Dr Victoria Ridler

Overview

Biography

Dr Victoria L. Ridler is a Senior Lecturer in Law and has been teaching in Higher Education since 2003 (joining Birkbeck as a Lecturer in 2010.) In her early career Dr Ridler also worked in policy analysis, with experience in the United Nations and Federal Government of Canada. 

Her current research engages with theories of legal subjectivity, authority, and obligation as well as language and forms of reasoning. These research interests inform her teaching (and vice versa) in Public law, Contract law, and her new module Legal Argument and Language in Law.

 

Dr Ridler also has a strong interest in thinking about institutional forms and processes, particularly in creating spaces and opportunities for others. In terms of academic thought and community this is reflected in her work with the London Conference in Critical Thought, which she founded in 2010 and has remained an active member of the Organising Collective since. Unlike many academic conferences, the LCCT was developed to be accessible, non-hierarchical, and focused on creating space for conversation and emergent interdisciplinary thought. As such, the conference is always free to attend, prioritising space for discussion and bringing presentations together that are in conversation (rather than standalone presentations) and abstains from conventions such as invited or plenary speakers or including titles and institutional affiliations in the programme. Dr Ridler is also the managing editor of the London Journal of Critical Thought, a peer-reviewed open access journal launched in June 2016.

 

In her academic administrative roles at Birkbeck (including Chair of the Sub-Board of Examiners, Programme Director for the LLB, AD of Education and now as Head of School), Dr Ridler has similarly focused on enhancing student experience, creating spaces for collaboration and discussion among colleagues, and enhancing procedural fairness and transparency in decision making and administrative processes.

Highlights

• Finalist for Law Teaching of the Year Award, Oxford University Press, 2019
  (See video here.)

• Victoria L. Ridler (2019) The Exercise of Jurisdiction and the Absent Author of Law’s Speech. Law & Literature 31 (1), pp. 71-93.

Qualifications

• PhD Law, University of London, 2016
• MA Legal Studies, Carleton University, 2006
• BA Combined Honours in International Development Studies and Political Science, Dalhousie University, 2001

Administrative responsibilities

• Head of School

Professional activities

Managing Editor, London Journal of Critical Thought

Founder and active member of the Organising Collection, London Conference of Critical Thought

Professional memberships

• Fellow, HEA

  Member, The Society of Legal Scholars

Research

Research overview

Dr Ridler's research engages with theories of legal subjectivity, authority, and obligation as well as language and forms of reasoning.

One of her current projects draws from her previous work on theorising jurisdiction and asymmetric legal obligation in application to Strasbourg (European Court of Human Rights) jurisprudence on jurisdiction. 

If you are interested in pursuing research in these areas, you should first read our advice on how to apply for MPhil/PhD research before submitting an application.

Publications