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

Visa Information for Attendees

Please see below some general information regarding visas. For those who require an invitation letter to support their visa application, UCC will supply one on request once the registration for the conference opens. Unfortunately, UCC is unable to provide any further assistance regarding visa applications or to provide specific information regarding your visa circumstances. It is the responsibility of the visa applicant to ensure correct and up-to-date information regarding visas and immigration.

General Visa Information:

Please note that the Republic of Ireland is not part of The Schengen Area.

Whether or not you will require a visa depends on your nationality. To determine whether you are from a visa required or non-visa required country, please see Visit Ireland - Travel Path - Immigration Service Delivery.

If you are from a visa required country and are travelling to Ireland to visit for less than 90 days, you are eligible to apply for a Short Stay ‘C’ Tourist Visa. For more information, please visit How to apply for a short stay ‘C’ visit (tourist) visa - Immigration Service Delivery. Please note that this visa does not permit the visa holder to do any paid or unpaid work, or to use any publicly funded services (i.e./ a public hospital).

Travelling to Ireland with a Valid UK Visa:

If you are travelling to Ireland with a valid UK visa, there are a few options available to you.

Option 1: If you have a valid UK Short Stay Visa, you may be eligible to visit Ireland for less than 90 days. For more information about this option, please visit Short stay visa waiver programme - Immigration Service Delivery.

Option 2: If you are an Indian or Chinese national, you may be eligible to apply for the British Irish Visa Scheme (BIVS). The BIVS allows certain people to travel to the Common Travel Area (United Kingdom and Ireland, excluding the Isle of Man and Channel Islands) on a single visa for short stays only. For more information on the BIVS, please visit British Irish Visa Scheme - Immigration Service Delivery.