Northern Illinois University College of Law hosted its Fourth Annual Junior Scholars Conference on October 1 in Chicago, IL. The annual conference offers junior faculty scholars the opportunity to present their works-in-progress; to receive feedback from their colleagues, including senior faculty; and to network with other legal scholars from across the country.
“Given the challenges of the past year and a half, it was extremely special to be back in person for this year’s conference,” noted Associate Professor Sarah Fox. Professor Fox is a founding member of the NIU Law Junior Scholars Conference and has served on the planning committee since its inaugural conference in 2018. This year’s conference included twenty-four junior scholars presenting papers and twenty-one senior scholars serving as commenters. Altogether there were nineteen different law schools represented from across the country and the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit.
“Today’s legal scholarship contributes greatly to the national dialogue shaping the issues that our society faces,” said NIU Law Dean Cassandra L. Hill in her welcome to the scholars. “I hope you are reminded today during this conference that what you do as law professors is important as well as the importance of scholarship to you, our students, and our world.”
The day-long conference featured a variety of works-in-progress topics presented by the scholars. The morning session topics included technology and access to justice, mergers, securities regulation, anti-discrimination, USDA discrimination, and ethics. The afternoon sessions included policing, climate, stock exchange rules, law and politics, racial justice, and tax incentive reform.
Law schools represented at the 2021 Junior Scholars Conference included Chicago-Kent College of Law, DePaul University College of Law, Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Loyola University College of Law, Michigan State University College of Law, Northern Illinois University College of Law, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Notre Dame Law School, Tulane Law School, University of Chicago Law School, University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, University of Illinois College of Law, University of Iowa College of Law, University of Kansas School of Law, University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law, University of Nebraska College of Law, University of Oklahoma College of Law, University of St. Thomas School of Law, Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. There was also representation from the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit.
“Hearing about exciting new scholarship face-to-face, and having the opportunity to connect with junior and senior scholars across the region, reaffirmed why we organized the event in the first place,” said Professor Fox. “We’re grateful that we were able to put on a safe and enjoyable conference, and look forward to next year,” she added.
The planning committee members for the 2021 Junior Scholars Conference were (pictured from left) NIU Law Professors Evan Bernick, Dan McConkie, Sarah Fox, Matt Timko, and Jeffrey Omari Also, special thanks to the Loyola University College of Law for the use of their Chicago campus to host this annual conference.
