Re-forming Law Reform: Functions Processes, and Mechanisms

To mark its 50th Anniversary, the Law Reform Commission of Ireland is partnering with Trinity Law School to host an academic conference on the history and future of law reform. Papers from the conference will, subject to double blind academic peer review, be published in the Dublin University Law Journal in 2026. The conference will take place in Trinity College Dublin on the afternoon of Thursday 18 September, the day before a related conference in Dublin Castle organised by the Law Reform Commission itself, Half a Century of Change: The Journey of Law Reform.

In a politically polarised world, the challenge of law reform is greater than ever. How can appropriate subjects for law reform be identified? What form of democratic processes are required to legitimise law reform? What roles do and should stakeholders and lobby groups play in the process of law reform? How can political support be built for urgently needed law reform? The conference will address these and other questions through bringing together academics, graduate students, members of law reform commissions, and other policy-makers for an afternoon of debate and discussion prompted by academic papers. We invite papers broadly related to the theme of law reform in contemporary times. Among the topics that might be addressed are the following:

• Historical accounts of the role of law reform, including but not limited to the establishment of formal law reform institutions.
• The changing role of law reform institutions, including comparative study of design and effectiveness.
• Examples of law reform unrelated to law reform institutions.
• Narratives of success and failure: law reform efforts in different areas of law.
• Relationships between constitutional reform and law reform, including the possibility for mutual learning in relation to consultation, gauging public opinion, and formulating credible proposals.
• Law reform via judicial activity, including common law doctrine and/or the living tree approach to constitutional doctrine, and the legitimacy of this mode of law reform.

Timeline

28 February 2025	Submission of extended abstract – 500-1000 words by email to dulj@tcd.ie
14 March 2025	Notification of acceptances
31 August 2025	Submission of draft paper for circulation at conference
18 September 2025	Conference – 2-7pm
31 January 2026	Submission of article to Dublin University Law Journal for peer review

We particularly welcome paper submissions from graduate students and from members of groups traditionally excluded from the legal academy. Please direct any queries to dulj@tcd.ie