Dr Amaka Orji is a Lecturer in Law at Birmingham City University. She holds a PhD in Commercial Law from Aston University and is a qualified Barrister and Solicitor in Nigeria. Her academic background and professional experience span commercial law, legal practice, contractual governance and higher education teaching.
Before joining BCU, Amaka taught Contract Law, Property Law and Business Law at Aston University, where she supported undergraduate students through seminars, assessment and academic guidance. She also has professional legal experience in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, having worked on commercial agreements, regulatory compliance, governance and dispute resolution.
Amaka's approach to teaching is student-centred and informed by her experience in legal practice. She is particularly interested in helping students understand legal principles, develop confidence in their legal reasoning and appreciate how the law operates in real-world situations. She encourages active participation, critical thinking and the practical application of legal knowledge.
Her research interests lie primarily in international commercial law, legal harmonisation, secured transactions, electronic warehouse receipts and electronic documents of title. She is particularly interested in how commercial law can respond to emerging developments in commercial transactions, address legal uncertainties and improve access to finance.
Amaka is a Fellow of Advance HE and holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education.
- Commercial and International Commercial Law
- Contract Law
- Secured Transactions and Electronic Warehouse Receipts
- Corporate and Business Law
- Agricultural Finance and Contract Farming
- PhD Commercial Law, Aston University (2024)
- LLM International Commercial Law (Distinction), Aston University (2020)
- BL, Nigerian Law School (2015)
- LLB, Abia State University (2013)
- PGCert Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, Aston University (2025)
Amaka teaches on the LLB and LLM programmes at Birmingham City University.
Undergraduate (LLB) modules:
- Land Law
- Contract Law
- Business Law
Postgraduate (LLM) module:
- Corporate Law: A Comparative Approach
Amaka's research interests span international commercial law, legal harmonisation, secured transactions and agricultural law, including warehouse receipts.
Her current research projects include:
- Contract Farming and International Commercial Law Reform: A paper examining the achievements, challenges and potential reform of the UNIDROIT/FAO/IFAD Legal Guide on Contract Farming ten years after its adoption. The paper has been submitted to a peer-reviewed journal and is currently under consideration.
- Electronic Warehouse Receipts and Secured Transactions: An ongoing research project examining the proprietary status of electronic warehouse receipts under the UNCITRAL–UNIDROIT Model Law on Warehouse Receipts, particularly their recognition as electronic documents of title and their use in secured financing.
Academic
- Tutor in Law, Aston University, United Kingdom
Non-Academic
- Business Operations Manager (Legal and Contracts), River of Care Ltd, United Kingdom
- Principal Partner, Makaliza Legal Practitioners, Nigeria
- Legal Practitioner, Emma Nwodo & Associates, Nigeria
- Legal Officer, Legal Services Directorate, National Assembly, Nigeria
