Shifting Politics and Legal Realities: Taking a Punt into the Future
The provisional programme is given below. The full listing will be available on this page very soon!
Sunday 13 September 2026
Pre-Conference workshop: 2-3:30pm
Confirmed speaker: Claire Sewell, Head of the Research Information Service, House of Commons Library.
Title: From Evidence to Influence: Packaging Research for Parliamentary Impact
For more details about the Pre-Conference Workshop see the separate tab on the conference page.
Opening reception at the Graduate by Hilton Cambridge Hotel in the Granta Suite Room and Riverside Gardens. Start time: 6pm. This event will include drinks, welcome speeches and buffet dinner.
Monday 14 September 2026
Registration at West Court, Jesus College commences from 8:45am.
Formal welcome and opening of the 44th Annual Course in the Frankopan Hall, West Court by Mark Engsberg, President of IALL and Louise Gullifer, Rouse Ball Professor of English Law and Chair of the Faculty Board, University of Cambridge.
The programme for Day 1 will include lectures on UK constitutional law.
Confirmed opening lecture on ‘King, Parliament and Common Law in English History’ by Sir John Baker, Downing Professor Emeritus of the Laws of England.
Other confirmed speakers include:
David Feldman, Emeritus Rouse Ball Professor of English Law, University of Cambridge.
Mark Elliott, Professor of Public Law, University of Cambridge.
Visit to the Debating Chamber at the Cambridge Union – Debating Society & Members Club, a unique institution focused on ‘Defending free speech since 1815’.
Presentation in the Debating Chamber: ‘Ceremonial Traditions and History of the University of Cambridge’.
Confirmed speakers: Lucy Lewis, University Marshall, with an introduction by Kirsty Allen, former Head of the Registry’s Office, University of Cambridge and currently Interim Director of Professional and Continuing Education.
Reception in the Cambridge Union Library: drinks and buffet dinner.
Confirmed speaker: John Brown, Bursar of the Cambridge Union.
Tuesday 15 September 2026
The programme for Day 2 will include lecture on aspects of European Union Law, post-Brexit, migration and international law topics.
Confirmed speakers:
Catherine Barnard, Professor of European Law, University of Cambridge.
Surabhi Ranganathan, Professor of International Law, University of Cambridge.
Matilda Gillis, Research Fellow and College Lecturer, University of Cambridge.
IALL Annual General Meeting.
Afternoon speaker to be confirmed.
Sign-up options to attend guided library tours of:
Cambridge University Library
Squire Law Library
Wren Library, Trinity College
Parker Library, Corpus Christi College
Wednesday 16 September 2026
The programme for Day 3 will include subjects relating to law libraries, legal information and developments in AI.
Full programme and speakers for this day to be confirmed.
IALL Annual Dinner event at St John’s College, Cambridge from 7pm.
Including Pre-dinner drinks in the Cloisters, St John’s College and Formal dinner with speechesin the Hall, St John’s College.
Thursday 17 December 2026
Optional day
Trip by coach to the city of Ely and tour of Ely Cathedral. See the separate tab for more details about the optional day.