Professor Richard Kirkham

School of Law

Head of School

Staff photo of Richard Kirkham
Profile picture of Staff photo of Richard Kirkham
R.M.Kirkham@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 6704

Full contact details

Professor Richard Kirkham
School of Law
Bartolome虂 House
Winter Street
葫芦影业
S3 7ND
Profile

My main research interest is administrative justice, with a particular specialism on the work of the ombudsman. I am a current holder of an 18 month Nuffield Foundation grant examining the procedural fairness in ombuds schemes.

I am a recognised national and international authority on the ombudsman institution after writing widely on the topic, including the book The Ombudsman Enterprise and Administrative Justice (with Trevor Buck and Brian Thompson (Ashgate, 2011)).

In 2013, I was the lead author on an independent report commissioned to review the work of the Local Government Ombudsman in England External Evaluation of the Local Government Ombudsman. In 2013 I also conducted an evaluation of the Gibraltar Ombudsman scheme - A Review of the Gibraltar Public Services Ombudsman.

In 2007 I was the author of a Parliamentary Paper on the Parliamentary Ombudsman鈥檚 40th anniversary, The Parliamentary Ombudsman: Withstanding the test of time.

My work has been widely cited, for instance in the Law Commission鈥檚 2008 and 2010 reports on '' and its later work on "Public Services Ombudsmen". For the 2014 REF exercise my combined work was submitted as one of the School of Law鈥檚 impact studies.

In 2015, I received a Faculty of Social Sciences Teaching Excellence in Social Sciences (TESS) award for outstanding learning and teaching. In recent years I have become a regular blogger and can be followed on twitter.

Previously, I studied Law at Southampton University (LLB), Socio-Legal Studies at the University of 葫芦影业 (MA) and completed a PhD in Law, also at the University of 葫芦影业. I have worked as a lecturer at the University of 葫芦影业 since 2001, and before that was employed by the Audit Commission.

Qualifications
  • PhD, University of 葫芦影业
  • MA Socio-Legal Studies, University of 葫芦影业
  • LLB Law, University of Southampton
Research interests
  • Ombudsman
  • Constitutional Theory
  • Administrative Justice
  • ADR

I was formerly the Director of the Centre for the Study of Law in Society.

Publications

Books

  • (2020) . Springer International Publishing. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hertogh M & Kirkham R (2018) . Edward Elgar Publishing. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Buck T, Kirkham R & Thompson B (2013) The ombudsman enterprise and administrative justice. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Buck T, Kirkham R & Thompson B (2011) The ombudsman enterprise and administrative justice. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Buck T, Kirkham R & Thompson B (2010) The Ombudsman Enterprise and Administrative Justice. Routledge. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Buck T, Kirkham R & Thompson B () . Routledge. RIS download Bibtex download

Edited books

  • Kirkham R, Stirton L, Arvind TT & Mac S铆thigh D (Eds.) (2021) Executive Decision-Making and the Courts: Revisiting the Origins of Modern Judicial Review.. RIS download Bibtex download

