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Professor Daniel Monk

Positions held:
  • Professor of Law, ÌÇÐÄlogoÈë¿Ú Law School
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  • Overview

    Overview

    Biography

    Daniel Monk joined the Law School as a Lecturer in January 2003Ìýand was promoted to Professor of Law in 2017. From 1996–2002 he was a lecturer in law at Keele University. He qualified as a Solicitor in 1991 and was an articled clerk (trainee solicitor) at the West End entertainment law firm Clintons. He was an editor at Butterworths Publishers while studying part-time for his Masters degree.

    He was one of the founder members of the ÌÇÐÄlogoÈë¿Ú Institute of Gender and Sexuality (BIGS) which was established in 2008 and he was the Director from 2012-2015.Ìý

    His research has explored a wide range of issuesÌýaboutÌýfamilies, children, education, inheritance and sexuality. He has been awarded funding by the Nuffield Foundation, The Socio-Legal Studies Association, the Society of Legal Scholars, the British Academy and the International Institute for the Sociology of Law. He has been awarded two Public Engagement awards in recognition of theÌýimpact of his research about both the treatment of siblings in the public care system (2019) and the regulation of Elective Home Education (2018).

    He is currently writing about the relationship between law and art in the context of inheritance and family law and engaging with the current reform of the laws about elective home education.

    Highlights

    • New publication: ‘The Reading of the Will: making inheritance law visual' (2026) Ìý1-27

    • New Publication: (2024) 'Law and friendship: principles, projections and paradoxes'. In: Swennen, F. and Goossens, E. and Van Hof, T. (eds.) Rethinking Law’s Families and Family Law. Edward Elgar Publishing. 156-174.

    • ÌýSee alsoÌý

    • Talking About Methods, Oxford Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, 11 June 2025

    • Fifty Years of the Divorce Reform Act 1969 (co-edited with Joanna Miles and Rebecca Probert, Hart, 2022).

    Office hours

    By appointment - online or in-person, please email: d.monk@bbk.ac.uk

    Administrative responsibilities

    • Department of Law Careers and Employability Tutor

    Visiting posts

    • Visiting Scholar, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris , 01 September 2024 to 01 December 2024
    • Visiting Professor, Antwerp University, 01 March 2014 to 01 June 2014
    • Visiting Professor, Tel Aviv University, 01 September 2011 to 01 December 2011
    • Visiting Fellow, University of Melbourne, 01 January 2000 to 01 April 2000
    • Visiting Fellow, Goethe University Frankfurt, 01 November 2000 to 01 December 2000

    Professional memberships

    • Society of Legal Scholars

    • Socio-Legal Studies Association

    • Fellow, Higher Education Authority

    • UK Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists

    Honours and awards

    • Fellow , March 2024
    • Winner, Transforming Culture or Public Life , March 2019
    • Highly Commended, Transforming Culture of Public Life , March 2018
    • Best Article Prize: 'Theorising education law and childhood: constructing the ideal pupil' (2000) British Journal of Sociology of Education 21 (3): 355-370. , March 2001

    ORCID

  • Research

    Research

    Research overview

    Daniel Monk's research has explored a wide range of issues relating to families, children, education and sexuality: from sex education, home schooling and school dress codes to siblings, inheritance and royal divorce. Adopting a socio-legal approach, itÌýdraws on a wide variety ofÌýmethods: doctrinal, qualitative empirical research, archival, literary and historical.

    Recent Publications:

    (2025) 'Self Isolation/SelfPortrait', , Vol. 30 No. 2: 161-173.

    (2024) 'Law and friendship: principles, projections and paradoxes'. In: Swennen, F. and Goossens, E. and Van Hof, T. (eds.) Rethinking Law’s Families and Family Law. Edward Elgar Publishing. 156-174.

    (2022) 'Royal divorces and the remaking of marriage and monarchy'. In: Miles, J. and Monk, Daniel and Probert, R. (eds.) Fifty Years of the Divorce Reform Act 1969. Bloomsbury Publishing. 199-221

    KEY RESEARCH

    Regulating Home Education. Described as a 'quiet revolution', starting in 2003, Daniel's research has provided a sustained examination of this growing phenomenon, the underlying controversies and the complex legal framework. At both a local and national level he has helped galvanise pressure for reform and assisted practitioners working in the field and the research was Highly Commended in the 2018 Public Engagement Awards. Key outputs:

    (2016) "'Out of School Education' and Radicalisation: Home Education Revisited",ÌýEducation Law JournalÌý1: 17-31

    (2009) ‘Regulating Home Education: Negotiating Standards, Anomalies and Rights’,ÌýChild and Family Law QuarterlyÌý21 (2): 155-184. This article was cited extensively in the House of Commons, Select Committee on Children, Schools and Families Final Report: The Review of Elective Home Education, 9 December 2009.

