The Association of Law Teachers (ALT) is excited to announce a call for expressions of interest to host its forthcoming annual conference in 2027. The ALT has been at the forefront of legal education in the UK since its establishment in 1965. Over the years, it has served as a platform for collaboration, innovation and the exchange of ideas among legal educators. The ALT Committee is seeking expressions of interest from universities wishing to host this prestigious conference.
The ALT’s annual conference is the main annual event of the Association, where the vibrant, welcoming and inclusive community of academics, professionals, and practitioners that the ALT represents come together to engage in discourse on all dimensions of legal education. As a potential host institution, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the conference experience and providing a memorable setting for colleagues to convene. Hosting the conference will not only showcase your institution’s commitment to legal education but also offer a platform to highlight your academic programmes, faculty expertise and facilities to an esteemed audience of law teachers, scholars and professionals.
The conference usually takes place on the Monday and Tuesday prior to Good Friday and hosts should be mindful of potential clashes with other conferences (notably the SLSA) held around that time. In 2023 we were hosted by the University of Westminster, in 2024 by Swansea University, in 2025 by the University of Strathclyde and the 2026 conference is due to take place at the University of Exeter.
Application Criteria
- A strong local team of organisers, supported by their Dean/Head of School/Department
- A venue capable of catering for approximately 140 delegates, with flexibility to accommodate more
- Overnight accommodation for about 100 people, close to the conference venue
- An accessible location
- Ability to provide a conference website and other online presence, including dedicated social media channels
- At least 4 large seminar rooms capable of holding 30 people, within short walking distance of each other (ideally within the same building)
- A lecture theatre or similar large space for plenary sessions and the Association’s annual general meeting
- A cloakroom for the storage of luggage
- Reliable and free Wi-Fi within the building
- A central area suitable for registration, publishers’ stands, refreshments, and lunch
- Capacity for hybrid delivery to maximise accessibility
- Adequate administrative and financial support
- A clear, detailed, and realistic proposed budget for the event
- Capacity to promote the conference through local and wider networks
- A commitment to support the ALT early careers team in hosting early career academic focused training either directly before or during the conference. Details to be determined upon successful application.
Please submit expressions of interest to Dr Steven Montagu-Cairns at s.cairns@leeds.ac.uk no later than 12pm Friday 30th January. We will evaluate all submissions carefully, considering various factors such as location, facilities, logistical capabilities, and the overall commitment to ensuring a memorable conference experience.
We are excited to collaborate with a host institution that shares our commitment to advancing legal education. Together, let us create an exceptional conference that will leave a lasting impact on the legal academia community.
Should you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact the ALT through the email address above and a member of the committee will get back to you. We eagerly await your expressions of interest and look forward to working closely with the selected host institution.
