Role
Dr Steve Atkin is an Hourly Paid Lecturer at Nottingham Law School, teaching across a range of undergraduate modules including Land Law and the Law of Trusts. He is an active member of the Centre for Rights and Justice and the Law and Literature Hub. Steve is also a member of the Human Rights Through Games project, an interdisciplinary initiative that explores how games can be used as an innovative approach to legal education and public engagement to promote understanding of human rights issues.
Career overview
Steve brings a diverse professional background to Nottingham Law School, drawing on experience across the legal, commercial, educational, and equality sectors.
He worked in both B2B and B2C premium sales before joining Nottingham Law School as a Postgraduate Researcher.
Alongside his doctoral studies, Steve delivered seminars as an Hourly Paid Lecturer at both Nottingham Law School and Nottingham Business School. He subsequently translated his expertise in disability equality and inclusion into a role as an Associate Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Partner at Nottingham Trent University, supporting institutional efforts to promote accessibility and equitable participation.
Most recently, Steve has worked with West Nottinghamshire College on the East Midlands Combined Counties Authority-funded Youth Guarantee Trailblazer project, which seeks to support young people at risk of economic inactivity and help them remain engaged in education, employment, or training.
Research areas
Steve completed his PhD in December 2024 following the successful defence of his thesis, with no corrections, entitled To What Extent are the Rights of Disabled Individuals Upheld in the Welfare Systems of the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom?
His research examined the extent to which disability welfare systems in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland comply with the accessibility requirements of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). Through a comparative legal analysis, he identified areas where disability benefits law both met and fell short of international human rights standards, culminating in a series of recommendations aimed at improving claimant experiences within the Personal Independence Payment system in the UK and Disability Allowance framework in Ireland.
His work has demonstrated tangible policy impact. Recommendations arising from his research informed legislative reform in Ireland through the introduction of the Social Security (Appeals) Regulations 2023, which extended appeal deadlines for Disability Allowance claimants and improved access to justice for disabled individuals.
More recently, Steve has expanded his research interests to encompass media and the law, particularly the legal, ethical, and regulatory issues surrounding the use of real human remains in cinema. His paper, Sympathy for the Devil, presented at the Flashpoints Conference 2026, explored questions of unconscious judicial leniency in criminal sentencing involving claims of demonic possession.
His research interests include:
- Social Security Law
- Welfare Reform
- Irish Law
- International Human Rights Law
- Disability Rights
- Comparative Legal Methodology
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
- Media and the Law
- Legal Education and Game-Based Learning
External activity
Steve currently collaborates with West Nottinghamshire College and the East Midlands Combined Counties Authority on the Youth Guarantee Trailblazer project, supporting initiatives designed to improve educational engagement and employment outcomes for young people, particularly those with mental health and neurodiverse conditions.
Steve shared his research findings with the Disability Federation of Ireland and the National Disability Authority of Ireland, contributing to wider discussions on disability rights and welfare reform.
He has also consulted with the Alliance for Inclusive Education on accessibility guidance for university students and remains actively engaged in initiatives promoting equality and inclusion within higher education.
Steve is a member of the Society of Legal Scholars and the Socio-Legal Studies Association.
Steve's doctoral research was supported by a scholarship from the Arts and Humanities Research Council Midlands4Cities Doctoral Training Partnership. He presented at multiple Midlands4Cities Research Festivals during his doctoral programme, including:
- Why the Law is as it is: Applying the Law-in-Context Method of Comparative Legal Research to Disability Welfare Law in the UK and Ireland*, Midlands4Cities Research Festival (2022)
- Disability, Language and Identity*, Midlands4Cities Created-Identities Conference (2021)
- The Fifth Dimension of Accessibility*, Midlands4Cities Research Festival (2020)
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Steve's teaching, research, and public engagement activities contribute directly to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:
- SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being, through research aimed at improving welfare systems and reducing barriers faced by disabled individuals.
- SDG 4 – Quality Education, through inclusive teaching practices, game-based learning, widening participation initiatives, and educational support for vulnerable learners.
- SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth, through work on the Youth Guarantee Trailblazer project supporting access to education, training, and employment.
- SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities, through research and advocacy concerning disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion.
- SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, through work on access to justice, human rights protection, welfare law reform, and legal education.