Annual Meeting of the Law and Society Association
Denver, Colorado USA
May 28 - 31, 2009

 

Program Committee

Instructions for Submission of Paper and Session Proposals

Submit a Proposal for a Paper, Session, or to Volunteer as chair or discussant

Proposal Keyword List

Collaborative Research Networks

Attendance Planning

Preliminary Program

Conference Hotel Reservations

Conference Registration

Exhibitor Information

Workshops:

Graduate Student Workshop

Early Career Workshop

 

Call for Participation
Due Date: December 8, 2008
(late proposals welcome on space-available basis)

The 2009 Annual Meeting of Law and Society Association Thursday, May 28 through Sunday, May 31, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in the vibrant city of Denver.

Theme: Law, Power, and Inequality in the 21st Century

Urbanization, race relations, poverty, and crime were central concerns of sociolegal scholars at the Association's founding in the 1960s.  After 45 years, fundamental structures of inequality remain substantially unaffected by a variety of efforts of legal reform and reconstruction. New forms of inequality and resistance have emerged as globalization links people, economies, and states in new ways. The theme of this year’s Annual Meeting returns to the Law and Society Association’s historic questioning of the relationships between law, power, and inequality.   

The current historical moment presents challenges to achieving equality that pose relevant and probing questions for the Law and Society community to address both globally and locally. New questions about persistent problems of poverty, health care, and opportunities for mobility by oppressed groups must be raised and addressed. Old questions need to be reconsidered, as new forms of inequality demand our attention.  

Has the use of law advanced or inhibited individual and group rights? Have new understandings of the intersection of social statuses changed our understanding of the role of law in producing or reducing inequality? What has been the role of new, non-state forms of governance in the production of inequality? Should law and social science provide the expertise to stimulate and inform the impending social agenda?  Should social scientists and lawyers become allies to address these pressing problems and if so, how should they collaborate? 

LSA invites you to take stock of scholarship on law, power, and inequality and to develop agendas for addressing these continuing challenges to the construction of a just social order. 

Proposals for individual papers or fully formed panels will be considered.  As with every Annual Meeting, panels need not be centered on the conference theme.  Submissions on any law and society topic are welcome.

SUBMISSION OF PAPER PROPOSALS: There are three ways to submit paper proposals for the conference.

Assigned Paper

 The first option is to collaborate with others before you submit your paper proposal to create a proposed session in which your paper is part. If you are successful in organizing a session then follow the submission instructions below for Session Proposals. If you are successful in becoming part of a panel organized by someone else, follow the instructions below for Individual “Assigned” Paper Proposals. 

Unassigned Paper

The second option is to submit a proposal without having determined your fellow panelists.  You will be assigned to a panel after you submit your proposal—for this option, see the instructions on Individual “Unassigned” Paper Proposals. Keyword selection is important for all submissions but particularly so for unassigned paper proposals.

The third option is to submit a poster paper proposal.

The Importance of Keyword Selection:

For each submission, you will be asked to select two keywords.  Please note that your submission will be sent to a committee member based on the first keyword that you select.  The second keyword is used to suggest alternative placements if the fit with other papers appears better.

For example, if you are submitting a paper proposal on Islamic law and punishment in the “War on Terror,” you will have several relevant keywords to choose from.  If you want to be part of a panel with other scholars studying Islamic law, choose the keyword “religion.”  If instead you want to share your research with people studying punishment, choose the keyword “punishment.”  If you would prefer to talk with people doing research on terrorism, choose the keyword “security and terror.”  A clear abstract and careful selection of keywords will help the Program Committee to create more effective panels. 

Option One  Individual “Assigned” Paper Proposals:

If you are to be a presenter in a paper session organized by another, you still must submit your own paper.  The session organizer will supply the necessary session tracking number for completing the submission process.  Choose “assigned” on the paper submission form and enter the session tracking number, which will attach your paper to the session. The session organizer cannot enter your paper for you.

For the “assigned” paper submission form, you will need:

  • the session tracking number
  • a paper title
  • an abstract of 100-250 words
  • keyword selection(s) (in order of relevance)
  • co-author(s)’ contact information (if you have co-authors)
  • AV requirement, if any

For the detailed steps in submitting an "assigned" paper proposal, click here.
Option Two  Individual “Unassigned” Paper Proposals:

If you are unable to find other panelists, and decide to submit an individual “unassigned” proposal, your abstract will be sent to the Program Committee.  They will attempt to match your proposal with other topically-related individual submissions.

Keyword selection is particularly important for optimal placement of your paper (see above).

For the “unassigned” paper submission form, you will need:

  • a paper title
  • an abstract of 100-250 words
  • keyword selection(s) (in order of relevance)
  • co-author(s)’ contact information (if you have co-authors)
  • AV requirement, if any

 

 

For the detailed steps in submitting an "unassigned" paper proposal, click here.
For All Paper Presenters:  Once a paper is assigned to a session either by the Program Committee or Session Organizer the author is expected to:

  • have a written copy of the paper or detailed description of the presentation one month prior to the meeting

  • circulate the paper or relevant text among the other session participants as directed by the session Chair

  • prepare a public presentation of the paper (simply reading from the paper is not acceptable) or parallel text that conforms to the time constraints and the particular format or approach arranged by the session Chair

  • make a large print version of any material to be distributed in the session for attendees who may be visually impaired

  • in the event a paper author cannot attend, it is expected that they will contact the session chair and the LSA Executive Office to formally withdraw well in advance of the meeting and in time to be replaced.  A paper must be presented by its author(s); it may not be presented by another panelist.

