Past postgraduate conferences
Every year, the SLSA holds a postgraduate conference to cover issues of particular concern to researchers at the very beginning of their careers. Here, is a complete list of recent conferences with reports from some of them including the most recent.
- University of Bristol 2010: report
- Birkbeck, University of London 2009
- University of Hull 2008
- University of Bristol 2007: report
- Sheffield University Law School 2006: report
- Lancaster University 2005: report
- Liverpool John Moores University 2004: report
2010
University of Bristol, 21–22 January 2010
Report by Laura Hayes, University of Bristol Law School. Her PhD research explores social and legal value assessments about domiciliary care work.
Delegates in their third year of PhD study said they would have liked to attend this conference earlier in their postgraduate careers. I can understand why. As a first year PhD, I found the pragmatic focus ideal. The academics offering advice clearly wanted us, as future colleagues, to appreciate the core disciplines of an academic career: personal reliability, professional integrity and commitment to shared practice.
The programmed sessions were well thought-through and began with a ‘supervising your supervisor’ workshop. This gave us the low-down on what to expect from the relationship with our supervisors and stressed the importance of finishing the PhD on time. The next session concentrated on the different stages of an academic career. There was no hiding the fact that research experience sits as the ‘big daddy’ at the head of the career table although greater job security and personal satisfaction could accrue through teaching and administration. We were advised to network, not only at this event, but into the future. Just like jogging, even though you might hate it at first, networking, they promised, would get easier with practice!
The ‘presentation skills’ session began with a warning that presentations are a bad idea – they swallow up time and serve as a distraction from the PhD. Confident we wouldn’t heed this main message, academics shared tips about where and how to present. Later in the day, the wide-ranging discussion between the presenters in the ‘how to get published’ session was particularly informative, letting us know what not to do.
The evening’s drinks and dinner provided a perfect opportunity to network, during which I became so engrossed in talking to a fellow delegate that I ignored everyone else at the table – my apologies.
Next day, the presentation about research ethics was a stimulating opportunity to reflect on ethics as a collective construct rather than simply a legalistic and formal hurdle for fledgling researchers. It was good to move our chairs around and get talking to each other during the workshop which followed. This was an interactive session which explored the different stages of a PhD. It was useful to consider both the practical and the possible in our future plans.
The final session dealt with the dreaded viva. Were we persuaded that this appointment with destiny should be embraced with glee? Only partially, but we did learn of the extent to which we could give ourselves the best possible opportunity to enjoy it. There were lots of questions from delegates in search of reassurance – proof positive that the viva process was well worth discussing.
I have no hesitation in recommending the conference as a very useful resource for postgraduates who need to know how to get from A to B in their doctoral studies and beyond. The networking might bear early fruit if, like me, you happen to come across a delegate with whom you can share research interests ad nauseum and go home smiling!
Conference organiser: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
2007
University of Bristol, 10–11 January
Report by Nicola Corkin
The SLSA’s most successful postgraduate conference to date, attracting more than 50 students, was held at the Wills Memorial Building, University of Bristol in January. The event was heavily subsidised; once delegates arrived, all sessions, accommodation and subsistence was provided by the SLSA and the academics from Bristol and colleagues from other institutions generously donated their time.
