The Law School of the Future Symposium 2026 [Hybrid; London, Sep 8]

The Centre for Legal Education and the Legal Profession (CLELP) at Westminster Law School, University of Westminster, has announced its second annual free one-day hybrid symposium, "The Law School of the Future", to be held on Tuesday, 8 September 2026 (9 am to 7 pm) in London, with both on-site and online participation. The symposium brings together legal educators, academics, legal professionals, and sector stakeholders to reflect on and help shape the future of legal education and the development of the next generation of lawyers.

Westminster Law School is part of the University of Westminster, a public university based in the heart of London at 309 Regent Street. The symposium is organised by its Centre for Legal Education and the Legal Profession (CLELP), directed by Dr Marloes Spreeuw, and this edition marks the symposium's second annual outing.

The symposium will explore the future of legal education, the evolving legal profession, and the opportunities and challenges shaping law schools, students, and practitioners. Proposals engaging with innovation, curriculum development, employability, wellbeing, ethics, generative AI and legal technology, and the broader transformation of legal education and practice are welcome. Suggested strands include:

• The Future Legal Profession: Technology, Innovation and Change - the changing nature of legal practice and professional identity; innovation, technology and the future of legal services; preparing students for evolving professional environments; emerging trends in the legal sector.
• Human Skills, Judgment and Ethics - the importance of human skills in legal education and practice; ethics, professionalism and responsible innovation; critical thinking, advocacy and communication; balancing technological change with human judgment and values.
• Reimagining the Law Curriculum and Student Experience - curriculum innovation and inclusive legal education; assessment, feedback and student engagement; clinical legal education and experiential learning; supporting student confidence, digital capability and belonging.
• Careers, Employability and New Professional Pathways - graduate employability and future career pathways; collaboration between universities and the legal profession; developing professional skills and work-readiness; new opportunities and alternative routes within the legal sector.

Contributions are welcome from academics, legal practitioners, and education specialists. PhD students and early career academics are particularly encouraged to submit abstracts.

Abstracts must not exceed 250 words and must be submitted through the official Call for Papers submission form (linked below). The deadline for abstract submissions is Monday, 27 July 2026. Decisions will be communicated to applicants by Friday, 3 August 2026, and where possible applicants will be notified earlier.

The symposium is free to attend, in person or online, but registration is essential. Attendance registration (separate from the abstract submission form) closes on Friday, 4 September 2026.

To present at the symposium, complete the official Call for Papers submission form with your abstract of up to 250 words by 27 July 2026. To attend without presenting, register through the attendance registration form on the official event page before 4 September 2026. Queries about the call for papers may be sent to Dr Marloes Spreeuw at M.Spreeuw1@westminster.ac.uk.