Call for Abstracts | CNLU’s Forum on International Legal History and Philosophy: Submit by Mar 15

About Chanakya National Law University

Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), located in Patna, Bihar, is a premier public law school established in 2006. It offers 5-year integrated B.A./B.B.A. LL.B. and 3-year LL.B. programs, with a focus on judicial services, research, and legal education. Ranked 17th in NIRF 2025 (7th among NLUs), it is known for its campus, faculty, and strong judicial placements.

About the Opportunity

This Call for ideas (in the form of detailed abstracts) invites scholars working in International Law, Constitutional Law, and Legal Philosophy, whether individually or through interdisciplinary approaches. The contours of the forum are outlined below in two overlapping and porous themes.

Participation Details

If research aligns with these themes or questions, participation in the forum is invited in the following capacities:

Presenters

Those wishing to present their research should submit a 500-word abstract clearly outlining:

• The central theme(s) of the research
• The core research question(s)
• Three to five key literature sources being engaged with
• Name, position, and institutional affiliation

Abstracts will be selected based on novelty, strength, and coherence. Selected participants will then be required to submit a preliminary draft of not more than 1500 words one week before the forum, i.e., by 8 April 2026, to enable thorough academic engagement with the research.

Each presenter will be allotted ten minutes to present their work at the forum.

There will be no separate panels or sections. Each participant is expected to attend all presentations. This structure aims to break departmental barriers and foster interdisciplinary engagement between lawyers, historians, and philosophers.

Engaged Listeners

Scholars from the fields of law, history, and philosophy (including teachers and PhD scholars), as well as students (including graduate and postgraduate students), who are interested in engaging with these themes are invited to participate as Engaged Listeners.

Engaged listeners will have access to all presentations and will be able to interact with presenters during and beyond the forum. This format aims to help refine research interests and encourage future collaboration.

To participate as an engaged listener, individuals should submit a 200-word statement outlining:

• Reasons and motivations for participating
• Primary areas of interest (two to three areas)
• Name, position, and institutional affiliation

Presenters and engaged listeners should send their submissions to [email protected].

Date & Venue

10:00 AM – 5:00 PM, 15 April 2026

Chanakya National Law University, Patna, Bihar, India.

Key Dates

Registration Details

For presenters:

• Undergraduate and PhD scholars: Rs. 500
• Teachers and practitioners: Rs. 1000

There is no participation fee for engaged listeners.

The project is led by Aman Kumar, PhD Candidate at the Australian National University, Canberra. The forum is convened by Dr Swati Singh Parmar (DNLU, Jabalpur) and Dr Aditya Roy (CNLU, Patna).

The brochure is here.