DR CATRINA DENVIR
Empirical & Computational Research in Law
DR CATRINA DENVIR
BA (Melb), BPPM (Hons) (Melb), BA (Law) (Cantab), D.Phil (Law) (UCL)
I am a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Business Law and Taxation at Monash University. Prior to this I was Director of the Legal Innovation Centre at Ulster University. I hold a BA and a Bachelor of Public Policy and Management (Hons) from the University of Melbourne, a BA (Law) from the University of Cambridge, and a PhD in Law from University College London. I have previously held research positions at the University of Sydney, University College London, the Australian Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department and the Legal Services Research Centre (London). My research employs qualitative, quantitative and computational methodologies, including: the development and implementation of cutting edge methods of data collection; experimental designs; innovative use of legal service administrative data; large-scale longitudinal and cross-sectional ‘legal need’ survey research; in-depth qualitative work on ethics and industrial action; methods employing virtual avatars; as well as complex multilevel statistical modelling of survey data.
RESEARCH PROFILE
My research is inherently interdisciplinary and engages issues relevant to law, technology, legal services, legal education (public and professional), ethics, sociology, psychology (behaviour) and public policy. My interests include: technological innovation and AI in the legal profession; the role of law in everyday life; public understanding of the law; design of legal services; access to justice; and, research methodology (including NLP/ML methodologies). My research has explored: the Internet as a legal information resource; the use of digital technologies in the provision of legal advice; the use of virtual reality for ethics training; public understanding of rights and legal need; AI/data-driven decision making and the rule of law; the interaction between digital and legal capability; and modernising legal education. My empirical skills have led to a number of collaborative projects with colleagues both nationally and internationally. My research has received international recognition in a range of news outlets and has been published in a variety of leading peer-review journals in different disciplines.
SKILLS
Technical Competencies
QUANTITATIVE
Experience with large-scale longitudinal panel survey data, SPSS, R, MLWin (for multilevel modelling), Matlab, Opinio, Qualtrics etc...
COMPUTATIONAL
Familiarity with a range of programming languages and database tools.
QUALITATIVE
Nvivo, NLTK, experience interviewing vulnerable participants, experience with data-collection from hard-to-reach groups.
PUBLISHED WORK
Peer-Reviewed Journal Book Report Other
In Press
Denvir, C., Fletcher, T., Hays, J., and Pleasence, P. The Devil in the Detail: Mitigating the Constitutional & Rule of Law Risks Associated with the use of Artificial Intelligence in the Legal Domain. Florida State Law Review
Denvir, C. (ed.) Modernising Legal Education. Cambridge University Press
Denvir, C. 'Introduction', in Denvir, C. (ed.) Innovating Legal Education. Cambridge University Press
Denvir, C. 'The Numerate Lawyer: Data-Science in Modern Legal Practice', in Denvir, C. (ed.) Innovating Legal Education. Cambridge University Press
Delacroix, S. and Denvir C. 'Virtually Teaching Ethics: Experiencing the Discrepancy between Abstract Ethical Stands and Actual Behaviour using Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR)', in Denvir, C. (ed.) Innovating Legal Education. Cambridge University Press
Orchiston, A., Creighton, B., Denvir, C., Johnston, R. and McCrystal S. Pre-Strike Ballots and Enterprise Bargaining Dynamics: An Empirical Analysis. Melbourne Law Review
Creighton, B., Denvir, C., Johnston, R. McCrystal S., and Orchiston, A. Pre-strike Ballots and Collective Bargaining: The Impact of Quorum and Ballot Mode Requirements on Access to Lawful Industrial Action. Industrial Law Journal
Creighton, B., Denvir, C., Johnston, R. McCrystal S., and Orchiston, A. The role of the ‘genuinely try to reach agreement’ requirement in the protected industrial action regime under the fair work act 2009. Australian Journal of Labour Law
2018
Denvir, C. with the assistance of Ayad, R., Cordoba, N.M., Michuki, M., Msolly, A., and Wood, A. (2018) Assisted Digital Support for Civil Justice System Users: Demand, Design and Implementation. London: Civil Justice Council. Available from https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/cjc-report-on-assisted-digital-support.pdf
Creighton, B., Denvir, C., Johnston, R. and McCrystal S. (2018) Protected Industrial Action Ballots – An Empirical View. Journal of Industrial Relations, 60(1) 53-76
Pleasence, P., Balmer, N., & Denvir, C. (2018). Why Do I Need a Will Anyway? Assessing the Impact of a Public Legal Education Intervention Embedded in a Longitudinal Survey. Social Policy and Society, 1-15.
