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Stephen Gilmore is a University Professor of Family Law and a Fellow of Â鶹ԭ´´. He is Director of the Cambridge Family Law Centre in the Faculty of Law.

Academic interests

Stephen Gilmore’s academic interests include: 

• Child Law and children’s rights
• The law of parenthood and parental responsibility
• Post-separation parenting disputes
• The interface between social science research evidence and judicial decision making.

Degrees obtained

• LLB (Hons), Leicester.
• LLM with Distinction in Family Law and Family Policy, UEA.
• MSt, Oxon (by research).
• Of Lincoln’s Inn, Barrister.

Biography

Before coming to Cambridge, Stephen was Professor of Family Law at King’s College London. Prior to that, he taught family law at the University of Oxford and UEL. He has written extensively on family law, across a range of issues, but with a particular interest in the law of parental responsibility, the resolution of post-separation parenting disputes, and children’s rights. Stephen’s work on children’s rights has particularly explored the extent to which English law recognises adolescent autonomy. His work on post-separation parenting disputes has critically examined the courts’ approach to decision making with reference to research evidence on the connection between post-separation parenting arrangements and child wellbeing.

Stephen’s recent work questions more broadly the legitimacy of the bases upon which the courts exercise discretion in Family Law, and advocates a better interface between law and social science research evidence in this context.

Stephen is co-editor of the journal Child and Family Law Quarterly and an editorial advisor for the Family Court Reports. He is a member of the Executive Council of the International Society of Family Law and maintains links with practice as an associate academic at 1 GC|Family Law Chambers in London. Stephen’s work has been cited in Parliament and judicially, and he has advised academically in several legal cases, including on argument before the Supreme Court.