Legal Breakthroughs That Transform Lives

UNC School of Law researchers aren’t just writing papers, they’re transforming communities, rewriting history, and protecting North Carolinians through work that ripples far beyond campus. Carolina Law faculty tackle society’s toughest problems head-on. Professor Eric Muller’s digging into Thomas Ruffin’s past sparked the removal of memorials and established a highway marker for Lydia, giving voice to those silenced by history. Professor Maria Savasta-Kennedy pushed for safer drinking water, resulting in new real estate rules that protects North Carolinians relying on private wells.

Professor Holning Lau’s groundbreaking work on LGBTQ rights stretches across continents, from exposing police brutality in Myanmar to advancing parenting rights in Taiwan. His research directly shapes policy discussions in Asia while challenging Western-centric assumptions about human rights progress. Professor Carissa Byrne Hessick’s Fulbright Distinguished Chair award took her criminal justice expertise to Australia, where she’s uncovering alternative sentencing models that could transform how America approaches punishment and judicial discretion.

Professor Richard Saver’s work on hospital firearm policies breaks new ground in balancing safety with constitutional rights during rising gun violence. Behind these breakthroughs stands the Kathrine R. Everett Law Library team, whose deep research support turns bold faculty ideas into influential publications.

The Law School’s work represents just one facet of UNC-Chapel Hill’s broader research mission. Across campus, faculty and students generate discoveries that address complex challenges facing our state and world, from healthcare innovations to economic solutions. The university’s comprehensive research efforts prepare North Carolina to face tomorrow’s challenges while building a stronger foundation for future generations.