News: socio-legal publications
This page contains details of socio-legal publications including books, journals, reports, papers and newsletters/bulletins.
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Latest publications ...
Public Law Project: latest newsletter
Books
New book: Domestic Violence in Pakistan: The Legal Construction of ‘Bad’ and ‘Mad’ Women by Daanika Kamal – 30% discount
Pakistani women are increasingly pursuing legal avenues against acts of domestic violence. Their claims, however, are often dismissed through character allegations that label them as 'bad' women in need of control, or 'mad' women not to be trusted. This book explores why the subjectivities of women victims are constructed in particular ways, and how these subjectivities are captured and negotiated in the Pakistani legal system. Drawing on feminist poststructuralist accounts relating to the use of gendering strategies, and an analysis of over a hundred case files and judgments, 72 interviews, and court observations in three cities of Pakistan, this book shadows the experiences of women victims of domestic violence in both criminal law and family law proceedings to capture and offer empirical insights in relation to gendered subject formation in discursive spaces. See website for details. Use code AUFLY for 30% discount at checkout.
New OA book: Inside Asylum Appeals: Access, Participation and Procedure in Europe by Nick Gill, Nicole Hoellerer, Jessica Hambly and Daniel Fisher
Appeals are a crucial part of Europe’s asylum system but they remain poorly understood. Building on insights and perspectives from legal geography and socio-legal studies, this book shines a light on what takes place during asylum appeals and puts forward suggestions for improving their fairness and accessibility. Drawing on hundreds of ethnographic observations of appeal hearings, as well as research interviews, the authors paint a detailed picture of the limitations of refugee protection available through asylum appeals. Refugee law can appear dependable and reliable in policy documents and legal texts. However, this work reveals that, in reality, myriad social, political, psychological, linguistic, contextual and economic factors interfere with and frequently confound the protection that refugee law promises during its concrete enactment. Drawing on evidence from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy and the United Kingdom, the book equips readers with a clear sense of the fragility of legal protection for people forced to migrate to Europe. See website for details.
New book: The Market Citizenship Illusion by Alice Welsh: OA and 20% discount
This open access book challenges the existing focus in EU citizenship scholarship which overlooks the limitations of free movement for atypical workers. Arguing that the vague EU concept of ‘work’ allows for its restricted application in member states, it shows how many workers and economic contributors are left out of the free movement regime. It argues that, if EU free movement rights are awarded on the basis of market credentials, more must be done to ensure an inclusive market citizenship. Use code GLR BD8 for discount on hardback version. See website for details.
New book: Immediate and Progressive Realisation in International Human Rights Law, by Tobias Wirthle – 20% discount
This book makes a new and original contribution to the old debate about differences between socio-economic and civil and political rights, which has engaged human rights discourse over several decades. Although scholars and practitioners now agree that these categories are more alike than originally assumed, they continue to delineate them based on the alleged difference between immediate and progressive realisation. The book asks whether this differentiation is still valid by exploring the historical and theoretical background, the text of relevant UN human rights treaties, and the practice of the UN human rights committees. By so doing, it shows that the standards of realisation converge more than diverge and that this last remaining distinction should be abandoned. Published by Hart. See website for details. Use code GLR BD8 at checkout.
New Book: Pseudolaw and Sovereign Citizens, edited by Harry Hobbs, Stephen Young and Joe McIntyre – 20% discount
This book examines the perplexing and demanding growth of pseudolaw. This is the first-ever edited volume solely dedicated to examining pseudolaw and its most prominent adherents, sovereign citizens. Drawing on the expertise of judges, criminologists, legal theorists and political sociologists, this collection offers insights into the global growth and alarming adaptability of pseudolaw. Can you avoid any law you do not consent to? Can you avoid paying taxes by declaring yourself sovereign? Do courts operate under admiralty or maritime law? No. But welcome to the strange world of pseudolaw. Published by Hart. See website for details. Use code GLR BD8 at checkout.
New book: Investment Arbitration’s Tightrope: Ethics, power and responsibility by Paolo Vargiu
This book examines the role of arbitrators vis-à-vis the systemic inequities of investment law, advocating for the reform of its treaty framework, which currently binds arbitrators to apply rules that disproportionately safeguard foreign investors and overlook the impact of arbitral decisions on host states’ economic and regulatory frameworks. See website for details.
