Annual Conference
The SLSA has been running an Annual Conference since the association was founded in 1990. Our conferences are central to our objective of the dissemination of knowledge in the field of socio-legal studies. For details about all previous conferences, please visit our past conferences page.
For further details of our popular 'streams and current topics (formerly themes)' format visit our Streams section.
Future conferences
The SLSA Board is delighted that Cardiff University will be hosting our first virtual conference. The Cardiff Team are planning to make this a very specail event indeed.
- 30 March–1 April 2021, Virtual Conference hosted by Cardiff University
The conference website is now live.
The call for papers is now OPEN and the closing date for submissions is 6pm (GMT) Friday 8 January 2021.
Recent past conferences
Portsmouth 2020
Cancelled due to the Covid-19 crisis. See the statement from the SLSA Board.
University of Leeds, 3–5 April 2019
Over 500 papers were presented across 43 streams and current topics, and the event was attended by almost 600 delegates. The conference centred around the imposing Parkinson Building, with delegates able to meet in the magnificent indoor space of Parkinson Court during coffee and mealbreaks. Further details are still available on the conference website or download the full programme.
University of Bristol, 27–29 March 2018
Delegates gathered in the west country once again for the SLSA's biggest ever conference. The conference was held in the Law School's impressive Wills Memorial Building. Highlights included a packed plenary entitled 'Socio-Legal Studies at a Watershed? A Conversation' and the conference dinner in Bristol Museum.
Newcastle University, 5–7 April 2017
SLSA members assembled in Newcastle-upon-Tyne for an enjoyable and eventful three days. Highlights included a fascinating plenary session on 'Visions of law' and the conference dinner in the Great Hall of the Discovery Musuem followed by a disco.
Please see the conference programme for full details.
University of Lancaster, 5–7 April 2016
In the spring of 2016, the SLSA gathered in Lancaster for a packed three days with a record number of streams and themes. The conference website has a wealth of information about the conference as does the programme.
A strong field of entrants in the poster competition resulted in the judges awarding first prize to two people. See our poster exhibition page for details.
University of Warwick, 31 March–2 April 2015
The SLSA annual conference 2015 was hosted by the University of Warwick. The conference organisers were Jonathan Garton and Maebh Harding. The conference was a huge success attracting 450 delegates from the UK and abroad.
Please see the conference programme for details of steams, themes, abstracts and special sessions and visit our poster exhibition page for details.
Robert Gordon University, 9–11 April 2014
In 2014, the SLSA returned to Scotland as the guests of the Department of Law, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. The conference organisers were This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The conference assistant was This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Over 300 delegates gathered in the beautiful early spring weather and were rewarded with a warm Scottish welcome and a vibrant and bustling conference. Highlights were a packed plenary on the hot topic of Scottish independence and the conference dinner and prizegiving in the Beach Ballroom on Aberdeen's beautiful seafront.
The conference booklet is available for download including details of all sessions and abstracts and see our poster exhibition page for details.
York Law School, University of York, 26–28 March 2013
The 2013 conference was hosted by York Law School. Around 350 delegates attended. Highlights included:
- brand new Law School building
- over 250 papers in our popular ‘streams and themes format’
- plenary speaker: Baroness Hale of Richmond
- doctoral students’ poster competition and
- SLSA prizewinners author-meets-reader sessions.
Baroness Hale has kindly made the text of her plenary address available for download.
The poster competition was launched at this conference. See our poster exhibition page for details.
Conference organiser: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..