The history of Bristol is closely entwined with the law: the city has long been a significant legal centre, and a great deal of legal business has been done here for centuries. Bristol has also been an important site for protest and resistance to the law, with connections to a wide variety of law reform causes. 

The conference theme draws on these elements of Bristol’s past. Participants will be encouraged to explore the theme by reflecting on dividing lines drawn in the history of the law, and on who, or what, is within and without them. There will be panels and plenaries addressing the theme from a variety of perspectives.