Symposia

Boston University Law Review’s Annual Symposia

In 2011, Boston University School of Law hosted the first of the Boston University Law Review’s annual symposia. Each year, we select a significant, recent book in law that enters into an important conversation on a timely topic. The author is invited to present his or her work, and scholars both inside and outside the BU Law community are invited to write and present essays on the book. The essays are then published in the Boston University Law Review. 

• Upcoming: November 2024 – Law and Expertise
• May 2024 – Information Privacy Law at the Crossroads
• December 2022 – 16th Annual Lutie A. Lytle Black Women Law Faculty Workshop
• May 2022 – Law, Markets, and Distribution
• May 2021 – Marijuana Law 2020: Lessons From the Past, Ideas for the Future
• May 2020 – Beyond Bad Apples: Exploring the Legal Determinants of Police Violence
• May 2019 – Institutional Investor Activism in the 21st Century: Responses to a Changing Landscape
  • On November 16-17, Boston University School of Law hosted a symposium on corporate shareholder activism.
  • A recap of the symposium is available here.

• May 2018 – Misdemeanor Machinery: The Hidden Heart of the American Criminal Justice System
  • On November 3-4, 2017, Boston University School of Law hosted a symposium on misdemeanor justice. 
  • A recap of the symposium is available here.

• May 2017 – The Fiftieth Anniversary of Miranda v. Arizona
  • On November 10, 2016, Boston University School of Law hosted a symposium on the legacy of the landmark Miranda v. Arizona Supreme Court case.
  • A recap of the symposium is available here.

• July 2016 – A Symposium on Ran Hirschl’s Comparative Matters: The Renaissance of Comparative Constitutional Law
  • On November 12, 2015, Boston University School of Law hosted a symposium in its continuing series of symposia on significant recent books in law.
  • A recap of the symposium is available here.

• July 2015 – War Powers and the Constitution: A Symposium on Stephen M. Griffin’s Long Wars and the Constitution and Mariah Zeisberg’s War Powers: The Politics of Constitutional Authority
  • On October 30, 2014, Boston University School of Law hosted a symposium on two scholarly books which analyze “War Powers” and the U.S. Constitution.
  • A recap of the symposium and the video of the panels is available here.

• May 2015 – The Civil Rights Act of 1964 at 50: Past, Present, and Future
  • On November 14-15, 2014, Boston University School of Law hosted a symposium on Civil Rights Act of 1964.
  • Detailed information, including video recordings of the panels and keynote addresses, is available here.

• July 2014 – A Symposium on Ronald Dworkin’s Religion Without God

• May 2014 – America’s Political Dysfunction: Constitutional Connections, Causes, and Cures
  • On November 15-16, 2013, Boston University School of Law hosted a symposium on America’s political dysfunction.
  • A video of Cass R. Sunstein’s opening keynote address is available here, and a video of Jack M. Balkin’s closing address is available here.

• July 2013 – On Constitutional Obligation and Disobedience: A Symposium on Abner S. Greene’s Against Obligation and Louis Michael Seidman’s On Constitutional Disobedience
  • On November 8, 2012, Boston University School of Law hosted a symposium in its continuing series of symposia on significant recent books in law.

• May 2013 – Evaluating Claims about the “End of Men”: Legal and Other Perspectives
  • On October 12-13, 2012, Boston University School of Law hosted a symposium.
  • Detailed information on the content of the live conference is available here. A video of the proceedings is available here.
  • The accompanying online symposium, Debating Claims about the “End of Men,” provided a space beyond the live conference for additional commentary on claims about “the end of men” and the implications of such claims for law and policy.

• July 2012 – Originalism and Living Constitutionalism: A Symposium on Jack Balkin’s Living Originalism and David Strauss’s The Living Constitution
  • On November 3, 2011, Boston University School of Law hosted the first of the Boston University Law Review’s series of symposia on significant recent books in law.

• May 2012 – A Conference on Restitution and Unjust Enrichment
  • On September 16, 2011 and September 17, 2011, Boston University School of Law held a Conference on Restitution and Unjust Enrichment.
  • The Conference was cosponsored by the American Law Institute (ALI) and was held in honor of the ALI’s 2011 publication of the Restatement (Third) of Restitution and Unjust Enrichment.  Boston University School of Law Professor Andrew Kull served as the Reporter for the Restatement (Third).

Previous Symposia:

• July 2011 – Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do? A Public Lecture and Symposium on Michael J. Sandel’s Recent Book

• May 2011 – The Role of Fiduciary Law and Trust in the Twenty-First Century: A Conference Inspired by the Work of Tamar Frankel

• July 2010 – Antitrust Conference in Honor of Joseph Brodley

• April 2010 – Justice for Hedgehogs: A Conference on Ronald Dworkin’s Forthcoming Book

• April 2009 – The Most Disparaged Branch: The Role of Congress in the Twenty-First Century

• April 2008 – Symposium: The Role of the President in the Twenty-First Century

• April 2007 – Symposium: Extraordinary Powers in Ordinary Times
  

The following Symposia are available at HeinOnline:

• December 2006 – Symposium: The Role of the Judge in the Twenty-First Century