Call for contributions to a new Women’s Legal Landmarks project
The editors of the Women’s Legal Landmarks project invite contributions for a new volume Women’s Legal Landmarks in the Postwar Years, to be published, like the others, by Hart (Bloomsbury). See announcement for details. Closing date for submission of proposals: 31 May 2025.
New book: Judicial Individuality on the UK Supreme Court by Lewis Graham
This book presents an empirical analysis of the UK Supreme Court's output over its first ten years, with a specific focus on each individual judge's contribution to each case. It shows that judges, like all of us, are human; it would be difficult to imagine that any of us, even in our most professional capacity, could act completely independently of our predilections, motivations and biases. The same is true for the judges sitting on the UK's highest court. See website for details. The author has also written a short overview on the JLS Blog. SLSA members can claim a 20% discount from Hart with code: SLSADIS.
The Effectiveness of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights: The Case of Indigenous Territorial Rights by Gabriela CB Navarro – 20% discount
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights has the most developed jurisprudence on Indigenous rights, yet this case law is understudied. This book addresses this gap by exploring the Court and its cases from both the perspective of international law and the legal protection of Indigenous territories. Setting out the network of actors and institutions involved in such litigation, it examines the motivations and constraints in domestic politics affecting international orders (and by extension the impact of the Court). It provides both an important statement on the effectiveness of international tribunals and a fascinating insight into the evolution of Indigenous rights. See Hart website for details. Use code GLR BD8 at checkout.
National Security Constitutionalism in the Commonwealth Five Eyes States, Paul F Scott – 20% discount
This book examines the constitutional treatment of national security in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. These four states share their Commonwealth heritage and are also members, alongside the United States, of the Five-Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance. The books uses the tools of comparative constitutional law in order to shed light on the institutions through which, and tools with which, these four states seek to protect their national security against the threats of both terrorism and hostile state activity. See Hart website for details. Use code GLR BD8 at checkout.
New book: Law and War in Popular Culture by Stefan Machura
Leading international scholars are providing fresh perspectives on law and war in popular culture. They analyse works of popular culture, place them into their context at the time of origin and discuss their meaning for today’s audiences. Law and war in film, television series, opera and pop music are investigated in the 10 chapters of the book by authors coming from the subjects of media studies, political science, sociology, law and criminology as well as music. Wars not only produce war crimes, law is also deeply involved on a wider scale: by enabling warfare, regulating or failing to regulate its conduct and in the aftermath of wars. Readers are gaining from a range of perspectives and approaches to depictions of law and war. See website for details. The flyer gives details of the book's launch in English and Welsh.
Legal Temporalities of Sexual Consent by Caroline Derry – 30% discount
This book offers new perspectives on two key themes: the criminal law of sexual consent and the temporalities of law. It uses detailed feminist analysis to investigate how the kinds of time produced by statutes and court decisions are vital to constructing the gendered, liberal, legal subject. By shedding light upon a contested and multi-faceted legal issue, it demonstrates that more expansive temporalities are the precondition for a richer, relational understanding of consent. See website for details. Use discount code at checkout: NEW30.
Constructing Modern Slavery: Law, Capitalism, and Unfree Labour, by Judy Fudge
Modern slavery laws are a response to global capitalism, which undermines the distinction between free and unfree labour and poses intense challenges to state sovereignty. Instead of being a solution, Constructing Modern Slavery argues that modern slavery laws divert attention from the underlying structures and processes that generate exploitation. Focusing on unfree labour associated international immigration and global supply chains, it provides a novel socio-legal genealogy of the concept ‘modern slavery’ through a series of linked case studies of influential actors associated with key legal instruments: the United Nations, the United States, the International Labour Organization, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Walk Free Foundation. Constructing Modern Slavery demonstrates that despite the best efforts of academics, advocates, and policymakers to develop a truly multifaceted approach to modern slavery, it is difficult to uncouple antislavery initiatives from the conservative moral and economic agendas with which they are aligned. See website for details. For 20% discount use code SLSAMembers at checkout.