    (2004) 'Problematising Home Education: Challenging "Parental Rights" and "Socialisation"' Legal Studies (2004) 24(4): 568-598

    Siblings in Public Care.ÌýSiblings are routinely separated in the public care system and this results in them having little and sometimes no contact. This researchÌý - co-authored with Dr Jan Macvarish - examined this often overlooked issue through an extensive analysis of legal sources and interviews with key legal and social work practitioners. The project was supported by advice from and the participationÌýof members of the Family Justice Young People's Board. Public engagement with the research has been extensive, including lectures at the Judicial College. Winner: 2019 Public Engagement Award (Transforming Culture or Public Life Category). For more information see the ²Ô»åÌýÌý a²Ô»åÌý

    Wills and Inheritance.ÌýStarting from the premise that inheritance is a key site of family and kinship - as well as growing area of legal practice - Daniel's research has endeavoured to open up new perspectivesÌýby adopting distinct archival, empirical, biographical, literary and doctrinal methods. Key outputs:

    (2023) Ìý(co-edited with Suzanne Lenon) London: Bloomsbury

    (2016) 'Inheritance Families of Choice’? Lawyers’ reflections on gay and lesbian wills. Journal of Law and Society 43 (2), pp. 167-194

    (2013) 'EM Forster's Will: an overlooked posthumous publication', Legal Studies 33 (4), pp. 572-597

    Research clusters and groups

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  • Supervision and teaching

    Supervision and teaching

    Supervision

    Supervisions within ÌÇÐÄlogoÈë¿Ú:
    3

    I welcome enquiries from prospective PhD students who are interested in undertakingÌýstudies in any of my areas of research interest.

    Doctoral alumni since 2013-14

    • JOANNA BLACKWELL
      Nature of supervision:
      Joint Principal Supervisor,
      Title of thesis:
      The experiences of young fathers in prison.
      Awarded:
      2022
    • CLAIRE HORN
      Nature of supervision:
      Joint Principal Supervisor,
      Title of thesis:
      Gestation Beyond Mother/Machine: Frameworks for Artificial Wombs, Abortion, and Care
      Awarded:
      2020
    • OLIVER GILMAN
      Nature of supervision:
      Principal Supervisor,
      Awarded:
      2020
  • Publications

