Postgraduate Law Conference 2026
On 11–12 June 2026, Queen Mary University of London hosted its annual Postgraduate Law Conference, welcoming postgraduate scholars from across a broad range of legal disciplines to engage with the topic of “Critical Legal Thinking in an Evolving World.”
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This year’s Conference formed part of the university’s celebrations of significant milestones, including the 60th anniversary of the School of Law, the 45th anniversary of the Centre for Commercial Law Studies, and the 40th anniversary of the School of International Arbitration.
Over both days, 46 postgraduate researchers participated both in person and online, creating an engaging and inclusive environment for scholarly exchange. They delivered speeches spanning a broad spectrum of legal fields, including international public law, private international law, commercial law, human rights law, legal theory, technology and artificial intelligence, environmental law, criminal justice, and dispute resolution. The diversity of topics reflected the conference’s commitment to fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and encouraging critical approaches to contemporary legal challenges.
The conference was organised by Yuliia Isaieva and Mathilda Lorkin, PhD candidates at Queen Mary, in collaboration with the Queen Mary Law Journal. From developing the Call for Papers and coordinating the peer review of submissions to organising the programme and facilitating the smooth delivery of the event, the organisers collaborated closely with colleagues across the School of Law in order to ensure the successful execution of the event.
The conference also benefited enormously from the outstanding support of Yun-Chu Chen, an LLM student at Queen Mary, whose dedication and organisational assistance throughout the event were invaluable. Her professionalism and willingness to assist contributed significantly to the seamless running of both conference days.
The programme featured keynote addresses by Dr Angela Sherwood, Lecturer in Law, and Norah Gallagher, Director of the School of International Arbitration at Queen Mary University of London. Their insightful presentations encouraged scholars to reflect on the evolving role of legal scholarship, the importance of methodological innovation, and the value of critical engagement with contemporary legal issues.
A particular strength of the conference was the lively discussion that followed each panel session. Participants engaged constructively with presenters, exchanging ideas across different areas of legal research and exploring opportunities for future collaboration. The hybrid format enabled researchers from different areas to participate, broadening the international reach of the event and enriching the academic discussions.
The conference once again demonstrated the strength and diversity of the postgraduate research community at Queen Mary. It provided an important platform for emerging scholars to present the results of their research, receive valuable feedback from peers and academia, and establish new professional connections.