Shifting Politics and Legal Realities: Taking a Punt into the Future
The provisional programme is given below. This page will continue to be updated as final details are confimed.
Sunday 13 September 2026
12:30 – 13:00
Coffee, light refreshments and registration at the Pre-Conference Workshop at the Faculty of Law and Squire Law Library, David Williams Building, 10 West Road, Cambridge, CB3 9DZ.
13:00 – 14:30
Pre-Conference workshop
Title: From Evidence to Influence: Packaging Research for Parliamentary Impact
Speaker: Claire Sewell, Head of the Research Information Service, House of Commons Library.
For more details about the Pre-Conference Workshop see the separate tab on the conference page.
17:30 – 18:30
Registration at the Graduate by Hilton Cambridge Hotel, Granta Place, Mill Lane, Cambridge, CB2 1RT.
18:00 – 21:30
Opening reception at the Graduate by Hilton Cambridge Hotel in the Granta Suite Room and Riverside Gardens.
- Drinks served from 18:00
- Welcome and speeches at 18:30
- Buffet dinner (2 courses) served from 19:00
- Event finishes by: 21:30
Monday 14 September 2026
08:45 – 09:25
Registration and light refreshments
West Court, Jesus College, Jesus Lane Cambridge, CB5 8BL
09:25 – 09:45
Formal welcome and opening of the 44th Annual Course at the Frankopan Hall, West Court
Speakers: Mark Engsberg, President of IALL and Louise Gullifer, Rouse Ball Professor of English Law and Chair of the Faculty Board, University of Cambridge
09:45 – 10:30
Lecture: King, Parliament and Common Law in English History
Speaker: John Baker, Downing Professor Emeritus of the Laws of England
10:30 – 11:00
Refreshments break and meet the sponsors and exhibitors in the Elena Hall
11:00 – 11:45
Lecture: Outrage and Constitutional Cultures: When do Political Scandals Challenge Constitutions?
Speaker: David Feldman, Emeritus Rouse Ball Professor of English Law, University of Cambridge
11:45 – 12:30
Lecture: The British Constitution in an Age of Populism
Speaker: Mark Elliott, Professor of Public Law, University of Cambridge
12:30 – 13:45
Lunch in the Elena Hall and Sibilla Room. Meet the sponsors and exhibitors in the Elena Hall
13:45 – 14:00
Product talk by Gold Sponsors
De Gruyter Brill
14:00 – 14:45
Lecture: TBC
Speaker: TBC
14:45 – 15:30
Lecture: TBC
Speaker: Mohamed Moussa, University Assistant Professor, University of Cambridge
15:30 – 16:00
Refreshments break and meet the sponsors and exhibitors in the Elena Hall
16:00
Depart on foot (5 minutes walk) to the Cambridge Union
16:15 – 17:15
Debating Chamber of the Cambridge Union
Talk: Ceremonial traditions and history of the University of Cambridge
Speakers: Lucy Lewis, University Marshall. Introduction by Kirsty Allen, Interim Director Professional and Continuing Education, University of Cambridge.
17:30
Drinks reception: in the Keynes Library at the Cambridge Union
18:00 – 18:20
Talk: Defending Free Speech Since 1815
Speaker: John Brown, Bursar of the Cambridge Union
18:20: Light buffet dinner
19:30: Event finishes
Tuesday 15 September 2026
08:45 – 09:15
Registration and light refreshments at West Court, Jesus College, Cambridge
09:15 – 10:00
Lecture: TBC
Speaker: Catherine Barnard, Professor of European Law
10:00 – 10:45
Lecture: TBC
Speaker: Surabhi Ranganathan, Professor of International Law
10:45 – 11:15
Refreshments break and meet the sponsors and exhibitors in the Elena Hall
11:15 – 12:00
Lecture: TBC
Speaker: Matilda Gillis, Research Fellow and College Lecturer; Affiliated Lecturer, University of Cambridge
12:00 – 12:45
Annual General Meeting (IALL members only)
12:45 – 13:45
Lunch in the Elena Hall and Sibilla Room. Meet the sponsors and exhibitors in the Elena Hall
13:45 – 14:30
Lecture: Peace and Justice: Friends or Foes?
Speaker: Sarah Nouwen, Professor of Public International Law, European University Institute
14:30 – 15:15
Refreshments break and meet the sponsors and exhibitors in the Elena Hall
15:30 – 17:30
Sign-up options to attend a guided tour of one of the following libraries:
- Cambridge University Library
- Squire Law Library
- Wren Library, Trinity College
- Parker Library, Corpus Christi College
17:30
Evening at leisure and return to accommodation
Wednesday 16 September 2026
08:45 – 09:15
Registration and light refreshments at West Court, Jesus College, Cambridge
09:15 – 10:15
Lecture: Legal AI: Research, Data, Readership and Libraries
Speaker: Felix Steffek, Professor of Law and Deputy Chair of the Faculty of Law, Cambridge
10:15 – 10:45
Refreshments break and meet the sponsors and exhibitors in the Elena Hall
10:45 – 11:30
Lecture: TBC
Speaker: To be confirmed
11:30 – 12:15
Lecture: Because You’re Only Allowed One Murder, Aren’t You?’: Agatha Christie and Capital Punishment for Murder
Speaker: Findlay Stark, Professor of Criminal Law, University of Cambridge
12:15 – 13:15
Lunch in the Elena Hall and Sibilla Room. Meet the sponsors and exhibitors in the Elena Hall
13:15 – 14:00
Lecture: The Law Library Through a Decolonial Lens: Knowledge Justice, Sites of Memory and Acts of Resistance
Speaker: Marilyn Clarke, Head Librarian, Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, London
14:00 – 15:15
Lecture: Libraries as Sites of Radical Hope: Language, Noise, and Rhythms of Law
Speaker: Bhumika Billa, Research Associate, Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge and Associate Lecturer, Kent Law School, University of Kent
15:15 – 15:45
Refreshments break and final opportunity to meet the sponsors and exhibitors in the Elena Hall
15:45 – 16:30
Lecture: TBC
Speaker: To be confirmed
16:30 – 18:30
Time at leisure
18:30 – 22:00
IALL Annual Dinner event at St John’s College, St Johns Street, Cambridge CB2 1TP
18:30
Pre-dinner drinks from 18:30 in the Cloisters, St John’s College
19:30 – 22:00
Formal dinner in the Hall, St John’s College
Speeches: Albertina Albors-Llorens, President of St John’s College and Professor of European Union Law, University of Cambridge
and
Mark Engsberg, President of IALL
Thursday 17 September 2026
Optional day
Trip by coach to the city of Ely with guided tour of Ely Cathedral, Oliver Cromwell’s House and the Sessions House.
See the separate tab for more details about the optional day.