Journal articles

  • Creutzfeldt N & Kirkham R (2020) . Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 42(2), 253-273. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R & Stuhmcke A (2020) . Common Law World Review. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R & O鈥橪oughlin EA (2019) , 329-341. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM, Leigh J, McLaughlin K & Worsley A (2019) . Legal Studies, 39(2), 339-357. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R (2018) . Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 40(1), 110-125. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2017) JR55, judicial strategy and the limits of textual reasoning. Public Law(1), 46-62. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Behan CM & Kirkham R (2016) . The Howard Journal of Crime and Justice, 55(4), 432-454. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM & Allt A (2016) . Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 38(2), 211-227. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2016) . Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 38(1), 103-114. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2015) A Welsh Twist on Constitutional Watchdogs. Cambrian Law Review. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R & Wells P (2014) . Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 36(2), 190-207. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R & Martin J (2014) . Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 36(3), 330-348. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R (2012) . Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 34(1), 87-89. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2012) The Ombudsman, Tribunals and Administrative Justice Section. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law(1), 71-73. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R (2011) . Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 33(1), 71-83. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Buck T, Kirkham RM & Thompson B (2011) Time for a 鈥楲eggatt鈥 style review of the ombudsman system. Public Law, 20-29. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2011) Administrative Justice in Context: A manifesto for further study. Modern Law Review, 74(4). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R (2010) . Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 32(3), 325-334. RIS download Bibtex download
  • French D & Kirkham RM (2010) Complaint and Grievance Mechanisms in International Law: One Piece of the Accountability Jigsaw?. New Zealand Yearbook of International Law, 179-206. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2010) Quangos, Coalition Government and the ombudsmen. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law(4), 411-421. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2010) Lessons from devolution. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law(3), 325-334. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R (2009) . Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 31(3), 299-308. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R, Thompson B & Buck T (2009) . Parliamentary Affairs, 62(4), 600-617. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2009) A new Scottish approach to administrative justice. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law(3), 299-308. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2009) The Constitutional Role of the Ombudsman. The International Ombudsman Year Book, 10, 120-140. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2008) Explaining the lack of enforcement power possessed by the ombudsman. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law(3), 253-263. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2008) Quiet moves towards proportionate dispute resolution: The Law Commission's consultation paper on administrative redress. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law(2), 163-174. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R (2008) . Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 30(1), 75-83. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2008) Human Rights and the Ombudsmen 鈥 2005-06. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law(1), 75-83. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2008) When Putting Things Right Goes Wrong: Enforcing the Recommendations of the Ombudsman. Public Law, 510-530. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2007) New legislation, court cases, Parliamentary reports and an anniversary: A Review of the Public Sector Ombudsmen 鈥 2006-07. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law(3/4), 319-330. RIS download Bibtex download
  • (2006) . Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 28(2), 201-210. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2006) A Review of the Public Sector Ombudsmen 鈥 2005-06. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law(3/4), 347-358. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2006) Challenging the authority of the Ombudsman: The Parliamentary Ombudsman鈥檚 special report on wartime detainees. Modern Law Review, 792-818. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM & cardwell PJ (2006) The EU: a role model for regional governance?. European Public Law, 3, 403-431. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2006) Housing Allocation, Homelessness, Special Reports and the Ombudsmen. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law(2), 189-198. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2006) Finally, Reform is on its Way. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law(1), 81-86. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2005) Auditing by stealth? Special Reports and the Ombudsman. Public Law, 740-748. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2005) A complainant鈥檚 view of the Local Government Ombudsman. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law(3/4), 381-392. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2005) Reforming the Tribunal Sector. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law(2), 185-197. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2005) The Ombudsmen of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law(1), 79-90. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R (2004) . Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 26(4), 417-429. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R (2004) . Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 26(3), 301-311. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R (2004) . Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 26(1), 89-98. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R (2004) . Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 26(2), 181-194. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2004) The latest from the UK Ombudsmen. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law(4), 417-429. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2004) Prevention is better than litigation. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law(3), 301-311. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2004) When is it appropriate to use an Ombudsman?. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law(2), 181-194. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2004) A Year in the Life of the Parliamentary Ombudsman. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law(1), 89-98. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R (2003) . Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 25(3), 267-275. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R (2003) . Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 25(4), 399-410. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM & James R (2003) Slow Progress in Parliament: the Eighth Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life. Modern Law Review, 906-919. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2003) Dealing with unlawful charging of mental health patients. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 401-412. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2003) Why Ombudsmen are important: helping long-term patients. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 267-275. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Beyleveld D, Kirkham RM & Townend D (2002) Which presumption? A critique of the House of Lords鈥 Reasoning on Retrospectivity. Journal of Legal Studies, 185-207. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R () . Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 1-12. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R & Elizabeth O () Judicial Review and Ombuds: A Systematic Analysis. Public Law. RIS download Bibtex download