Elgar Concise Encyclopedia of Legal Education, edited by Fiona Cownie, Anthony Bradney & Emma Jones
Published by Edward Elgar, this concise encyclopedia provides a carefully curated overview of legal education, with more than 100 contributions from experts around the world. Entries dissect the contemporary situation, regulation and history of legal education in different jurisdictions, from Argentina to the USA, allowing the reader to make informed comparisons (and surprising discoveries). Key perspectives and approaches are explored, from the more familiar (doctrinal, socio-legal, feminist, clinical) to the experimental and innovative (contemplative practices, game-based learning). From legal education in different settings (prisons, schools, universities) to entries on curriculum-related issues (values and ethics, decolonising, sustainability, emotions) and on law students, legal academics and professional support staff, the carefully referenced entries also allow readers to explore topics in more depth. See website for details. Use discount code SLSA25 at checkout.
Global Lawmaking and Social Change, by Gregor Novak – 20% discount
Customary international law is a widely recognised modality of international lawmaking. It underpins all norms of international law and shapes all aspects of global society. Yet familiar approaches to customary international law struggle to answer basic questions about its role, operation and prospects. Pursuing an interdisciplinary approach, this book offers an alternative perspective on customary international law as a dynamic and multifaceted social phenomenon and idea. It explores customary international lawmaking in different social contexts, including the regulation of armed conflict, the treatment of the 'other' and the management of global environmental risks. Focusing on the 'varieties' of customary international law, it identifies four types of customary international law norms and explores their roles and implications. Critically revisiting a classic topic of international law, the book provides a tool for understanding and shaping global lawmaking and social change in a rapidly changing international legal order. See website for details. Use code GLR BD8 at checkout.
The Origins of Company Law, edited by Victoria Barnes and Jonathan Hardman – 20% discount
This book provides histories of company law, uniting a variety of approaches from law, business and management, economics and history. It brings together Anglo-American scholarship that will not only shed greater light on the history of company law, but also influence contemporary debates about our ability to return to, or learn from, the past. The book showcases antecedents of present debates, reveals regulatory lessons from previous legal regimes, identifies instances of path dependency, unpicks pivotal legal events, and explains drivers for legal change. The chapters reevaluate the history of company law, and will inform the lawmaking and policymaking agenda. See website for details. Use code GLR BD8 at checkout.
Springer Nature: call for human rights book proposals on SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
How can you amplify your research on human rights so that it can support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and specifically SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions? Springer Nature is inviting proposals on this topic. Authors are invited to submit even if their research is in the very early stages and they will be contacted by an experienced book publishing editor. See webpage for details.
Springer Nature also offers a Book Publishing Essentials: free mini-course.
Journals
NILQ: Special issue on 'On-going challenges, responsibility and influences in healthcare law and policy – essays in honour of Chris Newdick' edited by Thérèse Callus
The Editorial Board of the Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly are delighted to announce the publication of this special issue (NILQ 76(1)) edited by Professor Thérèse Callus, University of Reading. The issue explores themes of exceptionality, equality and discrimination, priority-setting, health of the public research, outsourcing of publicly funded healthcare, and product liability and AI in a medical context. The complete issue is available open access. See website for details
Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly: call for papers
The Chief Editor of the Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly, Professor Mark Flear, Queen's University Belfast, invites submissions of articles, commentaries, case notes and book reviews for inclusion in volumes 76 and 77. Submissions in all areas of law and from methodologies including doctrinal, theoretical and socio-legal are all welcome. See the submissions page for details. The journal is also open to proposals for special issues. If you would like to discuss a future special issue, please contact
‘We Could Not Imagine their Home Could Be our Home’: Towards a Feminist Legaare welcome l Geography of home, by Beverley Clough and Henrietta Zeffert
New article in Social & Legal Studies introducing a feminist legal geographic approach to home through three case studies: see website for details.
Journal of Law and Society: move to new submissions platform
The Editor of the Journal of Law and Society has announced that the journal will no longer be using ScholarOne. All new submissions going forward should be sent via the Research Exchange Platform. See website for further details.