    Publications

    Article

    • Monk, Daniel (2026) . Tijdschrift voor Familie en Jeugdrecht Jan 26, pp. 24-27. ISSN 0165-0084.
    • Monk, Daniel (2026) . International Journal of Law in Context pp. 1-27. ISSN 1744-5523.
    • Monk, Daniel (2025) . Lambda Nordica 30 (2), pp. 161-173. ISSN 1100-2573.
    • Monk, Daniel (2025) . Child and Family Law Quarterly 37 (2), pp. 173-178. ISSN 1358-8184.
    • Monk, Daniel and Lamont, R. and Herring, J. and Gilmore, S. (2024) . Child and Family Law Quarterly 35 (2), pp. 1-18. ISSN 1358-8184.
    • Monk, Daniel (2022) . Tijdschrift voor Familie-en-Jeugdrecht 44 (5), pp. 165-166. ISSN 0165-0084.
    • Monk, Daniel (2020) . Tijdschrift voor Familie-en-Jeugdrecht 42 (3), pp. 81-82. ISSN 0165-0084.
    • Monk, Daniel (2020) . Language and Literary Studies of Warsaw 10, pp. 61-83. ISSN 2300–5726.
    • Monk, Daniel and Macvarish, Jan (2019) . Family Law 50, pp. 180-187. ISSN 0014-7281.
    • Monk, Daniel (2018) . The Cambridge Law Journal 77 (2), pp. 261-265. ISSN 0008-1973.
    • Monk, Daniel (2017) . Child and Family Law Quarterly 29 (1), pp. 3-7. ISSN 1358-8184.
    • Monk, Daniel (2016) . Journal of Law and Society 43 (2), pp. 167-194. ISSN 0263-323X.
    • Monk, Daniel (2016) . Education Law Journal 2016 (1), pp. 17-31. ISSN 1469-0152.
    • Monk, Daniel (2015) . Legal Information Management 15 (1), pp. 12-15. ISSN 1472-6696.
    • Monk, Daniel and Hacker, D. (2014) . Oñati Socio-Legal Series 4 (2), pp. 170-175. ISSN 2079-5971.
    • Monk, Daniel (2014) . Oñati Socio-Legal Series 4 (2), pp. 306-322. ISSN 2079-5971.
    • Monk, Daniel (2014) . Studies in Gender and Sexuality 15 (3), pp. 239-243. ISSN 1524-0657.
    • Monk, Daniel (2013) . Legal Studies 33 (4), pp. 572-597. ISSN 0261-3875.
    • Monk, Daniel (2011) . International Journal of Law in Context 7 (2), pp. 181-207. ISSN 1744-5523.
    • Monk, Daniel (2011) . Feminist Legal Studies 19 (3), pp. 231-250. ISSN 0966-3622.
    • Monk, Daniel (2009) . Radical Philosophy (156), pp. 2-6. ISSN 0300-211X.
    • Monk, Daniel (2009) . Child & Family Law Quarterly 21 (2), pp. 155-184. ISSN 1358-8184.
    • Monk, Daniel (2009) . Culture Wars
    • Monk, Daniel (2005) . Journal of Law and Society 32 (3), pp. 399-423. ISSN 0263-323X.
    • Monk, Daniel (2004) . Legal Studies 24 (4), pp. 568-598. ISSN 0261-3875.
    • Monk, Daniel (2004) . Child and Family Law Quarterly 16 (1), pp. 87-102. ISSN 1358-8184.
    • Monk, Daniel (2003) . Evaluation and Research in Education 17 (2/3), pp. 157-166. ISSN 0950-0790.
    • Monk, Daniel (2002) . Child and Family Law Quarterly 14 (1), pp. 45-56. ISSN 1358-8184.
    • Monk, Daniel (2001) . Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law 23 (3), pp. 271-291. ISSN 0964-9069.
    • Monk, Daniel (2000) . Education Law Journal 1 (4), pp. 206-217. ISSN 1469-0152.
    • Monk, Daniel (2000) . British Journal of Sociology of Education 21 (3), pp. 355-370. ISSN 0142-5692.
    • Monk, Daniel (1999) . Suomen Antropologi/Journal of the Finnish Anthropological Society 24 (3), pp. 25-38. ISSN 0355-3930.
    • Monk, Daniel (1998) . Child and Family Law Quarterly 10 (4), pp. 425-434. ISSN 1358-8184.
    • Monk, Daniel (1998) . Social and Legal Studies 7 (2), pp. 241-261. ISSN 0964-6639.
    • Monk, Daniel (1998) . Children and Society 12 (4), pp. 295-305. ISSN 0951-0605.
    • Monk, Daniel (1997) . Education and the Law 9 (4), pp. 277-290. ISSN 0953-9964.

    Book

    • Lennon, S. and Monk, Daniel, eds. (2023) . London, UK: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781509964819.
    • Miles, J. and Monk, Daniel and Probert, R., eds. (2022) . London, UK: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781509947881.
    • Monk, Daniel and Macvarish, Jan (2018) . London, UK: ÌÇÐÄlogoÈë¿Ú, University of London. ISBN 9780907904380.
    • Barker, N. and Monk, Daniel, eds. (2015) . Routledge: Abingdon. ISBN 9781138855984.
    • Hale, B. and Pearl, D. and Cooke, E. and Monk, Daniel (2008) . Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199204243.
    • Monk, Daniel and Ruebain, D. (2001) . Atkin's Encyclopaedia of Law. 17(2), London, UK: Butterworths.
    • Bridgeman, J. and Monk, Daniel, eds. (2000) . Abingdon, UK: Routledge. ISBN 9781138154292.
    • Moran, Leslie J. and Monk, Daniel and Beresford, S., eds. (1998) . London, UK: Cassell. ISBN 9780304338641.

