The 19th Annual Conference of the European China Law Studies Association will be held in Cork from 19 to 21 September 2025. The conference will be hosted and organized by the School of Law of University College Cork (UCC).

ECLS is dedicated to advancing comparative and interdisciplinary research in Chinese law. Its Annual Conference is recognized as a premier forum for scholars, legal practitioners, and policymakers from around the globe to meet and debate the latest developments in Chinese law. The Annual Conference also serves as a platform for initiating research collaborations.

European China Law Studies Association Annual Conference 2025 - Concept Note and Call for Abstracts

The 19th Annual Conference of the European China Law Studies Association will be held in Cork from 19 to 21 September 2025. The conference will be hosted and organized by the School of Law of University College Cork (UCC).

ECLS is dedicated to advancing comparative and interdisciplinary research in Chinese law. Its Annual Conference is recognized as a premier forum for scholars, legal practitioners, and policymakers from around the globe to meet and debate the latest developments in Chinese law. The Annual Conference also serves as a platform for initiating research collaborations.

Topics 

The Annual Conference Organizing Committee is now inviting the submission of paper and panel proposals for the 2025 ECLS Annual Conference. We welcome contributions addressing legal matters related to any China law topic such as – but expressly not limited – to the following:

• Legal Issues concerning EU-China Relations
• China and the International Legal Order
• Legal Culture, Legal Traditions and Rule of Law Development
• Chinese Jurisprudence and Legal History
• Supreme People’s Court
• Legal Aspects of the Belt and Road Initiative
• Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure
• Gender Equality 
• Human Rights Protection 
• Chinese Law Emergency/Pandemic/Disaster Preparedness
• Sustainable Development and the Role of Regulation in China
• Legal and Economic Issues of International Trade and Investment
• Developments in Chinese Corporate and Commercial Law
• Cyber Security and Data Protection
• Legal Technologies, Big Data and Smart Courts
• Regulation of Artificial Intelligence
• Cryptocurrencies and China’s Banking and Finance Law
• Intellectual Property and Chinese Law
• Social Credit and the Law in China
• Labour Law Developments, Decent Work and Fundamental Labour Rights
• Administrative Law and Administrative Procedure
• Environment, Climate Change and Energy Law and Policies
• Marine Environmental and Natural Resources Law
• Developments in Chinese Maritime Law
• Developments in Chinese Law of Obligations

Keynote Speakers

To be confirmed.

Guidelines for Submission 

The Organizing Committee invites the submission of paper abstracts and panel proposals by 18^th  April 2025. All submissions will undergo a peer-review process. Submissions should be entered via ECLS2025@ucc.ie.

Individual papers abstracts should be confined to 300 words, while panel proposals should not exceed 1,000 words. Submissions must include: (1) the title of the paper or panel, (2) the name, institutional affiliation, and email address of the author(s), and (3) up to five relevant keywords.

The Organizing Committee welcomes abstracts and proposals from emerging researchers, including PhD candidates and Masters students. Special sessions for emerging researchers will be organized in the form of roundtables, moderated by seasoned scholars to facilitate enriching discussions.

Important Dates 

18^th April 2025 –  deadline for submission of abstracts/panel proposals

23^rd May 2025 – notification of acceptance

31^st July 2025 – submission of full papers (which should not exceed 8,000 words not including footnotes).

Venue 

The Conference will take place on the UCC campus.  

Practical Information 

Conference participants will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs. 

Additional information concerning logistics and other practical aspects may be found here: ECLSA Conference Practical Information Doc 2025