Chapters

  • Kirkham R, Tomlinson J, Hertogh M & Thomas R (2022) Administrative Justice: An overview of different traditions and concepts In Kirkham R, Tomlinson J, Hertogh M & Thomas R (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Administrative Justice (pp. xv-xxiii). Oxford University Press RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R (2022) The Ombud as a Chameleon: A Story of Adaptation to Different Administrative Cultures In Kirkham R, Tomlinson J, Hertogh M & Thomas R (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Administrative Justice (pp. 89-114). Oxford: Oxford University Press. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R & Tomlinson J (2022) Revisiting the Administrative Justice Legacy of New Labour In Tucker A & Gordon M (Ed.), The New Labour Constitution Hart Publishing RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R (2022) Decentred Regulation of the Ombudsman Sector: UK style In Groves M & Stuhmcke A (Ed.), Decentred Regulation of the Ombudsman Sector: UK style RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R, Arvind TT, Stirton L & Mac S铆thigh D (2021) Introduction: Judicial review and the Quartet In Kirkham R, Arvind TT, Stirton L & Mac S铆thigh D (Ed.), Executive Decision-Making and the Courts: Revisiting the Origins of Modern Judicial Review Hart Publishing RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R, Stirton L, Arvind TT & Mac S铆thigh D (2021) The real argument about judicial review In Kirkham R, Stirton L, Arvind TT & Mac S铆thigh D (Ed.), Executive Decision-Making and the Courts: Revisiting the Origins of Modern Judicial Review Hart Publishing RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R & Tsarapatsanis D (2021) Strategic judging: lessons from the Reid era of judicial decision-making In Kirkham R, Stirton L, Arvind TT & Mac S铆thigh D (Ed.), Strategic judging: lessons from the Reid era of judicial decision-making RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R & Taylor M (2021) Health Data, Public Interest, and Surveillance for Non Health-Related Purposes In Iphofen R & Kolstoe S (Ed.), Ethical Issues in Covert, Security and Surveillance Research RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R & Gill C (2020) , A Manifesto for Ombudsman Reform (pp. 13-39). Springer International Publishing RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham R (2020) , A Manifesto for Ombudsman Reform (pp. 127-142). Springer International Publishing RIS download Bibtex download
  • Gill C & Kirkham R (2020) , A Manifesto for Ombudsman Reform (pp. 1-11). Springer International Publishing RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hertogh M & Kirkham R (2018) An agenda for future research: Towards a general 'ombuds-science', Research Handbook on the Ombudsman (pp. 508-515). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hertogh M & Kirkham R (2018) The ombudsman and administrative justice: From promise to performance, Research Handbook on the Ombudsman (pp. 1-15). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2016) Regulating ADR: Lessons from the UK In Cortes P (Ed.), The New Regulatory Framework for Consumer Dispute Resolution Oxford University Press RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2014) Commentary: The improving but imperfect world of the Ombudsman In Elliott M & Thomas R (Ed.), Public Law Oxford: Oxford University Press. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Thompson B, Kirkham RM & Buck T (2011) Modelul Ombudsmanului britanic, irlandez 艧i Australian: expansiune, redimensionare 艧i noi orizonturi In Drago艧 D-C & Neam牛u B (Ed.), Institu牛ia Ombudsmanului: justi牛ie alternativ膬? (pp. 277-299). Bucharest: C H Beck. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM & French (2010) Complaint and Grievance Mechanisms in International Dispute Settlement In French , Saul & White (Ed.), International Law and Dispute Settlement New Problems and Techniques (pp. 57-86). Hart RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2005) CARICOM and the role of regional organisations in the global legal order In Lewis D (Ed.), International and Regional Organisations (pp. 177-198). Oxford: Hart. RIS download Bibtex download

Conference proceedings papers

  • Kirkham RM (2012) The Future of the Ombudsmen Enterprise. The Future of the Ombudsmen Enterprise鈥 10th World Conference of the International Ombudsman Institu. Wellington, New Zealand, 11 July 2012 - 18 July 2012. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM () Judicial Review or the Ombudsman: which institution best provides long term administrative advice?. Public Law Project, 6 July 2006 - 10 July 2006. RIS download Bibtex download

Reports

  • Kirkham RM & Martin J (2015) The creation of an English Public Services Ombudsman: mapping a way forward. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Thomas R, Kirkham RM & Martin J (2013) External Evaluation of the Local Government Ombudsman RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2012) A Review of the Gibraltar Public Services Ombudsman RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM, Thompson B & Buck T (2008) Public services ombudsmen and administrative justice: models, roles, methods and relationships RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2007) The Parliamentary Ombudsman: Withstanding the test of time RIS download Bibtex download