    Book review

    • Monk, Daniel (2021) .
    • Monk, Daniel (2020) .
    • Monk, Daniel (2020) .
    • Monk, Daniel (2018) .
    • Monk, Daniel (2016) .
    • Monk, Daniel (2014) .
    • Monk, Daniel (2013) .
    • Monk, Daniel (2009) .
    • Monk, Daniel (2008) .
    • Monk, Daniel (2006) .
    • Monk, Daniel (2006) .
    • Monk, Daniel (2003) .
    • Monk, Daniel (2001) .
    • Monk, Daniel (1998) .

    Book section

    • Monk, Daniel (2024) . In: Swennen, F. and Goossens, E. and Van Hof, T. (eds.) Rethinking Law’s Families and Family Law. Proceedings of the 18th World Conference of the International Society of Family Law. Elgar Studies in International Family Law. Edward Elgar Publishing. pp. 156-174. ISBN 9781035338405.
    • Monk, Daniel and Lennon, S. (2023) . In: Lenon, S. and Monk, Daniel (eds.) Inheritance Matters: Kinship, Property, Law. Bloomsbury Hart. pp. 1-30. ISBN 9781509964826.
    • Monk, Daniel (2022) . In: Hunter, R. and Rackley, E. (eds.) Justice for Everyone - The Jurisprudence and Legal Lives of Brenda Hale. Cambridge University Press. pp. 53-73. ISBN 9781108479363.
    • Monk, Daniel (2022) . In: Miles, J. and Monk, Daniel and Probert, R. (eds.) Fifty Years of the Divorce Reform Act 1969. London, UK: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781509947881.
    • Miles, J. and Monk, Daniel and Probert, R. (2022) . In: Miles, J. and Monk, Daniel and Probert, R. (eds.) Fifty Years of the Divorce Reform Act 1969. London, UK: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781509947881.
    • Monk, Daniel (2022) . In: Declerck, C. and Mosselmans, S. (eds.) Patrimonium 2022. London, UK: Die Keure. pp. 513-520. ISBN 9789048644889.
    • Monk, Daniel (2019) . In: Clough, B. and Herring, J. (eds.) Ageing, Gender and Family Law. Routledge. pp. 190-202. ISBN 9781138744943.
    • Monk, Daniel (2019) . In: From Sodomy Laws to Same-Sex Marriage: International Perspectives Since 1789. London, UK: Bloomsbury. pp. 213-227. ISBN 9781350023925.
    • Monk, Daniel (2017) . In: Cook, M. and Gormon-Murray, A. (eds.) Queering the Interior. Home. London, UK: Bloomsbury. ISBN 9781474262200.
    • Monk, Daniel (2017) . In: Dinter, S. and Schneider, R. (eds.) Transdicsiplinary Perspectives on Childhood in Contemporary Britain. Studies in Childhood, 1700 to the Present. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. pp. 210-229. ISBN 9781138232105.
    • Monk, Daniel (2015) . In: Rothermel, P. (ed.) International Perspectives on Home Education: do we still need schools?. 10.1057/9781137446855. Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9781137446855.
    • Monk, Daniel (2015) . In: Barker, N. and Monk, Daniel (eds.) From Civil Partnership to Same Sex Marriage: Interdisciplinary Reflections. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. ISBN 9781138855984.
    • Monk, Daniel (2015) . In: Leckey, R. (ed.) After Legal Equality: Family, Sex, Kinship. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. ISBN 9781138644762.
    • Barker, N. and Monk, Daniel (2015) . In: Barker, N. and Monk, Daniel (eds.) From Civil Partnership to Same Sex Marriage: Interdisciplinary Reflections. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. ISBN 9781138855984.
    • Blair, A. and Monk, Daniel (2012) . In: Davidson, R. and Sauerteig, L. (eds.) Shaping Sexual Knowledge: A Cultural History of Sex Education in Twentieth Century Europe. Routledge Studies in the Social History of Medicine. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. pp. 37-54. ISBN 9780415542180.
    • Monk, Daniel (2011) . In: Lesnik-Oberstein, K. (ed.) Children in Culture, Revisited: Further Approaches to Childhood. Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 55-72. ISBN 9780230275546.
    • Monk, Daniel (2010) . In: Hunter, R. and MacGlynn, C. and Rackley, E. (eds.) Feminist Judgments: From Theory to Practice. Oxford, UK: Hart Publishing. pp. 96-101. ISBN 9781849460538.
    • Monk, Daniel (2009) . In: Gilmore, Stephen and Herring, Jonathan and Rebecca, Probert (eds.) Responsible Parents and Parental Responsibility. Oxford, UK: Hart Publishing. pp. 143-164. ISBN 1841138800.
    • Monk, Daniel (2008) . In: Kehily, M.J. (ed.) An Introduction to Childhood Studies. Berkshire, UK: Open University Press. pp. 177-197. ISBN 9780335228706.
    • Monk, Daniel (2007) . In: Munro, V. and Stychin, C. (eds.) Sexuality and the Law: Feminist Engagements. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. ISBN 9781904385660.
    • Monk, Daniel (2004) . In: Kehilly, Mary Anne (ed.) An Introduction to Childhood Studies. Milton Keynes, UK: Open University Press. ISBN 9780335236800.
    • Monk, Daniel (2000) . In: Bridgeman, J. and Monk, Daniel (eds.) Feminist Perspectives on Child Law. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. ISBN 9781859415252.
    • Bridgeman, J. and Monk, Daniel (2000) . In: Bridgeman, J. and Monk, Daniel (eds.) Feminist Perspectives on Child Law. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. ISBN 9781859415252.
    • Monk, Daniel (2000) . In: Heinze, E. (ed.) Of Innocence and autonomy: Children, sex and human rights. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. ISBN 9781840144840.
    • Monk, Daniel (1998) . In: King, Michael (ed.) Moral Agendas for Children's Welfare. London, UK: Routledge. ISBN 9780415180139.
    • Monk, Daniel (1998) . In: Moran, Leslie J. and Monk, Daniel and Beresford, S. (eds.) Legal Queeries: Lesbian, Gay, and Transgender Legal Studies. London, UK: Cassell. ISBN 9780304338634.