2017
Denvir, C. and McCrystal S. ‘Researching Labour Law in Practice: Assessing the Impact of Protected Industrial Action Ballot Procedures on Enterprise Bargaining Processes’, in Howe, J., Chapman, A., and Landau, I. (2017) The Evolving Project of Labour Law. Melbourne: Federation Press
Creighton, B., Denvir, C. and McCrystal S. (2017) Defining Industrial Action. Federal Law Review, 45(3), 383-414
Denvir, C. (2017) Remote Control: A Protocol for Using Remote ‘Virtual’ Desktops to simply and cost-effectively gather information about web-browsing behaviour. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 20(5) 533-546
Pleasence, P., Balmer, N.J., and Denvir, C. (2017) Wrong about Rights: Public Knowledge of Key Areas of Consumer, Housing and Employment Law in England and Wales. Modern Law Review. 80(5), 836-859
2016
Moorhead, M., Denvir, C., Cahill-O’Callaghan, R., Kouchaki, M., and Galoob, S. (2016) The Ethical Identity of Law Students. International Journal of the Legal Profession, 23(1), 235-275
Creighton, B., Denvir, C. and McCrystal S. (2016) Strike Ballots and the Law in Australia. Australian Journal of Labour Law, 29 (2016), 154-170
Pan X, Slater M, Beacco A, Navarro X, Bellido Rivas AI, Swapp D, et al. (2016) The Responses of Medical General Practitioners to Unreasonable Patient Demand for Antibiotics - A Study of Medical Ethics Using Immersive Virtual Reality. PLoS ONE 11(2): e0146837
Denvir, C. (2016) Online and in the Know? Public Legal Education, Young People and the Internet. Computers & Education, 92-93, 204-220
Creighton, B., Denvir, C., Johnstone, R., and McCrystal, S. (2016) Protected Action Ballots and Protected Industrial Action Under the Fair Work Act: The Impact of Ballot Procedures on Enterprise Bargaining Processes – Methodological Approach (27th October 2016) Available at SSRN: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2858757
2015
Fhima, I.S. & Denvir, C. (2015) An Empirical Analysis of the Likelihood of Confusion Factors in European Trademark Law. International Review of Intellectual Property and Competition Law, 46(3), 310-339
Moorhead, R. and Denvir, C. and Sefton, M. and Balmer, N.J., (2015) The Ethical Capacities of New Advocates (December 5, 2015). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2849698
Pleasence, P., Balmer, N.J., and Denvir, C. (2015) How People Understand and Interact with the Law. London: The Legal Education Foundation
2014
Denvir, C. Balmer, N.J & Pleasence, P. (2014) Portal or Pot-hole? Exploring Silver Surfers use of the information super-highway for advice in relation to problems with a legal dimension. Journal of Ageing and Society, 34 (4), 670-699
2013
Denvir, C., Balmer, N.J., & Pleasence, P. (2013) When Rights are not a Reality: Do Citizen’s know their rights and how can we tell? Journal of Social Welfare & Family Law, 35 (1), 139-160
Balmer, N.J., Pleasence, P., & Denvir, C. (2013) Knowledge as Power. Solicitors Journal: The Justice Gap Series. 2013 (June), 12-16
Smith, M., Balmer, N.J., Miles, J., Denvir, C. & Patel, A. (2013) In Scope but out of Reach? Examining differences between publicly -funded telephone and face-to-face family law advice, Civil and Family Law Quarterly, 25 (3), 252-269
2012
Balmer, N.J., Smith, M., Denvir, C. & Patel, A. (2012) Just a Phone Call Away- is telephone advice enough? Journal of Social Welfare & Family Law, 33 (4), 63-81
Denvir, C. (2012). The Civil and Social Justice Survey (CSJS): How does empirical research compliment the process of commissioning? Academy for Justice Commissioning Bulletin, 17 (Summer), 4-6
Denvir, C. Balmer, N.J & Buck, A. (2012). Informed Citizens? Exploring the relevance of knowledge of rights in the context of civil justice problem resolution. Journal of Social Policy, 41 (3), 591-614
2011
Denvir, C. Balmer, N.J & Pleasence, P. (2011). Surfing the Web: Recreation or Resource? Exploring how young people in the UK use the Internet as an advice portal for problems with a legal dimension. Interacting with Computers, 23 (1), 96-104
