The Society of Legal Scholars (SLS) Annual Conference is a prestigious gathering organized by the SLS, the principal representative body for legal academics in the UK and Ireland. In 2017, for the first time in its 108-year history, the conference was held outside the UK, hosted by the UCD Sutherland School of Law in Dublin. The event attracted over 470 delegates who presented more than 300 papers across 28 subject sections.
The conference theme, "The Diverse Unities of Law," explored different legal traditions and the emergence of diverse interpretations and practices among common law jurisdictions. Key sessions included plenary panels featuring distinguished members of the judiciary from Ireland, England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. Notably, Baroness Brenda Hale of Richmond, then President of the UK Supreme Court, chaired the opening plenary titled "The Diverse Unities of the Common Law."
Additional highlights encompassed discussions on leadership and diversity in law schools, with panels comprising heads of law schools from institutions such as the University of Oxford and SOAS. The conference also featured a seminar focusing on the contribution of the Irish diaspora to legal scholarship, underscoring the global impact of Irish legal academics.
The event provided ample networking opportunities, including a main conference dinner held at The Honorable Society of King's Inns, with UCD alumnus Professor Conor Gearty from the London School of Economics as the guest speaker. This setting facilitated engagement among legal scholars, practitioners, and members of the judiciary, fostering collaboration and the exchange of ideas.
Categories
Speakers(28)
Associate Professor Aileen Kavanagh
Associate Professor at University of Oxford
Associate Professor Kavanagh contributed to the panel discussing the Irish Diaspora's contribution to Legal Scholarship.
Associate Professor Kevin Costello
Associate Professor at University College Dublin
Associate Professor Costello participated as a panelist in the opening plenary session on 'The Diverse Unities of the Common Law'.
Baroness Brenda Hale of Richmond
President at UK Supreme Court
Baroness Hale chaired the opening plenary session titled 'The Diverse Unities of the Common Law' at the conference.
Dr. Andrew Jackson
Lecturer at University College Dublin
Dr. Jackson led the organization of the annual SLS graduate conference.
Dr. Catherine Donnelly BL
Barrister-at-Law
Dr. Donnelly participated as a panelist in the seminar on 'The Common Law and Brexit: A New Frontier?'.
Dr. Donal Coffey
Researcher at Max Planck Institute, Frankfurt
Dr. Coffey participated as a panelist in the seminar on the contribution of the Irish Diaspora to Legal Scholarship.
Dr. Kanstantsin Dzehtsiarou
Lecturer at University of Liverpool
Dr. Dzehtsiarou was a panelist in the seminar on the contribution of the Irish Diaspora to Legal Scholarship.
Dr. Marie-Luce Paris
Lecturer at University College Dublin
Dr. Paris organized the joint seminar between the British Association of Comparative Law and the Irish Society of Comparative Law.
Mr. Conleth Bradley SC
Senior Counsel
Mr. Bradley was a panelist in the joint seminar discussing 'The Common Law and Brexit: A New Frontier?'.
Mr. Paul Gallagher SC
Senior Counsel
Mr. Gallagher contributed as a panelist in the seminar on 'The Common Law and Brexit: A New Frontier?'.
Ms. Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC
Queen's Counsel
Ms. Gallagher was a panelist in the seminar discussing 'The Common Law and Brexit: A New Frontier?'.
Professor Ambreena Manji
Professor at Cardiff University
Professor Manji was a panelist in the opening plenary session discussing 'The Diverse Unities of the Common Law'.
Professor Anne Davies
Professor at University of Oxford
Professor Davies was a panelist in the 'Leadership and Diversity in Law Schools' discussion.
Professor Carl Stychin
Professor at City Law School, London
Professor Stychin participated in the 'Leadership and Diversity in Law Schools' panel discussion.
Professor Carol Tan
Professor at SOAS University of London
Professor Tan contributed to the panel on 'Leadership and Diversity in Law Schools'.
Professor Colin Scott
Vice-President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at University College Dublin
Professor Scott chaired the panel on 'Leadership and Diversity in Law Schools'.
Professor Conor Gearty
Professor at London School of Economics
Professor Gearty chaired the seminar discussing 'The Common Law and Brexit: A New Frontier?'.
Professor Imelda Maher
Dean of Law at University College Dublin
Professor Maher chaired the seminar focusing on the contribution of the Irish Diaspora to Legal Scholarship.
Professor Liz Campbell
Professor at Durham University
Professor Campbell was a panelist in the seminar focusing on the contribution of the Irish Diaspora to Legal Scholarship.
Professor Peter Cane
Professor at Australian National University and Cambridge University
Professor Cane contributed as a panelist in the opening plenary session discussing 'The Diverse Unities of the Common Law'.
Professor Suzanne Kingston
Professor at University College Dublin
Professor Kingston delivered the keynote lecture titled 'More Democracy Please? Reflections on the Democratic Turn in European Environmental Enforcement' in the Environmental Law stream.
Professor Toni Williams
Professor at University of Kent
Professor Williams participated in a panel discussing 'Leadership and Diversity in Law Schools'.
The Hon. Lady Wolffe
Senator at College of Justice, Scotland
Lady Wolffe contributed as a panelist in a plenary session featuring distinguished members of the judiciary from various jurisdictions.
The Hon. Mr. Justice Donal O’Donnell
Justice at Supreme Court of Ireland
Justice O’Donnell chaired a plenary panel featuring distinguished members of the judiciary from various jurisdictions.
The Hon. Mr. Justice Frank Clarke
Chief Justice at Ireland
Chief Justice Clarke chaired a session in the environmental law section of the conference.
The Hon. Ms. Justice Iseult O’Malley
Justice at Supreme Court of Ireland
Justice O’Malley was a panelist in a plenary session featuring distinguished members of the judiciary from various jurisdictions.
The Right Hon. Lord Mance
Justice at UK Supreme Court
Lord Mance was a panelist in a plenary session featuring distinguished members of the judiciary from various jurisdictions.
The Rt. Hon. Sir Declan Morgan
Lord Chief Justice at Northern Ireland
Sir Declan Morgan participated as a panelist in a plenary session featuring distinguished members of the judiciary from various jurisdictions.
Event Details
- Date
- September 5-8, 2017
- 4 days
- Location
- 🇮🇪 Dublin, Ireland
- UCD Sutherland School of Law
- Audience
- Legal academics, practitioners, and members of the judiciary
- Attendees
- Over 470 delegates