Dr Esther McGuinness is a Co Director of the Ulster University Law Clinic and Senior Lecturer in Law. She holds a degree in law, a PhD from Ulster University, a PgCert in Higher Education Teaching and Practice and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Authority.

In 2004, she undertook further training in Labour Law and Human Rights at the European University Institute, Florence. She worked as a Fellow at the Transitional Justice Institute (TJI) before joining the School of Law as a Lecturer in 2004. A former Acting Head of the School of Law, she is a founding member of the Ulster University Law Clinic which offers a pro bono advice and representation service to members of the public on matters relating to Social Security and Employment Law. She is also a founding member of the Family Law Clinic @ Magee.

Esther has received grant funding from the British Academy, the Nuffield Foundation, The Legal Education Fund and the Garfield Weston Fund. She is currently engaged in a European Wide H2020 project on the use of big data sets for the collection and retention of information.

She is currently an external examiner for ADR/Employment Law Programmes at Dublic City University and the Northern Ireland Correspondent for the Irish Year Book of International Human Rights Law.

Professional Affiliations:  Member of Employment Lawyers Group; Member of the Tribunal Users group; Member of the Institute of Employment Rights; Member Committee on the Administration of Justice, Council Member Irish Association of Law Teachers.