    Editorial

    • Buss, D. and Fletcher, R. and Monk, Daniel and Monroe, S. and Phillips, O. (2005) . Social and Legal Studies 14 (1), pp. 5-15. Sage. ISSN 0964-6639.

    Other

    • Monk, Daniel and Macvarish, Janet (2020) . Dartington: Research in Practice.
    • Monk, Daniel (2019) . London, UK: ÌÇÐÄlogoÈë¿Ú, University of London.
  • Business and community

    Business and community

    Media

    I am happy to receive enquiries from the media on the following topics:

    • Home Education
    • Sex and Relationship Education
    • Wills and Inheritance
    • Children's Rights

    Outreach

    Key Note Lecture,ÌýAssociation of Education Welfare Management Annual Conference, 14 October 2026

    , Holborn Library, opening talk, 29 September 2026Ìý

    Quoted in The Independent Long Read: Kasia Delgado, 16 February 2022

    Talking About Methods, Oxford Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, 11 June 2025

    ÌýJanuary 2020

    (5 February, 2019)

    ÌýUK Reflections on Brexit, interviewee, June 2016

    Quoted in The Economist: Ìý9 April 2022

    November 2020

    , ÌÇÐÄlogoÈë¿Ú Comments, 23 January 2017

    ÌýDiscussing lesbians and gay equality in the honours system, April 2016 (at 2.38)

    SBS TV (Australia)Ìý Interviewed about an early 18th Century English will of the an ancestor of the actor Rachel Griffiths, October 2016

    , 'Still Life' informed by 'Reading the Will: Performing Testaments', July 2014

    , Tate Gallery Seminar Discussant, July 2015

    Ìýinterviewee about the law relating to intestacy, March 2013/July 2014

    , December 2014

    Article about Homophobic Bullying discussed inÌý, September 2014

    , Pink News, 13 December 2013

    , Pink News, 13 March 2013

    , ÌÇÐÄlogoÈë¿Ú Comment, 8 February 2013

    ÌýPanellist discussing children's behaviours and attitudes to risk, 29 April 2009

    , Radical Philosophy, July/August 2009

    , Panellist discussing teenage pregnancies, 25 February 2009

    , June 2011

    , Mickael Tranoy at Homesession, Barcelona, 2008

    , Interviewee discussing HIV and Criminalisation, February 2005 (quoted in 'Sex Education and The Media' (2006) Feminist Media Studies 6(4): 539-556).

    Presentation at St Ives Chambers ÌýBirmingham, October 2022

    . ÌÇÐÄlogoÈë¿Ú Perspectives, 25 February 2022

    , Solidarity and Care, The Sociological Review, August 2020