since 2018. He has experience teaching on a variety of modules on LLB and LLM courses, but has a particular interest in public law areas, notably constitutional law, international law, and human rights.

For the academic year 25-26, Michael is the module leader for Employment Law (LLB), and Public Law and Human Rights (LLM). He also teaches on the Public Law (LLB), Medical Law and Ethics (LLB), and Equity and Trusts (LLB) modules.

Michael is a Fellow of Advance HE and looking toward his application for Senior Fellowship.

Research Interests

Michael’s research concerns the relationship between international human rights law and institutions and domestic legal systems, primarily that of the United Kingdom. He is especially interested in the United Nations human rights mechanisms such as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and the treaty bodies. Michael’s research is empirical and interdisciplinary, drawing on theory from constitutional law, sociology, and international relations to interrogate state behaviour. Michael has publications in a variety of journals, notably the Journal of Human Rights Practice, Human Rights Law Review, and the Nordic Journal of Human Rights.

Michael has several ongoing projects. Foremost, he is finalising the manuscript for his forthcoming monograph on the UPR to be published in 2026 with Bristol University Press. He is also working on an edited collection, ‘International Law and the UK’ which builds on papers presented at the University’s conference of the same name in November 2024.

In addition to publishing, Michael provides expert advice to individuals and organisations. In May 2023 and June 2025, he gave in-person evidence at Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights. He has given written evidence to inform international and national inquiries. He has also provided training and capacity building on the UPR for lawyers and civil society organisations. He welcomes invitations to consult, advise and provide training on the UPR.

Professional Bodies

Michael is a member of the Universal Periodic Review Academy Network (UPRAN), the Society of Legal Scholars (SLS), and the Socio-Legal Studies Association (SLSA) and the International Association of Penal Law (AIDP).

Michael is the co-convenor of the Public Law Section of the Society of Legal Scholars, along with his colleague Dr Chris Monaghan, University of Worcester.

He is also the Society of Legal Scholars ‘Constituency Representative’ for the University of Worcester. 

Publications

Conference Presentations and Other Research Activity

  • Lane, M. ‘The Role of Judges in the Universal Periodic Review: Insights from England and Wales (forthcoming at Society of Legal Scholars Annual Conference, University of Leeds, September 2025) (https://virtual.oxfordabstracts.com/event/public/74111/program)
  • Lane, M. Yorke, J. Storey, A. Witness at Public Evidence Session with the Joint Committee on Human Rights (UK House of Lords, June 2025) (https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/93/human-rights-joint-committee/events/)
  • Lane, M. Participant at ‘The Contemporary Relationship Between International and Domestic Law: A Workshop’ (Durham Law School, June 2025)
  • Lane, M. Convenor of ‘International Law in the UK’ Conference, University of Worcester (November 2024) (https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2025/01/31/conference-report-international-law-in-the-uk-a-troubled-relationship/)
  • Lane, M. 'The Universal Periodic Review in the UK: Conceptualising the Role of the Judiciary (September 2024) Scottish International Law Conference, University of Stirling <https://www.stir.ac.uk/events/23-24/scottish-international-law-conference-2024/>
  • Lane, M. and Cowell, F. 'Understanding the UPR for Legal Practitioners' (August 2024) Training delivered in conjunction with UPR Info, Geneva <https://upr-info.org/en/news/upr-legal-practitioners>
  • Lane, M. 'The Utility of International Human Rights Recommendations in Domestic Law' (April 2024) School of Law Spring Research Workshop, University of Worcester
  • Lane, M. 'Rethinking Human Rights Recommendations in Whitehall: A Case for a National Mechanism for Reporting, Implementation & Follow-up (NMIRF)?' (March 2024) Socio Legal Studies Annual Conference, Portsmouth
  • Lane, M. ‘UN Treaty Body Findings in Parliamentary Deliberation: The Case of the United Kingdom Parliament’ (forthcoming at the ‘Rights and Justice: In Theory and Practice’ Conference, University of Worcester, Sep 2023)
  • Lane, M. Yorke, J. Storey, A. Witness at Private Evidence Session with Joint Committee on Human Rights (UK House of Lords, Westminster, May 2023).
  • Lane, M. ‘The United Kingdom and International Human Rights: The Fourth Universal Periodic Review Cycle’ (Conference at University of Leicester, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ 75th anniversary – making (UDHR) Human Rights real in the UK, Apr 2023).
  • Lane, M. ‘UPR and the UK’ (Civil Society Conference, STEAMHouse, Birmingham, February 2023).
  • Lane, M. ‘The United Kingdom’s Receptivity to the United Nations Human Rights Standards: the Example of the ‘Universal Periodic Review’ (Invited Contribution at University of Leicester’s UDHR and Social Justice Workshop, July 2022).
  • Lane, M. ‘The UK and the UPR’ Poster Presentation (Midlands4Cities Digital Research Festival, June 2021).