Staff profile
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Job title: Senior Lecturer
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Dept: Law and Criminal Justice Studies
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Tel: 01227 782215
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Campus: Canterbury
QUALIFICATIONS
PhD (2004) Kings College, London "Sacred stories in the texts of law"
MA (1995) Distinction, Kings College, London
LLB (Hons) London School of Economics, London
TEACHING RESPONSIBILITIES
Module Leader: Criminal law, Methods of Inquiry, Religion Law and Politics.
DEPARTMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Member of the Departmental Research Group
RESEARCH, CONSULTANCY & PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY:
Research interests
I have an overarching interest in language usage, particularly legal language, legal discourse, and the interpretation of law. My theoretical research is currently focused on aspects of the relationship between law, politics and religion. For example: exploring the continuing interconnections between English law and the Judeo-Christian tradition; interrogating the role of law in the maintenance of social order within a liberal democracy grappling with religious pluralism; analysis of legal responses to religious extremism, liberalism and counter-terrorism law; and strategies for trust building within, and between, communities.
My theoretical work relating to trust building is informed by work initially commenced as a specialist facilitator for an NCTT national enterprise delivered in various local regions for community/police training weekend residential events, for up to 100 people, designed to generate intensive dialogue between police and members of the Muslim communities. Evaluative research is currently being conducted for 2010 – 2011 relating to this earlier work with a view to the commencement of a sustained research project on trust for in the session 2011 – 2012.
Book Publications
Hanson, S Legal Method, Skills and Reasoning Routledge Cavendish Publishing 2010
Hanson, S Legal Method and Reasoning Cavendish Publishing 2003
Hanson, S Legal Method Cavendish Publishing 1999
Books forthcoming
Hanson, S living under two laws, Religion, Politics and Law in modern Britain Routledge Glass House Press 2011
Articles
Hanson, S. (2008) The sacred paradox of English law Journal for the study of Implicit Religion Vol 10 No 1 [2007]
Hanson, S. (2008) Law as Implicit religion: Journal for the study of Implicit Religion and Contemporary Spirituality. Vol 9 No 2 [2006] 136 - 165
Hanson, S (1997) The secularisation Thesis: Talking at Cross Purposes Vol 12 no. 2 May 1997 Journal for the Study of Contemporary Religion May 1997 Vol 12 No 2 pp159 - 179
Review Articles
Hanson, S, Counter-Terrorism Law and Practice The Howard Journal, The Howard League and Blackwell publishing Vol 49 no 3 July 2010 pp 308 - 312
Hanson, S, Women and Religion Journal for the Study of Contemporary Religion 2000 Vol 16 No 1 Carfax Publishing
Conference papers
Socio-legal Studies conference, Manchester University. (March 2008) The three stages of 'religious' law making in the UK
Symposium on Law, culture and religion, Lancaster University School of Law Research Institute (September 2007) The religious dimensions of English law.
British Association for the Study of Religion, Oxford University (September 2004) "Law as implicit Religion"
Theology and Jurisprudence Colloquia School of Law Oxford Brookes University (February 2004) The Sacred paradox of law.
New Horizons Invited Series, Birkbeck College, London (April 2001) The secularisation Thesis: Stories of the withdrawing of the Christian God.
British Sociological Association Birkbeck College, London (November 2000) Law as sacrifice
British Sociological Association, Study of Religion Group, University of Durham (July 1999) Religion as cultural defence: Eastern Europe in the 1990's
Faith in Law Philosophy Series Kings College, London (November 1997) Sacred Fragments in the Texts of Law
Critical Legal Studies conference, Dublin (September 1997) Sacred Fragments in the Texts of law.
Socio-legal Studies Conference, Cardiff University (April 1997) Religious Imagery in the Courts of Law.
Critical Legal Studies conference, Birkbeck College, London (September 1996) Law as a religious text.
Other professional interests
I have been an external consultant for the development of teaching materials for the legal method aspects of the External Law Degree External laws University of London since 1998.
I am a founding director of the Lokahi foundation, a multi-faith charitable organisation comprised of a fellowship of academic researchers which aims to deliver effective, practical projects, cutting edge research, engage in consultancy and host events to build bridges across divides.