When coming up the hill towards the University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, I was very much reminded of the representation of Isengard in The Lord of the Rings. The grim tower, filled with knowledge and wisdom, overlooking the surrounding area – fortunately the SLSA postgraduate conference did not turn out to be a meeting with Saruman. Even if the first meeting turned into a deep philosophical search for truth on what is socio-legal research – which we (I can’t speak for other groups) then decided to leave undefined! This was then followed by considerations on ethics in research, which tided us over to dinner. There, some of us turned back into ordinary students, discussing our research, our universities, our cultures and other issues of similar non-importance. Some truly upheld the academic tradition by finagling an additional bottle of wine – not to mention some raucous debate on climate change and ‘political bisexuals’. Afterwards, when our music requests had been rejected by the DJ, we found our way home, with some diversions, to our own beds.The next day dawned bright and full of anticipation and it proved to be, without a doubt, one of the most useful days of my time as a postgraduate student. Not only is it incredibly useful to be able to discuss methodology with others and learn from their mistakes and experiences but, furthermore, it is invaluable to be told, finally, what one needs to consider when giving a conference paper, or what needs to be done in order to get yourself published. How does this whole, elusive, job-hunting thing work in the academic world? And how does one actually write a research proposal? Lastly, it was incredibly useful to discuss one’s own research with others – who might be doing something similar . . . or not. What is their take on your work, what ideas do they have? How can they help you on your quest to achieving your PhD? And we might even have found some companions who will be there for at least part of the way.
Conference organiser: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
2006
Sheffield University Law School 12–13 January 2006
The SLSA's Postgraduate Representative Maki Tanaka reports.
The postgraduate conference provided a forum for the conference participants from diverse backgrounds to share their experiences and ideas on socio-legal research. Thanks are extended to Tony Bradney for organising this highly successful conference, to the panellists for the informative sessions and to the University of Sheffield School of Law for hosting the conference (and sponsoring wine at the conference dinner).
The conference included panel discussions on such topics as: giving a conference paper; getting published; time management and postgraduate supervision; academic job-hunting; and socio-legal studies as an academic discipline. Four of the five panels began witha brief talk followed by questions and answers. The exception was the panel on getting published which was entirely based on questions posed by the conference participants. The informal and collegial atmosphere of the conference encouraged many questions from the participants, to which the panellists responded with no frills or flattery.
Despite the highly spontaneous nature of the panel discussions, there was a common theme. Each panellist stressed the importance of staying focused. In writing a thesis, you should keep moving on, despite imperfections in earlier chapters. Constantly revising earlier sections brings you nowhere nearer completion. To present a conference paper, you should first be clear about your purpose or motivation. Then, select a conference with the appropriate audience and tailor your presentation to fit the format. Otherwise, a conference paper could be a mere distraction from writing your thesis. Similarly, to get published, target a journal and comply with its style and other submission requirements. Shopping around several journals at once could mean you end up with nothing. Although your doctoral degree, conference presentations and publications will boost your job prospects, they are not enough. You should be prepared to answer questions about what skills you can contribute to research, teaching and administration at the universities to which you apply. This requires careful research on the institutional environment in which you can expect to work once you get the job. Socio-legal studies as a field accommodates a wide array of subject matters with a variety of theoretical perspectives and methodologies. It is up to us – the postgraduate students – to locate ourselves within the field and find out appropriate opportunities to further our academic careers.
The conference participants were quite diverse, including postgraduate students from 14 universities. Many of them are doctoral students at various phases of their research; some of them are currently pursuing masters' degrees. To my surprise, the majority of the conference participants were international students from 15 countries – Australia, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, Germany, Greek, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the United States and Vietnam. With only eight participants, domestic students (including a student with dual nationality) were the minority. To cater to the needs of the international students, the panel on job-hunting included a panellist from abroad who had successfully obtained a position at a British university. The panel discussion highlighted the openness of the academic community in the United Kingdom.
With common research interests, the postgraduate students from different countries and universities quickly mingled to talk about their projects and exchange ideas on socio-legal research. Undoubtedly, the dinner (with plenty of wine) at Pizza Express facilitated socialisation and networking among the conference participants. In short, the postgraduate conference successfully integrated the diverse postgraduate students into a community of socio-legal researchers.
Conference organiser: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
2005
Lancaster University 7–8 January
Suzanne McGuinness of Lancaster University reports.
The SLSA Postgraduate Conference 2005, hosted by Lancaster University, provided a genuine opportunity for socio-legal postgraduate students, at varying stages of their theses, to share experiences and, most importantly, to have the rare opportunity of discussing their research interests. In addition to providing an excellent window for the all important practice of ‘academic networking', this event allowed the more seasoned postgraduates to share the benefit of their experiences with the raw recruits. How refreshing to converse with those whose disciplines are in the same academic ball park, albeit perhaps playing a different game.
