Socio-legal news
Welcome to the news section of the SLSA website. This area is divided into the following categories:
- Events
- Publications
- Research and funding
- Vacancies
- Consultations, inquiries and surveys
- Other announcements
If you would like an item added to the news section, please contact the
News
SLSA events
Reforming Legal and Policy Responses to Investigating and Prosecuting Sexual Violence, QUB: registration now open
Disability and Rights: The possibilities and limits of rights discourse under neoliberalism, online: registration now open
Law, Drugs, and the Moving Body, Manchester
Other events
Resistance and Agency in the Digital Society: Beyond Literacy, transparency, and risk assessment, Lausanne, Switzerland: call for papers extended
Global Impact of Attacks on Healthcare in Conflict Zones, QMUL, London
Law in Universities, Law in Society, South Bank University, London
Frameworks of Reference for Academic Freedom, University of Bristol
Discussion: 'From Courtrooms to Corridors of Power – Lawyers in Parliament', Darwin College, Cambridge
Cohabitations: A social, environmental and climate justice research seminar, Birkbeck University of London
State Impunity and Injustice, St Ethelburga's Centre, London
Public Panel Discussion: 'Do we need a new AI Bill of Human Rights?', KCL, London
Known Unknowns: Uncertainty, art and law, University of Bristol
In Conversation with David Garland, University of Edinburgh
Language and the Cross-examination of Vulnerable Witnesses, Law Society Hall, London
Regulating AI in a Changing World: Oversight and enforcement, IALS, London
Publications
NILQ Reflections on Writing: two new contributions from Nicola Lacey and Dave Cowan & Simon Halliday
Elgar Concise Encyclopaedia of Gender, Sexuality and Law: call for contributions
Vacancies
Research associate/fellow or senior fellow (fixed term), University of Nottingham
Vacancies
Research associate/fellow or senior fellow (fixed term), University of Nottingham
Applications are invited for this fixed-term (18-month) post on the European Research Council Starting Grant RECEDE: ‘REgulating Criminal justicE DEtention: glocal prospects for improving health and safety in detention and society’ project led by Dr Philippa Tomczak. See website for details. Closing date: 16 July 2025.
Bloomsbury Academic Writing Fellowship: pre-announcement
The purpose of the Bloomsbury Academic Writing Fellowship 2025 is to help early career academics get their book idea into a form which is ready for publication. Applications are open to UK-based, up-and-coming authors and researchers who identify as Black, Asian or Ethnically Diverse (BAED). The fellowship offers editorial support and mentorship for one year, £1000 of financial support, practical resources, £250 worth of books from Bloomsbury Academic, plus event and networking opportunities. See website for full details of how to prepare your submission materials. Appplications open on 1 September 2025.
Postdocs, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany: call for applications
The Department of Public Law at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany (Director: Prof. Dr. Ralf Poscher) is seeking to recruit several postdocs. See website for details. Closing date for applications: 7 September 2025.
Consultations and surveys
Government launches consultation on criminal legal aid
The Government has launched a consultation on criminal legal aid aiming to deliver more efficient justice for victims and stabilise the criminal legal aid system by investing millions more in criminal legal aid. See announcement for details and see website for consultation. Closing date: 4 July 2025.
Law Commission Consultation on Aviation Autonomy
The Law Commission is examining the law around autonomous flight to support the safe development of rapidly advancing technology. If you have an interest in or awareness of this area of law, the Commission would like to hear your views. See website for details. Closing date: 18 July 2025.
Other announcements
Two New Law Commissioners appointed
With the appointment of Professor Lisa Webley and Professor Solène Rowan, all four Law Commissioners will be female for the first time in its 60-year history. Both new Commissioners will take up their appointments in September: Lisa as Commissioner for Commercial and Common Law and Solène as Commissioner for Commercial and Common Law. See announcement for futher details.
Lisa is a long-standing member of the SLSA and served as our PGR Rep from 1999 to 2001, and as a member of the then Executive Committee until 2005, working as the SLSA's first email network administrator!
RSVP Law: online seminar-workshops for ECR and precarious employees – call for EOIs and speakers
RSVP Law is a programme of short online seminar-workshops which aim to provide supportive external presentation opportunities, particularly for those in the early stages of their career or precarious employment who may struggle to secure support to engage in external speakership. It's a low pressure, low stakes way to get some presenting experience on their CVs, build their confidence, make new connections and disseminate their work outside their institutions. Organised by Lucinda Bromfield (BPP University) and Cameron Giles (London South Bank University). See webpage to sign up.
Legal Humanities Association launched
A new UK-based learned society, the Legal Humanities Association (LHA), has been set up and is open for membership.
The LHA is a new UK-based learned society, fostering a community dedicated to cultural understandings of law. The LHA is open for inaugural members to join and get involved and help shape the future of the legal humanities academic community.
There will be an online inaugural event online in July 2025, which will include the first General Meeting at which members will vote in the LHA’s first Governance Committee. Any member can put themselves forward to join the Governance Committee or take up any of the officer roles, including Chair.
See website for full details. The Interim Committee invites you to share this call widely.
Academic Mentoring: Professor Didi Herman
Professor Didi Herman has retired from Kent Law School and is now offering confidential help to individuals and universities looking to improve scholarship for publication, mentoring, and the REF. See her website for details.
Professor Herman is now also offering expert consultancy to law schools for advance preparation for REF 2028.