2010
Balmer, N.J., Buck, A., Patel, A., Denvir, C. & Pleasence, P. (2010) Knowledge, Capacity and the Experience of Rights Problems. London: PLEnet
Balmer, N.J., Patel, A., Denvir, C., & Pleasence, P. (2010) Unmanageable Debt and Financial Difficulty in the English and Welsh Civil and Social Justice Survey. London: Money Advice Trust
Pleasence, P., Balmer, N.J., Patel, A. & Denvir, C. (2010) Civil Justice in England and Wales 2009: Report of the 2006-09 English and Welsh Civil and Social Justice Survey, London: Legal Services Commission
PUBLIC APPEARANCES
Selected Conferences & Presentations
CONFERENCES
Denvir, C. Assisted Digital Support for Civil Justice System Users: Demand, Design and Implementation. 2nd UCL Conference on Access to Justice and Legal Services. London, UK, 11th-13th June 2018
Denvir, C., McCrystal, S., Creighton, B., and Johnstone, R. (2016) The impact of protected industrial action ballot applications under the FW Act on bargaining behaviour and access to protected industrial action – A preliminary report. Australian Labour Law Association National Conference, Melbourne, Australia, 4th -5th November 2016
Creighton, B., Denvir, C., McCrystal, S. and Johnstone, R. (2016). Defining Industrial Action. Australian Labour Law Association National Conference. Melbourne, Australia, 4th -5th November 2016
Denvir, C., with Balmer, N.J. and Pleasence, P. (2016) Wrong About Rights: Public Knowledge of Key Areas of Consumer, Housing and Employment Law. Conference on Empirical Legal Studies in Europe, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands, 21st – 22nd June 2016
Balmer, N.J. with Pleasence, P. and Denvir, C. (2016) Navigating the Legal Advice Maze – Knowledge, Expectations and the Reality of Advice Seeking. Conference on Empirical Legal Studies in Europe, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands, 21st – 22nd June 2016
Denvir, C. (2014) What’s the Net Worth? Young People, Civil Justice and the Internet. UCL’s Centre for Empirical Legal Studies International Research Conference, 19th-20th June 2014
Denvir, C. & Balmer, N.J. (2013) Digitally (de)Faulted? How do Young People use the Internet to Acquire Knowledge of Rights and Self-Help? National Access to Justice and Pro-Bono Conference. Hyatt, Melbourne, Australia, 21st-22nd March 2013
Miles, J., Balmer, N.J., Smith, M., Denvir, C., and Patel, A. (2012) In Scope but out of Reach? Society of Legal Scholars Conference, Bristol, 11th -12th September 2012
Denvir, C., (2012) Caught in the Web – How Young People use the Internet in the Resolution of Civil Justice Problems. Legal Services Research Centre International Research Conference, Magdalen College, Oxford 12th-14th September 2012
Balmer, N.J. & Denvir, C. (2011) Mental Illness and the Experience and Resolution of Debt Problems. Law and Society Annual Conference. Held at the Westin St Francis, San Francisco, USA, 2nd-5th June 2011
Denvir, C., & Balmer, N.J, (2011) Determining the Mental Health Cost of Debt - the Interaction Between Debt and Mental Illness. Socio-Legal Studies Association Annual Conference. Held at the University of Sussex, UK.12th -14th April 2011
Denvir, C., & Balmer, N.J, (2011) Surfing the Web - Recreation or Resource? Exploring how Young People in the UK use the Internet as an Advice Portal for Problems with a Legal Dimension. Socio-Legal Studies Association Annual Conference. Held at the University of Sussex, UK.12th -14th April 2011
INVITED
Denvir, C. (2018) ‘Assisted Digital Support for Civil Justice System Users: Demand, Design and Implementation.’ Civil Justice Council Board Meeting, London, UK, 27th July 2018
Denvir, C. (2018) ‘How can NLP inform PLE? Using Machine Learning Techniques in Qualitative Data Analysis.’ Investigating the Impact of Law through Interdisciplinary Research Workshop. Prato, Italy, 5th-6th April 2018.
