The 27th British Legal History Conference will take place at the University of Nottingham between 1 and 4 July 2026. The topic will be law and governance.
This draws upon the longstanding interplay between law and governance, emphasising the ways in which legal systems are shaped by, and in turn shape, structures of authority and power. While law has often been understood as a system of rules or doctrines, its relationship with governance invites a broader exploration into how legal frameworks both reflect and construct political order, societal values, and modes of governance – be they ‘good’ or ‘bad’.
The aim is to examine how legal norms, institutions, and practices interact with governing structures across different historical periods and geographic contexts, shedding light on how governance has been understood, contested, and institutionalised through law.
More details of the programme and information about registration will be posted here when available.
Call for Papers now open
A copy of the call for papers can be viewed now – please note the deadline of 15 September 2025.
Conference venue
The venue for the conference will be the iconic Trent Building on the University of Nottingham’s University Park Campus. We are happy to provide some useful travel information for getting to Nottingham.
Accommodation
Accommodation at the Jubilee Conference Centre and University Halls of Residence will be available to book through the Registration Portal when that opens. Information about other places to stay in the city can be found on the Visit Nottinghamshire website, using the ‘drop down’ box to select ‘city centre’ as the location.