  

 

 

Option Three   Poster Paper Proposals:

Those who prefer to present their work as a poster rather than by oral presentation in a panel session, should submit their proposal selecting the "poster" option.  Posters will be displayed during the entire conference, with a designated time period (1 hour, 45 minutes) scheduled at some point during the regular meeting for the author(s) to be present and discuss their work with anyone interested (*see below).  It is necessary that at least one of the authors of a poster paper be present by the poster board during the assigned time.

To be considered ready for Program Committee review, a poster paper proposal must include:

Once a poster proposal has been accepted, it is the responsibility of the author(s) to bring the poster to the conference, have it mounted on the assigned poster board, and dismounted when the conference ends.  Posters that are not removed by the author(s) at conference end will be recycled. 

All posters must have vertical (portrait) format.  The size must be at least 24 inches x 36 inches and not exceed 36 inches x 48 inches.  Text should be limited to the core ideas and presented in a font size that allows to be read from 2-3 feet away.  (Posting a 15-page paper would not be considered a “poster” and would be removed.)  Some useful information on the creation and layout of posters can be found at: http://www.cis.udel.edu/~pollock/fse04/posterauthorinst.html.

For the detailed steps in submitting poster paper proposals, click here.

*There is not a long tradition of poster presentations at LSA meetings but they are an integral part of many other conferences. Interest has been expressed in having this format available at LSA meetings as well. Posters allow scholars to present their ideas in an informal setting to attendees who are interested in their area of work.  This is a wonderful way for a project that has not reached completion to receive feedback and encourage connections among scholars interested in particular subfields of Law and Society. To encourage interest in this form of presentation, the program committee will, if there are a sufficient number of posters, schedule a special “Poster Reception.”  On Friday late afternoon, scholars with posters will be given a time and place to discuss their research in an informal setting as part of a wine and cheese reception.  We think that this may increase exposure to scholar's work and be fun as well.

SUBMISSION OF SESSION PROPOSALS (for ORGANIZERS):

We encourage the submission of proposals for fully formed sessions. 

The Program Committee recognizes the importance of engaging the audience in a compelling manner, and we envision a conference that is dynamic, innovative, and interactive.  Session Proposals tend to follow three formats:

1) traditional scholarly paper panels organized around a common theme
2) discussion-centered roundtables
3) book sessions, in which discussion is focused on 1 or more recent (published in the last 18 months) scholarly books.

Those types of sessions are welcome, but we also encourage proposals that are not constrained by the usual categories. Participants might organize debates, visual and musical performances, workshops, films, and other innovative formats. (Sessions with alternate formats and no papers should use the Roundtable Session Submissions Form; see information below). We encourage scholars proposing creative formats to consult with program committee members in advance.

In order to stimulate intellectual exchange, we also urge that panels be diverse in their composition by including, for example, participants from different countries, disciplines, and intellectual traditions as well as of different ages, career stages, gender, and race/ethnicity.

The Program Committee reserves the right to make changes in any panel in the interests of the general program and may assign a fourth paper from the pool of submissions for sessions proposed with three presentations.

There are three types of session proposals Paper Presentations, Roundtable Discussions, and Book Sessions

Paper Presentation Sessions

Proposals with Paper Presentations must include:

  • a session title
  • a 100-250 word description of the session
  • keyword selection(s)
  • a Chair
  • a Discussant (who may also serve as chair)
  • Three to five individual papers that are "assigned" by the Session Organizer, but no less than three
  • include CRN sponsorship (in session title) when relevant
For the detailed steps in submitting a Paper Session proposal, click here.

It is suggested that Paper Session Proposals be submitted early in order to allow time for the paper authors to submit their proposals before the deadline.

IMPORTANT: Papers in a session proposal must be submitted by the authors and cannot be submitted by the organizer.  Once the organizer submits a panel, the panel will be assigned a session tracking number.  The session organizer must provide the panelists with this session tracking number for them to register their papers properly.

Session Keywords are used to identify subject matter in program searches and to minimize overlapping scheduling as much as possible. Select the first keyword with care.


Roundtable Discussion Sessions

Proposals for Roundtables must include:

 

For the detailed steps in submitting a Roundtable Session proposal, click here.

 

Book Sessions

Proposals for Book Sessions must include:

  • a session title comprised of the title(s) of the book(s) and author(s)' name(s)
  • a 100-250 word description of the session
  • keyword selection(s)  
  • a Chair
  • the book Author(s)
  • at least three Readers
  • include CRN sponsorship (in session title) when relevant

For the detailed steps in submitting a Book Session proposal, click here.

