About
Professor Amel is a Visiting Professor of Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Oxford (2024-2027) and a full-time Professor of Law at the School of Law and Social Justice, University of Liverpool. Her research expertise lies in health law, with a particular focus on the regulation of reproduction and assisted reproduction, including complex issues such as abortion, sterilisation, pregnancy policing, and fertility treatment regulation. Amel also specialises in the intersection of criminal and medical law, investigating the growing use of criminal law to govern healthcare ethics and practices. Amel’s work in these fields has led to high-impact, internationally recognised publications, which have been cited by the UK Supreme Court and featured prominently in major media outlets.
Recently, Amel expanded her research to include education law, specifically the healthcare and educational rights of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). In 2021–22, she, along with Dr Emma Ashworth (LJMU), Prof. Lucy Bray (Edge Hill), and Joanna Kirkby (LJMU), completed an NIHR-funded project on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children with SEND. This project received widespread recognition, winning the Track Impact Global People’s Choice Award for ‘Most Engaging Impact Project’ (2022), The North West Coast Innovation Award for ‘Tackling Health Inequalities’ (2023), and a commendation from The University of Liverpool for 'Research Impact of the Year' (2023). Her research aims to influence law, policy, and public discourse to better support children and young people with SEND, as well as their families, with a tangible positive impact on their lives. Notably, her findings have informed national policy decisions, as reflected in their inclusion in the Government Education Committee (2020), the House of Lords Select Committee (2023), and the Government SEND Green Paper (2023).
In addition to her research, Amel is a passionate educator and has received teaching accolades, including the Guild Award for Lecturer of the Year (winner, 2015; nominee, 2022), and the Faculty Teaching and Learning Award (winner, 2018).
Amel is also a leader in academic governance. She is a founding director of the Health Law and Regulation Unit and has held significant leadership roles, such as Associate Dean Education (2017–2019), and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead (2021–23). Additionally, she has served on Fitness to Practise Committees at both Manchester and Liverpool, as well as on the University of Liverpool’s Disciplinary Committee (2017–2022). Her editorial work includes serving as co-editor of Medical Law International until January 2024.
Amel is happy to speak on matters related to her areas of expertise.
Prizes or Honours
- People's Choice ' Most Engaging Project' (Vertigo Ventures, 2023)
- Research Impact of the Year (Commended) (The University of Liverpool Staff Awards, 2023)
- Tracking Health Inequalities Award (North West Coast Research and Innovation Awards 2023, 2023)
- Lecturer of the Year (nomination) (Guild Awards, 2022)
- Faculty Learning and Teaching Award. (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Liverpool, 2018)
- Woman of the Year Finalist and Personal Recommendation Award in 'Contribution to Medicine' Category (The English Women's Awards , 2018)
- Teacher of the Year (Liverpool Guild of Students , 2015)