Amicus Curiae 6.2 Spring 2025 edited by Dr Maria Federica Moscati – includes a special section on surrogacy
The latest issue of Amicus Curiae has just been published. Professor Michael Palmer, who has been the journal’s Editor since the successful relaunch of Series 2 in 2019, has handed over editing of the journal to three co-editors, but the AC team is delighted to announce that he is continuing in a new role of Consultant Editor to oversee future issues and offer his considerable expertise and knowledge to the team.
The journal’s new Co-editors are Professor Pablo Cortes, University of Leicester, Dr Amy Kellam, School of Advanced Study University of London, and Dr Maria Federica Moscati, University of Sussex. This issue has been edited by Dr Moscati.
See announcement for details. The complete issue is available open access on the journal's home page.
NILQ Reflections on Writing: Professor Niamh Nic Shuibhne, University of Edinburgh
In the eighth article in our series, Professor Niamh Nic Shuibhne, University of Edinburgh, examines how the UK community of academics working in the field of European law have been affected by the shock of Brexit and reflects on how it has had an impact on her own writing – not just at a professional level but also from an emotional and personal perspective.
The Reflections on Writing series aims to give authors an opportunity to think about their own writing practices. To ask, for example, why do I write? How do I write? Where do I write? How do I carve out the time and space to write? How do I improve my writing? How has my approach to writing changed? Who has influenced my writing practices? What is the value of writing in the contemporary scholarly context?
Amicus Curiae: call for papers
Amicus Curiae, the journal of the Society for Advanced Legal Studies, is a free-access publication for both authors and readers. The Editors invite submissions from scholars, practitioners, and policymakers on a broad range of legal topics, particularly those that engage with contemporary developments in law and legal scholarship. See announcement for details. This is an open call, but please submit your paper by the end of February for consideration for the next forthcoming issue: AC 6.2 Summer 2025. See website for further information about the journal.
Laws special issue: Repelling Asylum-Seekers in Europe? Asylum-Seekers as an 'Anomaly' in EU and UK Migration Laws and Policies: call for papers
Laws is inviting submissions for a special issue. To find out more please see the website or flyer. Closing date: 30 October 2025.
Legalities: The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Law and Society – call for papers
Legalities is the official journal of the Law and Society Association of Australia and New Zealand (LSAANZ), and the premier journal for socio-legal studies in the region of Aotearoa, Australasia and the Global South. The editors are seeking submissions for the next general issue of the journal, due to be published in October 2025. See announcement and website for details.
Blogs and other online resources
Public Law Project: latest newsletter
The Public Law Project has published its latest newsletter including details of its activities, campaigns and publications.
Independent Sentencing Review: Final report
The Independent Sentencing Review sets out proposals to address prison and probation challenges and support victims. See the Ministry of Justice website for details.
Bar Council response to Sentencing Report
The Bar Council has responded to the Sentencing Council's final report of the Independent Sentencing Review. See press release for details.
Academy of Social Sciences: ebulletin May 2025
See webpage for the latest news from the Academy of Social Sciences.
From PhD to Book: blog by Bloomsbury Academic
Your PhD and your monograph should be – and are – different. The Bloomsbury Academic team unpack aspects of your thesis that usually need to be changed in making the transition to becoming a book. See blog for details.
Latest news from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation
The JRF Newsletter has monthly news about events, publications and jobs.
Tålking Rights! New human rights blog from Finland
The Tålking Rights blog is a scholarly blog focused on publishing high-quality and topical pieces in the field of human rights and public international law. Based at the Institute for Human Rights at Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland, it is edited and curated by a dynamic team of scholars and students. Contributions are welcome! See website for details.
New on the SAFI Blog
Ecofeminist Insights on Environmental Justice
Clara Esteve-Jordà explores how environmental degradation is deeply intertwined with systems of oppression, emphasizing the embodied experiences of marginalized communities. She critiques the traditional legal frameworks that often perpetuate these injustices and advocates for an ecofeminist approach to environmental justice. Read more: Ecofeminist Insights on Environmental Justice.
Recognized Women
Carolina Esser discusses her new book, Recognized Women: A Theory of Recognition of Women and Case Studies. She critically examines Axel Honneth’s theory of recognition from gender and intercultural perspectives, highlighting its limitations in fully addressing women's experiences and proposing modifications to better include the recognition of women. Read more: Recognized Women.
