Kay Kindred
What’s the most important thing you are working on right now?
Reproductive technologies have continued to evolve making new avenues to parenthood more widely available to more people. There is surprisingly little regulation of the fertility industry and very little law that directly addresses the rights and interests of participants in the process of assisted reproduction. Consequently, along with the continued development and expanded use of reproductive technologies have come novel legal issues not addressed by existing law. I am working on an article that
A second longer-term project that I’ve been working on addresses some of the legal and ethical issues generated by so-called “reproductive tourism,” that is, the practice of individuals traveling from one jurisdiction to another, both domestically and internationally, to utilize assisted reproductive services, including surrogacy services.
How does your research and scholarship influence your teaching and service and vice versa?
My research, teaching, and service interests very much tend to intersect, and work in one area informs that in the other areas. I serve as a Commissioner on the Uniform Law Commission (formerly known as the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws or “NCCUSL”). During my time as a Commissioner I have been involved in a number of beneficial projects on a variety of issues, but I feel particularly fortunate to have been directly involved in the drafting of several family law-related uniform laws including, the Premarital and Marital Agreements Act, the Deployed Parents Custody and Visitation Act, the Recognition and Enforcement of Canadian Domestic-Violence Protection Orders Act, and the most recent revisions to the Uniform Parentage Act and the Interstate Family Support Act. As a family law professor, professional service projects of that nature draw directly upon my teaching and research background and, in turn, generate ideas and provide insights that I incorporate regularly into my teaching and scholarship.
What is it about being a law school professor that inspires or motivates you?
I believe that I am incredibly fortunate to be able to do what I do for a living. I enjoy teaching, and I’ve been lucky to have many wonderful students through the years. It is extremely satisfying to watch my students as they grow in their knowledge, find their own direction, and follow their passion on the road from law student to attorney. I’ve always considered it a privilege to be able to use my own legal training to make a positive contribution to my profession and to my community. It is no less a privilege to be able to play some small part in helping to prepare my students to be in a position to make their own contributions as members of the legal profession.