Research Associate - Digital Justice Journeys

University of Kent - Kent Law School

Location: Canterbury

Salary: £39,355 to £44,128 per annum pro rata, Grade 7

Hours: Part Time

Contract Type: Fixed-Term/Contract

Placed On: 27th August 2025

Closes: 7th September 2025

Job Ref: KLS-011-25

The main purpose of the role is to help carry out a funded research project. This will include conducting research, analysing and interpreting data, writing up research work for publication and managing communications related to the project.

The overarching project is about how ordinary people navigate the justice system. The justice system, as most things we do every day, has mostly turned digital. As a result, the traditional pathways to justice (identifying a legal problem, getting advice, seeking help, accessing a complaint body, obtaining resolution), have changed. People are now required to possess a degree of digital capability to navigate their digital justice journey. How are ordinary people managing their digital journey? What are the benefits and the obstacles they face? What are the personal stories behind the promises of efficiency and speed of online systems?

What you can expect to be involved in as a Research Associate on this project:

• Plan and manage own research activity in collaboration with others
• Contribute to the design of the research
• Write up research work for publication
• Manage project communication

What will you bring to the role:

• PhD in socio-legal studies, law, anthropology, or equivalent
• Experience and proficiency in Microsoft packages
• Evidence of ability to write research reports, journal articles and other written outputs
• An interest in the welfare state and digitalisation of justice pathways

What we can offer in return:

As a member of our team, you can expect a friendly, open and collaborative working environment and support in your development and wellbeing. You'll enjoy a range of great staff benefits including: hybrid working options allowing a flexible blend of office and home working (to be agreed in line with business needs), 43 days' leave per year (personal leave, bank holidays and additional days allocated for the Christmas period, pro rata for part-time staff), excellent pension scheme with generous employer contributions, corporate employee-funded healthcare plan, in partnership with Benenden Health, retailer and wellbeing discounts via Edenred Reward Gateway, on campus cinema/theatre, sports facilities, library, nursery (Canterbury) and food outlets, study while you work discounts, cycle to work scheme, local business discounts, support in your development and wellbeing at all stages of employment, including an Employee Assistance Programme, training and development opportunities at all levels, on-site parking.

We are ambitious for our people, our communities and the region we serve – join us in making the world a better place. Visit our website for more on who we are: http://www.kent.ac.uk/about/

Please see the links below to view the full job description and to apply for this post. For further information regarding the application process, please contact peopleserviceshr@kent.ac.uk quoting reference number KLS-011-25. Alternatively, for informal enquiries, please contact the Principal Investigator Professor Naomi Creutzfeldt N.Creutzfeldt@kent.ac.uk.