 

PARTICIPATION LIMITS: The Program Committee limits conference attendees to no more than two appearances in the program. Serving as paper presenter, poster author, roundtable participant, author-meets-reader panelist, chair, or discussant counts as one participation each. (Co-authors who do not present are not counted as making an appearance). Participation as Session Chair and presenting a paper in the same session counts as one participation. Participating as a Chair/Discussant on a panel counts as one participation.

 

The only exceptions are for participants who perform roles in plenaries, theme panels, service panels, or other special events solicited or authorized by the Program Committee.  For all other requests, there will be no exception to the rule.

 

VOLUNTEERS FOR CHAIR AND/OR DISCUSSANT ROLES: We strongly encourage people to volunteer as chairs and discussants. When serving as a chair or a discussant, you make an invaluable contribution to the program. Please note that at least one service as chair is exempted from the two-participation rule. A specific form for volunteers is available on the Submission Site. The Program Committee will later contact volunteers directly to serve in these roles in sessions organized by the Committee.

Individuals selected to act as Session Chairs on paper panels are expected to inform paper presenters of the format of the session and their obligations as presenters, including:

SERVICE SESSIONS will be organized by relevant standing committees, e.g. journal publishing, teaching, tenure, methods, research access, grant-writing, diversity, work, and family.


 COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH NETWORKS (CRNs):


Collaborative Research Networks (CRNs) have been formed under the auspices of the Law and Society Association to facilitate ongoing dialogue and research collaboration, often with an international dimension. The Association seeks to support the existing CRNs and encourages the formation of additional CRNs for research areas not currently addressed. CRNs are open to all interested scholars. Information about joining and procedures for establishing new CRNs is available on this website. Session Proposals from existing CRNs or new CRNs are most welcome. CRN Principals are encouraged to organize and submit a series of panels formed from papers written by members of their CRN. The CRN panel organizer should follow the instructions for submitting session proposals. CRN sponsored panels should include reference to the CRN name and number in the Session Title so that it will be noted in the Program.
 


OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Meeting Registration: All participants are required to register for the conference.  The meeting registration form will be available on this site in late winter, 2009. Registration will be acknowledged by email receipt.

Registration rates (in U.S. dollars) are:

Registration Rate before
April 10, 2009		 April 11 - May 8 after May 8,
on-site only
Member  LSA $160 $180 $200
Non-Member $210 $230 $250
Student $80 $85 $90

Withdrawal: When the Program Committee accepts proposals, it expects that people will follow through with production of their papers or sessions. Should circumstances require withdrawal prior to the meeting, the Law and Society Association Executive Office must be notified immediately. Registration fees will be refunded on a proportional schedule based on date of withdrawal.  Refund Policy -- By written request only: until April 10th, 100%; April 11th until May 8th, 50%; May 9th until May 28th, 25%. No refunds after May 28th.

 
Letters of Invitation for Funding Purposes: Participants requiring a letter of invitation for the purpose of securing funding from their own institution or granting agency should contact Judy Rose in the LSA Executive Office.

 


Identity and Citizenship Documents for Travel from Outside the U.S.

Scholars attending from outside the United States and who require a visa are encouraged to submit their requests early in order to facilitate attendance at the meeting. The Law and Society Association is committed to having broad representation of scholars from outside the U.S. at the meeting, and will provide the required documentation in order to facilitate this process as soon as possible after requested. Please provide a clear statement of your exact requirements to obtain a Visa. Email this information along with a Fax number and/or mailing address where the letter should be sent to Judy Rose at the Executive Office.

Those in the Visa Waiver Program (countries listed here) should be aware of the new U.S. ESTA requirement:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announces implementation of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). ESTA is a new fully automated, electronic system for screening passengers before they begin travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. ESTA applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel to the United States, and VWP travelers are encouraged to apply for authorization as soon as they begin to plan a trip to the United States. It is anticipated that ESTA will become mandatory for VWP travelers on January 12, 2009.

Information on getting a visa and the ESTA program is available here.

Disability Access: The meeting organizers are committed to ensuring that all events at the meeting are accessible to persons with disabilities. The proposal forms and registration forms include a place to indicate if accommodation for disability will be required. The organizers will endeavor to provide specific information well in advance of the meeting about the location’s accessibility and practical arrangements. Information provided by the hotel. Transportation information will be available on this site in December. Meeting attendees with special needs or disability questions are encouraged to get in touch with Mary McClintock at the LSA office.


Updates, and the Preliminary Program: Updates and meeting information will be posted on this website and sent in group mailings to participants by email, using the email address you enter into the submission software. Please be sure your email address is correct and will be current through the time of the meeting.


Acknowledgments: You will receive an automated email when you log into the submission site the first time, directly from the submission software, and a second email acknowledging receipt of your proposal, each within a day or less. If you do not receive these acknowledgment emails, get in touch with Judy Rose in the LSA office. Copies of your emailed proposal acknowledgments will be available on the submission site in your Message Center.

The Preliminary Program will be available on the web in March, 2009. Participants will be allowed to update information until April 4, 2009. The Preliminary Program will permit easy searching by topic and presenter, viewing paper abstracts, and assembling a "mini-schedule" of events.

 

We look forward to your participation in the 2009 Annual Meeting in Denver.

 

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