Website content

  • Kirkham RM (2015) Mapping a new world of accredited ADR schemes. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2015) Analysis: Not there yet but some ombudsman reform buses have come into sight. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2014) Analysis: Richard Kirkham on the Government鈥檚 plans for consumer ADR: Innovation or more of the same. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2014) Lessons in watchdog design from Scotland and Wales. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2014) The creation of an English Public Services Ombudsman: mapping a way forward. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2014) Another false dawn, or the moment ADR becomes mainstream?. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2009) The Ombudsmen Enterprise and Administrative Justice: an academic viewpoint. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2007) Researching Public Services Ombudsmen and Administrative Justice. RIS download Bibtex download

Other

  • Kirkham RM (2015) Submitted evidence to the Assembly for Wales (Finance Committee) Inquiry into the powers of the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2015) Submitted evidence to the Cabinet Office's Consultation on A Public Service Ombudsman. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Thompson B, Kirkham RM & Buck T (2013) Submitted evidence to the Parliamentary Inquiry of the Public Administration Select Committee. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Thompson B, Kirkham RM & Buck T (2013) Submitted evidence to the Parliamentary Inquiry of the Public Administration Select Committee. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2011) Consultation response to the Law Commission鈥檚 Public Services Ombudsmen paper. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM & James R (2002) Oral evidence to the Committee on Standards in Public Life. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkham RM (2002) Written evidence to the Committee on Standards in Public Life, 2. RIS download Bibtex download
Research group
  • Administrative Justice
  • Ombudsmen
  • Public Law
Grants

Title/Description: 鈥楥hallenging the ombudsman: Are current review processes fit for purpose?

  • Awarding Body: Nuffield Foundation
  • People Involved: Kirkham, R.
  • Years Funded for: 2017-2018
  • Amount: 拢83,491

Title/Description: 鈥楲egal Transplants and Public Service Bargains: Explaining Civil Service Performance and Reform in Jamaica and Trinidad-Tobago鈥

  • Awarding Body: British Academy: International Partnership and Mobility Scheme
  • People Involved: Stirton, L., Kirkham, R., and Lodge, M.
  • Years Funded for: 2013-2015
  • Amount: 拢29,864

Title/Description: Public Services ombudsmen and administrative justice: models, roles, methods and relationships

  • Awarding Body: Swindon: Economic and Social Research Council
  • People Involved: Kirkham, R., Thompson, B. and Buck, T.
  • Years Funded for: 2007-2008
  • Amount: 拢77,115
Teaching interests

I received a Teaching Excellence Award in 2015 in recognition of sustained high quality teaching, various examples of innovative teaching and best practice in the School of Law, and for my work in leading the review of our undergraduate qualifying law degrees.

Teaching activities

The module I teach are:

Undergraduate

  • Law and Accountability
  • Advanced Constitutional Law
  • Advanced Administrative Law (Convenor)
Professional activities and memberships
  • Editor of Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law
  • Member of British and Irish Ombudsman Association
  • Witness for the Committee on Standards in Public Life

Recent Invited Papers and Keynote Lectures

  • 鈥楾he Public Service Ombudsman (Wales) Bill: comparisons with the global model鈥 The Ombudsman in a decade of public policy change, Ombudsman Association, University of Aberwsywth (28 October 2016)
  • 鈥楲egal Transplants, Public Sector Bargains and the Ombudsman鈥 Public sector bargains in Jamaica, University of West Indies (25 October 2016)
  • 鈥楤rexit and Judicial Power鈥 Workshop on the Miller case University of Liverpool (October 2016)
  • 鈥楧emanding More of Judicial Reasoning鈥 Reform Public Law Now conference, University of Sussex, (September 2016)
  • 鈥楶roblems with justice and ADR鈥, ADR and Justice Conference, University of Oxford, 18-20 April 2016.
  • Building a Legal Database for the Ombudsman Sector, Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education, Reading, March 2016.
  • 鈥業nsights from the UK: What has the ADR Directive done for the Ombudsman model?鈥, Transformation of Consumer Dispute Resolution in the EU workshop, University of Leicester, September 2015.
  • 鈥楨valuating Ombudsman Schemes in the Round鈥, Trusting the middle 鈥搈an鈥: Impact and Legitimacy of Ombudsmen, University of Oxford, April 2014.