Thanks are extended to Bela Chatterjee for her role as the organisational driving force behind the smooth running of the conference, (except for the weather), with some practical assistance from the Lancaster University SLSA conference team. The friendly and informal atmosphere facilitated interesting discussion from all sides, with the conference primarily assuming a very practical approach to postgraduate academic life. Topics included, for example, Angela Melville's informative workshop entitled ‘Socio-legal studies', through which socio-legal research was contextualised in terms of where this elusively defined discipline is situated in academia. Dave Cowan and Sally Wheeler's session on ‘How to get published' provided practical advice on the significance of publishing etiquette and the targeting of appropriate publishers for the researcher's specific subject area. A key outcome of this discussion was that it initiated the belief, in some delegates, that publication is not only possible, but essential to academic achievement. For those delegates embarking on empirical research, Amanda Cahill's paper ‘Preparing for thesis Emergencies', presented by Bela Chatterjee, provided a brief, but essential guide! Finally, ‘How to get an academic job' led by Sally Wheeler and Agata Figalkowski provided solid practical advice in respect of interview preparation/technique and CV presentation. An apparently peripheral issue raised here related to the commitment and expectations you have and how ‘comfortable' you will be in any given academic employment setting! A fundamental factor which may be forgotten by the eager and newly qualified in their quest for successful academic career progression.
In addition to the practical workshops, what struck me, as a relative newcomer to both postgraduate study and the SLSA, was the willingness of experienced and senior academics to share their practical knowledge in respect of socio-legal study. In other words, this conference provided a rich insight into what is not readily available from any ‘survival guide' textbook for postgraduates: from Tony Bradney's amusing, yet valuable, session on ‘How to give a conference paper' without it ending in career suicide, to Bela Chatterjee's panel on ‘Supervising your supervisor'. This latter session was revealing in terms of how we, as postgraduate research students, paradoxically, are negotiated by our supervisors. This practical panel focused on ensuring postgraduate delegates were made painfully aware, thanks to the candour of Sally Wheeler and Angela Melville, of the importance of deadlines, self-discipline and organisation in their research. For me, this discussion revealed that within the parameters of the professional relationship between supervisor and postgraduate research student, time is precious, boundaries are strict and expectations are high. However, I also sensed that supervisors actually take great pride and invest a great deal of themselves in their protégé's progress – although this was never openly articulated. Thus, for the research student trapped between the fear ‘of being found out' and tentatively performing the role of academic-in-waiting, the SLSA Postgraduate Conference 2005 provided a much appreciated sense of belonging to the socio-legal academic community.
Conference organiser: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
2004
Liverpool John Moores University 13–14 January
Conference organiser This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. of Liverpool John Moores University reports.
The postgraduate conference took place at the School of Law, Liverpool John Moores University. Sixteen students from 11 universities attended to hear talks from eight speakers, including five SLSA executive members. The topics discussed included motivation, postgraduate supervision, giving conference papers, research ethics, getting published and surviving your viva.
The first day’s session was followed by a wine reception sponsored by the JMU School of Law journal the Liverpool Law Review. The SLSA then sponsored a meal at a local restaurant for attendees and speakers.
Overall feedback was very positive and the conference organiser would like to thank the SLSA, the JMU School of Law and the editorial board of the Liverpool Law Review for their support. In particular I would like to thank the speakers who very willingly gave their time to support the event. Thanks are due too to the students who made it a stimulating and informal event.
As most of the attendees were not previously student members of the SLSA, the conference promoted awareness of the SLSA’s work and of our Glasgow conference. The students all expressed an interest in both. Morag McDermont, the SLSA pg representative, took soundings from the attendees and a dedicated postgraduate stream was held at Glasgow as a result. An email discussion forum is being set up to receive feedback.