Dr Clayton Ó Néill is a Lecturer in Law at Queen’s University Belfast. He holds a first class honours primary degree in Law with Irish from Ulster University, an LLM from Trinity College, Dublin, following the award of a Universities Ireland Scholarship, and a BCL from the University of Oxford. He was awarded a PhD, with no corrections, from Durham Law School, having received an academic studentship to undertake this research and having been employed as a tutor in Durham Law School during this time. He also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) from Durham University. Clayton is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He was formerly a Lecturer in Nottingham Law School, Nottingham Trent University and a tutor in Durham Law School, Durham University. His research interests lie in the areas of Medical Law and Ethics, Human Rights Law, Law and Religion, and the rights associated with lesser used languages.

Dr Ó Néill's primary research interests lie in the area of Medical Law and Ethics. He is particularaly interested in the impact of the manifestation of religious beliefs on healthcare professionals and patients. Dr Ó Néill has recently published a monograph with Routledge, entitled Religion, Medicine and the Law, in the Biomedical Law and Ethics Library research series. He has also co-edited and published a book called Global Patient Safety: Law, Policy and Practice (Routledge). He has published articles, case commentaries and book reviews in leading peer-reviewed journals, including Medical Law International, European Journal of Health Law and Medical Law Review. He has presented a significant number of conference papers, both nationally and internationally. Clayton is a member of the Health and Human Rights research group at Queen’s and an external member of Durham CELLS (Centre for Ethics and Law in the Life Sciences), where he was formerly a deputy convenor. He is a member of the Society of Legal Scholars, the Irish Association of Law Teachers and the Northern/Irish Health Law and Ethics Network. 

Dr Ó Néill invites potential PhD and JD candidates, particularly in the area of Medical Law and Ethics, to contact him in relation to the drafting of their research proposal. 

Dr Ó Néill teaches Medical Law and Ethics on the LLB and LLM and Equity and Trusts on the LLB, MLaw and JD. Clayton has previously taught other modules, including Contract Law, Tort, Legal Methods and Evidence. 

At Queen’s, he is the Employability and Skills coordinator and welcomes any queries in relation to students’ employability and skills.

Clayton is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Medical Law Review. He is a member of the Editorial Board of the Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly. He is also the Book Reviews and Contributors' Blog Editor.  

Outside of work, Clayton is passionate about golf (notwithstanding his handicap of 16) and the Irish language.