Call for Papers: Law and Rurality Workshop 2026, University of South Dakota, Vermillion (USA)

The Law and Rurality Workshop is a joint project facilitated by the Rural Reconciliation Project at the University of Nebraska College of Law (led by Professor Jessica Shoemaker) and the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law (led by Professor Hannah Haksgaard). The Rural Reconciliation Project is a scholarly initiative at Nebraska Law that examines the relationship between law and rural people and places.

The 2026 Law and Rurality Workshop will be hosted in person at the University of South Dakota (Vermillion, South Dakota, USA) on Friday, 9 October 2026, with a pre-workshop meal on Thursday evening, 8 October 2026. The Workshop will take place on the University of South Dakota campus inside the National Music Museum and at the Oscar Howe Gallery.

The Workshop provides a forum for scholars to share and receive feedback on draft works-in-progress that address, broadly, any topic related to rurality and the law, including legal issues viewed through the lens of rurality, rural geographies, or rural-urban difference. Participants will be expected to read and comment on other draft works. Depending on demand, the organisers may also host at least one incubator session for scholars to receive feedback on more nascent ideas, and other thematic discussions or events might be organised.

There will be no hybrid or remote participation option for this Fall 2026 Workshop. The organisers intend to alternate in-person workshops with remote workshops every other year, so scholars can anticipate an exclusively online version of this Workshop in Fall 2027.

The Law and Rurality Workshop is intended for scholars of all levels and all disciplines whose work engages with law and its relation to rural people and places. There is no jurisdiction restriction; scholars from any country may submit.

• Works-in-progress session: present a draft paper, however early stage. Draft papers are due Friday, 25 September 2026 and will be circulated to other Workshop participants soon thereafter.
• Incubator session: present more briefly an idea only, for feedback on nascent work (hosted depending on demand).
• Commentator or general participant: scholars who wish to attend all or part of the Workshop without presenting may email the organisers with some background and context about their proposed engagement (as a formal discussant or general Workshop member). Such participation may be limited by space or other logistical constraints.

Interested scholars should submit a title and abstract by email to Professor Hannah Haksgaard at hannah.haksgaard@usd.edu no later than Monday, 27 July 2026. At the time of the title/abstract submission, applicants must also communicate whether they seek to workshop an in-progress draft paper or prefer to present an idea only at an incubator session.

Those wishing to attend as a commentator or general participant should also email hannah.haksgaard@usd.edu by 27 July 2026 with background and context about their proposed engagement.

There is no fee for the Workshop. Participants are expected to cover their own travel expenses. The University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law will provide most meals during the Workshop, including a pre-workshop meal on Thursday evening.

Nearby airports include Sioux City (45-minute drive) and Sioux Falls (60-minute drive). More event details, including affordable lodging recommendations, will be provided after acceptance. Questions about Vermillion travel logistics should be directed to the local host, Professor Hannah Haksgaard (hannah.haksgaard@usd.edu).

Interested scholars and students may also subscribe for future Rural Reconciliation Project news and events at https://www.ruralreconcile.org/subscribe.