Advancing legal rights and social justice
Monday 14 September 2026
Understanding your rights, accessing support, and overcoming barriers to healthcare, housing, employment or justice can have a profound impact on people’s lives. Yet for many individuals and communities across Scotland, rights recognised in law are not always realised in practice.
To help address these challenges, Robert Gordon University (RGU) has launched the Centre for Legal Rights, Social Justice and Inclusion (CLaRION), a new research centre bringing together expertise in law, sociology, psychology and social work to advance legal rights, tackle inequality and improve lives through research, collaboration and engagement.
Working alongside community organisations and charities, legal professionals, policymakers and public sector partners, CLaRION aims to bridge the gap between rights recognised in law and rights experiences in everyday life. Its work will focus on some of society’s most pressing challenges, including human rights, poverty, access to healthcare, social inclusion and impacts of climate change.
Aidan O’Neill KC, who delivered the keynote address at the centre’s launch, said: “The great thing about CLaRION is that it is breaking down those silos, getting people to speak to each other and thereby allowing us all to learn from one another.
“It will inform, as far as I’m concerned, actual legal practice because it allows us, as practising lawyers, to understand the greater context of the legal issues and problems people are facing. And, as we know, in the law, context is everything.”
Turning research into real-world impact
Led by Co-Directors Dr Sarah Sivers and Dr Uche Iloka from the School of Law and Social Sciences, the centre will deliver interdisciplinary research designed to inform policy, support communities, and contribute to meaningful social change.
At the heart of CLaRION's work is a commitment to ensuring that people can understand, access and rely on their legal rights in everyday life. The centre combines legal research with wider social and community perspectives to address real-world challenges and inequalities.
CLaRION's work will focus on:
- Improving access to justice.
- Helping individuals and communities understand and exercise their rights.
- Challenging legal and structural barriers that prevent rights from being realised.
Addressing today’s social challenges
Dr Sarah Sivers, Co-Director of CLaRION, said: “By connecting individual experiences with wider systemic issues, CLaRION aims to contribute to meaningful and lasting social change.
“Many people will come face to face with significant legal and human rights challenges throughout their lives. Many of these barriers can be addressed by ensuring the necessary advice, knowledge and research are available to those who need them most.
“CLaRION has a real opportunity to be at the heart of social change in Scotland."
Dr Uche Iloka, Co-Director of CLaRION, added: “CLaRION places RGU at the forefront of the change required to ensure equality, fairness and access to justice for everyone. By bringing together expertise from across the University, we are confident we can help deliver positive change throughout Scotland."
Working in partnership
A key feature of CLaRION is its commitment to collaboration. The centre will work with legal professionals, public bodies, charities, community organisations and policymakers to co-produce research that informs decision-making and supports positive change locally, nationally and internationally.
The centre was officially launched on Friday 11 September 2026 at Aberdeen Town House where Aidan O’Neill KC, one of Scotland’s most respected legal figures and current Scottish Legal Awards Lawyer of the Year delivered the keynote address.
Part of RGU’s research and innovation network
The new centre is one of nine Research and Innovation Centres established by RGU as part of its ambition to become the UK's leading work-integrated university. These centres bring together expertise from across disciplines to deliver research with practical benefits for society, industry and communities.
The centres act as focal points for interdisciplinary research as well as for innovation.