National Centre for Research Methods: Methods News April 2025
Read the latest issue including details of the NCRM's many events and training opportunities.
Judging Your Future: latest newsletter from the JAC
The Judicial Appointments Commission has published its latest newsletter. See webpage for details.
Latest from Frontiers of Socio-Legal Studies
Rethinking feminism’s paradox in the Aparajita Bill
Ananya Bhargava reflects upon West Bengal's Aparajita Bill as an expression of governance and carceral feminism. Read the full post here, which is published as part of the blog’s Borderlands section.
If you would like to receive a summary of all of Frontiers’ latest posts, please sign up to receive a bi-monthly newsletter here.
Other
Law Commission: Annual Report and Business Plan
The Annual Report highlights the work the Law Commission did from April 2024 to March 2025 and the Business Plan sets out the Commission's key ambitions over the coming year including opportunities and challenges.
National Audit Office Report: Improving Family Court Services for Children
The NAO report reviews the Government’s approach to improving how public law and private law cases are managed, with a specific focus on improving family justice services for children. See website for details.
Law Commission Report: Modernising Wills Law
The Law Commission has published its recommendations to reform the law of wills in its Report: Modernising Wills Law. The reforms will modernise the law governing wills to ensure it is fit for purpose in the modern age. Our recommendations are aimed at supporting testamentary freedom, protecting testators, and increasing clarity and certainty in the law. The final Report is accompanied by a draft Bill for a modern Wills Act, to replace the Wills Act 1837. See website for details.
Limits of Restrictions: Religious Minorities in Europe and Asia, University of Exeter: conference review
Dr Vadim Atnash has written a short review of a conference that took place on 30 April 2024 at the University of Exeter. See the review and conference programme for details.
Law Commission: University seminar pack – call for reviewers and feedback
The Law Commission of England and Wales has produced a new 8-page seminar pack aimed at third year undergraduate and postgraduate students. It is modular, comes with an answer guide for staff, and enables students to get to grips with the process of law reform from scoping through to implementation. The pack will eventually be available in Welsh as well as English. The Commission intends to launch the packs more widely in September, and is looking for academics who are willing to review the pack and offer feedback before the summer. Please contact
VRuG: Call for socio-legal book reviews
VRuG (the German Association for Law and Society) is introducing a book review section to its newsletter. The editor invites brief reviews of books within the area of socio-legal studies. This is a great opportunity to highlight new scholarship, share insights with the RCSL community and spark interesting discussions. Reviews should take up to 600 words, summarising key arguments and including critical engagement and reflections. Book suggestions and reviews should be sent to
Sentencing Council: Statement on the revised Imposition of community and custodial sentences guideline
The Council has published a new statement on the revised version of the Imposition of community and custodial sentences guideline. See website for details.
British Academy: Global (Dis)Order – call for discussion papers
The British Academy and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace are inviting applications for the Call for Discussion Papers: Global (Dis)Order – the first call for evidence-based insights to inform a new multi-year international policy programme on Global (Dis)Order during its first year. See website for details. Call closes: 14 April 2025.
Bar Council Submission to the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts: press release
In its submission to the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts, the Bar Council is warning that juryless trials are not the answer to the court crisis. See press release and submission for details.
Sentencing Council: New sentencing guidelines for blackmail, kidnap and false imprisonment offences
The Council has published two new guidelines for sentencing offenders convicted of blackmail, and
kidnap or false imprisonment. See website for details.
Bar Council Press Release: International Day of the Endangered Lawyer
On International Day of the Endangered Lawyer, the Bar Council has condemned targeting of lawyers at home and abroad. See press release for full details.
SAFI Newsletter February
SAFI, an interdisciplinary network for women in legal academia, has published its latest newsletter. See website for further details about the network.
Sentencing Council: Research review of the Overarching principles – domestic abuse sentencing guideline
See website for all the documents relating to this review by resarchers at Nottingham Trent University.
Sentencing Council Submission to Sentencing Review 2024–25
The Sentencing Council has submitted its evidence in response to the call for evidence issued by the Independent Sentencing Review 2024-2025. Led by the Rt Hon David Gauke, the independent review panel is expected to publish its findings in Spring 2025.