Dr Lydia Bracken has been appointed as a lecturer in law in UL. She is a graduate of University College Cork (BCL, 2010; LLM, 2011; PhD, 2015) and the Honorable Society of King’s Inns (BL, 2012). Her PhD thesis, which was funded by a Department of Children and Youth Affairs Research Scholarship, examined the implications of the best interests of the child principle in the context of same-sex parenting in Ireland. Lydia’s research interests lie in the areas of child and family law and European human rights and she has published nationally and internationally in these areas. In particular, Lydia’s research examines the legal recognition of ‘non-traditional’ families and it explores how such recognition can be provided in a manner that respects the rights and interests of children. Before joining the School of Law at the University of Limerick, Lydia acted as principal researcher for the Law Reform Commission’s project on Contempt of Court and Other Offences and Torts involving the Administration of Justice.