News

SLSA 2026 was attended by 616 delegates and attracted 847 abstract submissions.

The Sussex programme included 656 presentations plus roundtables, workshops and a display of PhD poster presentations.

Laura Disley created the winning PhD poster presentation with 'The legal protections offered to people crossing borders due to climate change: The case of Honduras'.

The 2026 Socio-Legal Studies Association annual conference at the University of Sussex was a huge success. Hosted by the Sussex Law School from 30 March - 1 April 2026, the event was attended by 616 delegates and attracted 847 abstract submissions.

The Conference took place in-person with the Plenary session live-streamed. Running since the SLSA was founded in 1990, the event brought together those in the field of socio-legal studies to share knowledge and network. The final Sussex programme included 656 presentations plus roundtables and workshops, a display of PhD poster presentations which can still be viewed online, an informal reception at The Palace Pier for circa 500 people, and a formal dinner at The Grand Hotel for circa 550 people.

Several delegates approached the organisers to thank them for the warm welcome and to share how safe and well they felt on campus and in the city.

Conference organiser, Professor Nuno Ferreira, said:

"Hosting an international academic conference of this dimension and significance was a considerable logistical challenge and personal learning curve for me. So many academic and professional service colleagues alike contributed to make this event a huge success and highlight the place of the Sussex Law School amongst the best law schools in the country and globally. It was touching to hear from so many delegates how much they enjoyed themselves at our lovely campus and in the city of Brighton and Hove. Our mission was accomplished and kudos to everyone who made sure we were excellent hosts to the socio-legal studies community of the UK and beyond."

Smita Kheria, Chair of the SLSA, said:

"The 2026 SLSA Annual Conference at the University of Sussex was a very successful event, bringing together a wide breadth of socio‑legal scholarship over three days in a vibrant and inclusive setting, with 41 streams, a thought‑provoking plenary, and a rich programme of additional activities. I am deeply grateful to the entire Sussex team - led by Professor Nuno Ferreira - for their thoughtful organisation and tireless hard work in ensuring the smooth running of the conference and supporting the SLSA in delivering a rewarding experience for the socio‑legal community."

• See the delegate handbook
• The Sussex Law School’s Linkedin account was used to post updates throughout the Conference
• The Socio-Legal Studies Association posted to their Linkedin account during the Conference also.

The Socio-Legal Studies Association is a UK charity that aims to advance education and learning in the field of socio-legal studies and to promote research.

Back to news list