LPRG at the Socio-Legal Scholars Association Conference 2024

The Legal Professions Research Group (LPRG) held a Lawyers and Legal Professions stream at SLSA 2024.

There was a significant LPRG presence at the recent Socio-Legal Scholars Association conference held at the University of Portsmouth from March 26 to 28.

Alex Batesmith co-convened the Lawyers and Legal Professions stream alongside Dr Chalen Westaby from Sheffield Hallam University. This stream served as a focal point for discussions and presentations on topics as diverse as Legal Aid lawyers, the legal professional duty of confidentiality, legal professional perceptions of lay Magistrates, and AI and the legal profession. Dr Trevor Clark, Lecturer in Legal Profession at the School of Law, presented a paper on Transaction Cost Engineering in large international law firms; Rachael O’Connor spoke about her recent project on reverse mentoring in the legal profession; and Alex Batesmith gave two papers, one on authenticity and experiences of identity formation and EDI among barristers and aspiring barristers, and a separate presentation with Dr Chalen Westaby on the emotional labour expectations of international criminal lawyers.

One highlight of the Lawyers and Legal Professions stream was the participation of scholars who had previously showcased their research at the launch of the LPRG in December 2023 at the School of Law, including Professor Lisa Webley from the University of Birmingham and Dr Jo Wilding from the University of Sussex.

The Lawyers and Legal Professions stream facilitated rich dialogue and knowledge exchange among attendees, further solidifying the LPRG's reputation as a leading force in legal research and scholarship.#

Image: Spinnaker Tower at sunset from Old Portsmouth, UK by Julian Gazzard