Denvir, C. (2018) ‘The Dilemmas of Data.’ Keynote Address - Legal Technology & Operations Summer Programme. Bucerius Law School, Hamburg, Germany, 11th July 2018
Denvir, C. (2017) ‘Digital Transformation and Law‘ AIJA 55th Birthday Celebrations. Amsterdam, Netherlands, 23rd - 24th June 2017
Denvir, C. (2017) Robot Lawyers. International Bar Association Mid-Year Conference, Belfast, UK, 24th-25th May 2017
Denvir, C. (2017) The Impact of Technology on Law. Law Society of Northern Ireland, Technology Committee Seminar. Belfast, 15th May 2017
Balmer, N.J. and Denvir, C. (2016) An Introduction to Empirical Legal Research. Monash University Faculty of Law, Staff Seminar, Monash University Clayton, Australia, 2nd September 2016
Denvir, C. and McCrystal S. (2016) Researching Labour Law in Practice. The Evolving Project of Labour Law: A Workshop to Celebrate 21 Years of the Centre for Employment and Labour Relations Law, University of Melbourne, Australia, 4th February 2016
Denvir, C. (2013) How do Young People use the Internet to Acquire Knowledge of Rights and Self-Help? Law for Life Evening Seminar, 11th November 2014
Denvir, C. (2013) Young People and the Internet: How Can Technology Help in the Resolution of Civil Justice Problems? Shelter Homelessness Trust Lunchtime Seminar, 29th January, 2013
MEDIA
Selected Interviews & Research Coverage
Young-Powell, A. (2019) "More Universities are Teaching Lawtech – But is it Just a Gimmick?" The Guardian, 12th April 2019
Baksi, C. (2017) “The Digital Shake up of Law”. Raconteur, 23rd March 2017
Warren, Z. (2017) “Ulster University Opens New Legal Innovation Centre, a First for the UK”, Legal Tech News, 28th February 2017
Faguy, Y. (2014) “Law as a Life Skill” National Magazine Blog (Official Periodical of the Canadian Bar Association), 5th March 2014
Mulgrew, I. (2014) Online self-help legal resources no panacea for justice system. Vancouver Sun Newspaper , 24th September 2014
Prosser, N. (2014) “The Law, let me Google that for you.” Electronic Legal Aid News, 3rd May 2014
Jones, M. (2013) “How successful are people at using the internet to find solutions to law-related issues?” Law for Life Website. 14th November 2013
Kenrick, J. (2013) “Online advice services and the myth of the tech-savvy generation” Legal Voice, 9th October 2013
Robins, J. (2013) “The legal aid helpline should not be another hurdle for the vulnerable” Guardian Newspaper, 13th December 2013
House of Lords (2012) Debate of the House of Lords, 16th January 2012, Hansard Text, Column 435
Zorza, R. (2012) “Research on young people’s use of the internet to obtain legal information.” Richard Zorza’s Access to Justice Blog. 5th November 2012
Robins, J. (2010) “Legal advice centres need to help clients, not contractors”, Guardian Newspaper. 23rd July 2010
Rose, N. (2010) “When is a problem a legal problem?” Guardian Newspaper. 22nd June 2010
CONTACT ME
Speaking invitations, further information, or a simple hello? Do it here: