Dr Sharon Thompson
Reader in Law
- thompsons20@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44(0)29 2087 4362
- 1.18, Law Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX
- Media commentator
Overview
I joined Cardiff in 2015, having previously been a Lecturer at Keele University (2013-2015) and a Visiting Fellow in 2014 at City University Hong Kong. I am module leader of Family Law and joint module leader of Legal History. I am also Director of Part Time Tutors for the School of Law and Politics.
I research the areas of divorce, family property, prenuptial agreements, and mid-twentieth century legal history, with a particular focus on feminist perspectives.
- In 2015 I published my first book with Hart Publishing titled Prenuptial Agreements and the Presumption of Free Choice, which was shortlisted for the Peter Birks Prize for Outstanding Legal Scholarship in 2017 and both the SLSA Hart Socio-Legal Book Prize and the SLSA Socio-Legal prize for Early Career Academics in 2016. The book was cited and applied by the High Court of Australia in Thorne v Kennedy [2017] HCA 49, a landmark case that is shaping the law of undue influence in Australia.
- In 2016 I received an Outstanding Contribution Award for research from Cardiff University. I have been interviewed by BBC News, BBC Radio Stoke, Lexis Nexis and Index on Censorship about my work on prenuptial agreements and financial provision on divorce, and my work has been discussed in the House of Lords.
- I have featured in a BBC Radio 4 series titled 'The Battles That Won Our Freedoms' where I told the story of Victorian activism behind the Married Women's Property Act 1882, a legal landmark that enabled married women to control their own property.
- In September 2022 I published my second book Quiet Revolutionaries: The Married Women's Association and Family Law. It features a foreword by Lady Hale, former President of the Supreme Court.
- Quiet Revolutionaries is supported by a website: https://marriedwomensassociation.co.uk/ and podcast: https://quietrevolutionaries.podbean.com/
- I am the new co-author of Family Law: Text, Cases, and Materials with Jo Miles and Rob George.
- I have been interviewed about my historical research on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour.
- I am the 2022 recipient of the Dillwyn Medal for Humanities and the Creative Arts from the Learned Society of Wales.
I am on the editorial board of Feminist Legal Studies and am a member of the Network on Family Regulation and Society (comprised of Family Law academics from the Universities of Bristol, Bath, Exeter and Cardiff). I am a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and I am on the advisory board of the Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law. I am one of the editors of 'Transforming Legal Histories', a book series published by Routledge designed to showcase scholarship which uses historical theory, approaches or methods to analyse law and legal change. I am part of the central co-ordinating group of Family Law Reform Now, which aims to bring together individuals and ideas to pursue family law reform in England and Wales.
Biography
Education and qualifications
- 2015: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).
- 2015: Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. Keele University.
- 2013: PhD. Queen’s University Belfast.
- 2009: Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) First Class Honours. Queen’s University Belfast.
Career overview
- 2020 – present: Reader in Law, Cardiff University.
- 2018 – present: Editorial board member, Feminist Legal Studies.
- 2018 – present: Book series editorial board member, Transforming Legal Histories.(Routledge)
- 2017 – 2020: Senior Lecturer in Law, Cardiff University.
- 2015 – 2020: Co-editor of case notes, Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law.
- 2015 – 2017: Lecturer in Law, Cardiff University.
- 2014: Visiting Fellow, City University Hong Kong.
- 2013 – 2015: Lecturer in Law, Keele University.
- 2009 – 2013: Law Tutor, School of Law, Queen’s University Belfast.
Honours and awards
- Dillwyn Medal for Humanities and Creative Arts, Winner, 2022.
- Dillwyn Medal for Humanities and Creative Arts, Highly Commended, 2021.
- Socio-Legal Studies Association (SLSA) research grant, 2018.
- Shorlisted, Peter Birks Prize for Outstanding Legal Scholarship, 2017.
- Shortlisted, SLSA Hart Socio-Legal Book Prize, 2016.
- Shortlisted, SLSA Socio-Legal prize for Early Career Academics, 2016.
- Participant on Cardiff Futures Programme, 2016/17.
- Outstanding Contribution Award for excellence in research, Cardiff University, 2016.
- Visiting Fellow, City University Hong Kong, 2014.
- Travel Award, Emily Sarah Montgomery Scholarship, 2011.
- Travel Award, County Antrim Grand Jury Bursary, 2010.
- Law Society Prize, Queen’s University Belfast, 2009.
- McKane Medal and Scholarship (Law and Philosophy), Queen’s University Belfast, 2009.
- Foundation Scholarship (awarded to top three Law students), Queen’s University Belfast, 2007.
- McKane Medal and Scholarship (Jurisprudence), Queen’s University Belfast, 2007.
Professional memberships
- Fellow, Royal Historical Society.
- Fellow, Higher Education Academy.
- Member of the GW4 Network on Family Regulation and Society.
- Member of the International Society of Family Lawyers.
- Member of the Research Committee on Sociology of Law International Working Group on the Legal Professions.
- Member of the Socio-Legal Studies Association.
- Member of the Society of Legal Scholars.
Committees and reviewing
- Co-editor, Transforming Legal Histories (Routledge book series).
- External reviewer, REF.
- Associate Editor, Feminist Legal Studies.
- Co-director of Family Law Research Group.
- Co-director of Law and History Research Group.
- Co-director of Law and Gender Research Group.
- Personal tutor.
Publications
2022
- Thompson, S. 2022. Edith Summerskill: letters from deserted wives. Women's History Review (10.1080/09612025.2022.2138201)
- Thompson, S. 2022. The untold story of a mid-20th century group of women fighting for equality in marriage – and why it matters today. The Conversation 2022(12 Sep)
- Thompson, S. 2022. Behind Casanova's charter: Edith Summerskill, divorce and the deserted wife. In: Probert, R., Monk, D. and Miles, J. eds. Fifty Years of the Divorce Reform Act. Hart Publishing/Bloomsbury Publishing
- Thompson, S. 2022. Quiet revolutionaries: The married women's association and family law. Hart Publishing/Bloomsbury Publishing.
2021
- Thompson, S. 2021. The rights of cohabiting partners: submission of written evidence to the inquiry of the women and equalities committee. Documentation. UK Parliament. Available at: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/328/women-and-equalities-committee/publications/written-evidence/
- Thompson, S. 2021. Against divorce? Revisiting the charge of the Casanova’s charter. Child and Family Law Quarterly
2020
- Thompson, S. 2020. Using feminist relational contract theory to build upon consentability: a case study of prenups. Loyola Law Review 66(1), pp. 55-74.
2019
- Thompson, S. 2019. Forgotten activists for law reform. [Online]. Law Society Gazette: The Law Society. Available at: https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/people/women-in-the-law
- Thompson, S. and Cranmer, F. 2019. Humanist weddings in Northern Ireland: a missed opportunity for reform?. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law 41(2), pp. 229-232. (10.1080/09649069.2019.1590910)
- Thompson, S. 2019. A millstone around the neck? stereotypes about wives and myths about divorce. Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly 70(2)
- Thompson, S. 2019. British Conservatism and the Legal Regulation of Intimate Relationships, Andrew Gilbert [Book Review]. Child and Family Law Quarterly 31, pp. 91-94.
- Thompson, S. 2019. Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill 2017-2019: Submission of written evidence. Documentation. UK Government.
- Thompson, S. 2019. Alimony drones, gold diggers and meal tickets for life: how stereotypes in the press point to a need for judicial reflexivity. [Online]. Northern Ireland Legal Quartely: Queen's University School of Law. Available at: https://nilq.qub.ac.uk/index.php/nilq/issue702-article1
2018
- Thompson, S. 2018. Feminist relational contract theory: a new model for family property agreements. Journal of Law and Society 45(4), pp. 617-645. (10.1111/jols.12132)
- Thompson, S. 2018. Married Women's Property Act 1964. In: Rackley, E. and Auchmuty, R. eds. Women's Legal Landmarks: Celebrating the history of women and law in the UK and Ireland. London: Bloomsbury
- Thompson, S. and Sandberg, R. 2018. Multicultural jurisdictions: The need for a feminist approach to law and religion. In: Sandberg, R. ed. Leading Works in Law and Religion. London: Routledge, pp. 179-196., (10.4324/9780429401015-13)
- Sandberg, R. and Thompson, S. 2018. The paradox of pluralism: Towards a relational approach to religious freedom. In: Durham, W. C. and Thayler, D. eds. Religion, Pluralism, and Reconciling Difference. ICLARS Series on Law and Religion London and New York: Routledge, pp. 3-18.
- Cranmer, F. and Thompson, S. 2018. Marriage and civil partnership in Northern Ireland: a changing legal landscape. Child and Family Law Quarterly 30(3), pp. 301-320.
- Sandberg, R. and Thompson, S. 2018. The sexual contract in law and religion. [Online]. Law and Religion UK. Available at: http://www.lawandreligionuk.com/2018/04/13/the-sexual-contract-in-law-and-religion/
- Thompson, S., Hayes, L., Newman, D. and Carole, P. 2018. The sexual contract 30 years on: a conversation with Carole Pateman. Feminist Legal Studies 26(1), pp. 93-104. (10.1007/s10691-018-9368-1)
- Thompson, S. 2018. Thorne v Kennedy: Why Australia's decision on prenups is important for English law. Family Law 48, pp. 415-419.
- Thompson, S. 2018. Submission of Written Evidence on Divorce (Financial Provision) Bill 2017-2019. Unpublished.
2017
- Thompson, S. 2017. Should Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have a prenup?. [Online]. Law and Religion UK. Available at: http://www.lawandreligionuk.com/2017/11/29/a-prenup-for-harry-and-meghan/
- Thompson, S. 2017. ‘Miller-lite’: Is it fair not to share in short marriages?. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law 39(4), pp. 501-503. (10.1080/09649069.2017.1390298)
- Thompson, S. and Sandberg, R. 2017. Common defects of the Divorce Bill and Arbitration and Mediation Services (Equality) Bill 2016-17. Family Law 47(April), pp. 425-451.
- Sandberg, R. and Thompson, S. 2017. Relational autonomy and religious tribunals. Oxford Journal of Law and Religion 6(1), pp. 137-161. (10.1093/ojlr/rww059)
- Thompson, S. 2017. Prioritising diversity: reflections from the Family Law Classroom. The Journal of Academic Development and Education Jan(7), pp. 29-33. (10.21252/KEELE-0000004)
2016
- Thompson, S. 2016. In defence of the 'gold digger'. Oñati Socio-Legal Series 6(6), pp. 1225-1248.
- Sandberg, R. and Thompson, S. 2016. The Sharia Law debate: The missing family law context. Law and Justice 177, pp. 181-192.
- Thompson, S. 2016. Divorce can be nobody's fault - the law should do more to recognise that. The Conversation 2016(12 Dec)
2015
- Thompson, S. 2015. Beware of prenups, but not because they are unromantic. The Conversation 2015(Oct 30)
- Thompson, S. 2015. Supreme Court decides that ‘fraud unravels all’ in divorce cases. The Conversation 2015(Oct 15)
- Thompson, S. 2015. Prenuptial agreements and the presumption of free choice: issues of power in theory and practice. Oxford and London: Hart Publishing.
2014
- Thompson, S. 2014. What does the Nuptial Agreements Bill propose?. LexisNexis, pp. 1-3.
- Thompson, S. 2014. Behind the veil: company or family property on divorce?. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law 36(2), pp. 217-219. (10.1080/09649069.2014.916106)
2012
- Thompson, S. 2012. Review of marital agreements and private autonomy in comparative perspective. Child and Family Law Quarterly, pp. 502-504.
2011
- Thompson, S. 2011. Levelling the prenuptial playing field: Is independent legal advice the answer?. International Family Law 4, pp. 327-331.
- Thompson, S. 2011. Review of international pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements. Child and Family Law Quarterly 23, pp. 423-427.
- Thompson, S. 2011. Radmacher v Granatino [2010] UKSC 42. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law 33(1), pp. 61-70. (10.1080/09649069.2011.571471)
2010
- Thompson, S. 2010. Ancillary relief in Northern Ireland: the jurisprudence of the 'noughties'. Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly 61(4), pp. 431-437.
Teaching
- Family Law (module leader)
- Legal History (joint module leader)
- Equity and Trusts
QUIET REVOLUTIONARIES: The Married Women's Association and Family Law
https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/quiet-revolutionaries-9781509929412/
The influence and importance of the Married Women’s Association and its visionary leading lights ... ought to be much better known, not only among family lawyers but also among everyone who is interested in the movement for women’s equality. Sharon Thompson has enriched our knowledge and understanding by shining a light upon these quiet revolutionaries. --Brenda Hale, Baroness Hale of Richmond, former President of the Supreme Court of the UK [from the foreword]
Quiet Revolutionaries brilliantly illustrates the value of taking a feminist approach to legal history. Meticulously researched and engaging, it shines a light on an overlooked but vitally important campaign for substantive equality within marriage and on the challenges of reforming the law. --Rebecca Probert, Professor of Law, University of Exeter, UK
Economic dependence in marriage was an abiding concern for twentieth-century feminists, but until now we have known too little about how activists used the law as a tool for change. Deeply researched and highly readable, Sharon Thompson’s book recovers the dogged campaigning of the Married Women’s Association, revealing its steely efforts to reshape norms about gender, power and the value of women’s labour in the family. -- Helen McCarthy, Professor of Modern and Contemporary British History, University of Cambridge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX-OOXF5A4U&ab_channel=QuietRevolutionaries
Supervision
- Adult relationships
- Financial consequences of relationship breakdown
- Private ordering in the family context
- Feminist perspectives on law
- Feminist legal history
