I am a researcher and current PhD student with the PROPERTY [IN]JUSTICE project at the Sutherland School of Law, UCD. I have lectured in environmental law, climate justice, planning law and climate law. My current research covers energy law, just transition, climate justice, cultural heritage, planning policy and climate legislation. I have a special interest in ‘left field’ approaches and work often with artists.
Prior to undertaking my PhD at UCD I worked as a consultant on climate change law and policy for the National Economic and Social Council, Senator Alice Mary Higgins, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, the Green Party of Ireland and Philip Lee. I studied law (LL.B) at Trinity College Dublin, graduating with first class honours (2008-2012). I subsequently undertook a Master of Laws (LL.M) at the London School of Economics where I focused on climate change, critical human rights, cultural heritage and legal geography. I also secured a scholarship on the Gender, Globalisation and Human Rights programme in NUI Galway (PgDip).
My LSE LL.M thesis on fairyforts and their interaction with Irish planning and environmental law was supervised by Dr. Tatiana Flessas and subsequently published in 2020 as a best-selling art book Men Who Eat Ringforts, co-written with Michael Holly and Eddie Lenihan. The book was published by the wonderful Askeaton Contemporary Arts, and edited by artist Michele Horrigan. We’re now on our third print run!
At UCD I am part of the PROPERTY[IN]JUSTICE (2020-2026) project led by Principal Investigator Prof. Amy Strecker and Dr. Amanda Byer. This research project investigates the role of international law in creating spatial justice and injustice through its conception of property rights in land. In going beyond traditional legal analysis to include interdisciplinary and cross-cultural perspectives, the project aims to push the boundaries of property and advocate for more place-based understandings of land across international law. The project is funded by the European Research Council (ERC) and hosted by the Sutherland School of Law, University College Dublin.
A full list to my academic publications can be found here, and publications for general readership here. You can also explore my policy engagements here, television/radio/media here. My work on art and the law can be found here.
You can contact me by email at sinead.mercier@ucd.ie
Sinéad Mercier 