Lottie Lane is an Assistant Professor of Public International Law at the Faculty of Law, and teaches in both our English taught LLB and LLM programmes. We've asked her a few questions below to learn more about her academic profile and perspectives on the courses and programmes that she teaches within the Faculty.

What is your specific academic background, and what are your research interests? Do you currently work on any specific research projects?

My academic background is in international human rights law, although I am also a fan of public international law more broadly. I did my LLB in the UK, so most of my courses focused on national law until I got a taste of human rights and international law and then took every course I could on those topics. I did my LLM here in Groningen with a specialization in international human rights law, which set me up for my PhD on the application of human rights law to non-State actors. Broadly speaking, this is still my main area of research, but during my PhD I became particularly interested in business and human rights, which forms the basis of one of my current research projects.

I am currently working on two research projects. The first looks at the human rights responsibilities of private businesses developing and deploying artificial intelligence (AI). I was really intrigued by news stories about the negative effects that AI was having on society, and certain vulnerable groups in particular, but I knew that international human rights law was still quite murky on what businesses should be doing to avoid or mitigate the risks of their technologies. I am in the process of trying to figure this out, looking at emerging human rights standards for AI businesses at the international, regional and national level, whether in laws themselves, or in other policy and governance instruments.

My second research project focuses on EU law. I am a postdoctoral researcher for an EU-funded project called Fundamental Rights in Courts and Regulation. The purpose of the project is to provide judicial training (and training materials) to judges from national courts across the EU regarding how fundamental rights apply in different contexts. My focus here has been on non-discrimination law and health law, although I’ve also had the chance to look at some issues of consumer protection, data protection and migration and asylum.

What courses do you teach within the Faculty? 

At the moment, my time is mostly dedicated to the research projects so I am not teaching very much. However, I am involved in the LLM course Seminar International Law in Practice, where I am supervising a group of students writing a report for an AI business on their human rights responsibilities in relation to freedom of expression. I also give a couple of lectures on AI and human rights in the Age of Human Rights course at the UCG.

In the past, I have taught a range of bachelor and master courses. At the bachelor level this includes the Introduction to International and European Law, Public International Law, and the previous Research Seminar International Law. At the master level, I have taught the Human Rights Seminar and Legal English. I also supervise theses at both levels.

What do you enjoy teaching about these courses?

There are many things I enjoy about teaching. Two of my favourite things are seeing students’ eyes light up when they become truly engaged in a topic or something clicks for the first time, and seeing students progress and gain confidence over time.

Each course that I teach has different aspects that I particularly enjoy. For the courses specifically on human rights, I love being able to critically discuss current issues in depth with students, hearing their unique perspectives and experiences. There is so much you can learn from teaching.

I really enjoy that the Seminar International Law in Practice course is (spoiler alert) practice-oriented. It is a great experience to help students write reports that have been requested and will actually be used by practitioners and can really help the students to develop skills that they will need in the future.

How are the programmes you teach in unique compared to similar programmes elsewhere? 

Each programme is unique for different reasons. There are a mix of courses in our programmes that allow students to build on different academic and practical skills, whether this is aimed more towards consultation positions (which the International Law in Practice Seminar provides), or how to apply for jobs in English and communicate with legal practitioners in English. Courses really try to prepare students for life after graduation, rather than focusing only on academic skills per se. Other courses in both the LLB and LLM programmes also incorporate more practical skills, such as drafting applications to the European Court of Human Rights.

What career prospects do you think there could be for students who pursue careers in your specific legal field of expertise?

There are so many different options for students pursuing a career in human rights, international law, and technology. I have quite a few previous students who have ended up working in courts, for example the European Court of Human Rights and the International Criminal Court as well as national courts in their home countries. Others go on to practice as lawyers, or work as consultants for organisations needing advice on human rights issues. Yet others work in advocacy, for national human rights institutions, NGOs, international organisations or pursue life in academia. The international nature of my field really opens so many doors for different opportunities. The side of my work dealing with AI allows for just as many opportunities. Law and tech, and particularly human rights and tech, are really emerging fields where there is an increasing demand for expertise, so I can only imagine that opportunities in these fields will continue to grow over time.

Has the Covid-19 situation or any other recent international events affected the way in which experts in your field practise/operate their professions?

The pandemic has had many impacts on the way that experts in my field work. There have been a lot of negative effects, but I’d like to focus on what I consider to be the main positive impact. This is that moving events online has opened up the possibility for a much wider range of participants than events that only take place physically. It allows more voices to be heard and more perspectives in the room, which, for many reasons, may have been underrepresented at physical events. I have experienced how this has led to richer debates and exchanges of knowledge and experiences that would have been much more difficult at a physical event. It has also opened events to a much wider audience from all over the world. Now that measures are loosening, many events are being held in a hybrid format, which also allows a broader range of participants.

Do you have any advice for students interested in pursuing your same field of legal expertise? 

I have two main pieces of advice concerning the process of getting your career in human rights law started: (1) be open minded; and (2) persevere.

Being open minded: Competition is tough, so it can be incredibly stressful and frustrating to try to get your career started, especially when you have your heart set on a specific career or position. Not getting that dream position might initially feel like a huge blow, but may lead you down a different, unexpected, but actually even better path, so keep an open mind. As I already said, there are so many different options for students in this field, and you may not even be aware of many of them. Cast your net wide to see what you find, and speak to as many people as you can to see where they ended up (and how). Speaking with the benefit of hindsight is always easier than accepting this in the moment, but don’t be discouraged by what you perceive to be a failure. The "failures" that we experience often end up being blessings in disguise, from which we actually benefit, and certainly learn.

Persevering: On a related note, don’t let the competition put you off. Being offered the first position you apply for is the exception rather than the rule. If an application doesn’t work out for you, keep applying for other positions and ask for feedback on your application to try to find out what you could work on. Look for people in a similar position to you, or more experienced people who have been in your shoes in the past and can offer you tailored advice on what you could do next. Make the most of every tool available to you, whether this means attending events and networking, being active on social media and LinkedIn, or simply building a supportive network of friends with whom to share successes and "failures".  

- Interview by: Dr. Chris Brennan, Marketing Advisor, Faculty of Law

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