ATLAS Symposium

ATLAS 2012 AGORA at Bar-Ilan University, Israel

17 - 29 June 2012

Melbourne Law School is proud to be a founding member of the association of Transnational Law Schools (ATLAS) as part of our ongoing commitment to foster outstanding researchers and research degrees of international relevance. ATLAS is a consortium of law schools from around the world dedicated to the intellectual formation of highly talented doctoral students and fostering reflection and research on issues broadly related, but not limited, to comparative legal and regulatory responses to various forces of globalization, international governance challenges and the evolution of transnational law.

Each year PhD students at Melbourne Law School have the opportunity to participate in an international symposium hosted by ATLAS. The symposium, called the Agora, features Dissertation Research Seminars; General Courses (with participants being required to choose one); Methodology Workshops; Occasional Seminars; Informal Discussion Evenings. The focus of the substantive presentations is on international, transnational and comparative law (both public and private). The program also includes a Distinguished ATLAS Lecture series, with leading academics or policy-makers delivering major lectures on topics tying into ATLAS themes. Participants have a chance to formally present and receive feedback on their own work and to also engage in informal discussions with their peers from around the world.

The 2012 Symposium

In 2012 the Agora will be hosted by Bar-Ilan University, Israel between 17-29 June. This was a unique chance for the best PhD students from some of the world's elite universities to meet, receive critical feedback on their work, and to attend lectures by leading legal scholars.

Bar-Ilan University has put together a program which aims to interest and challenge the doctoral students irrespective of the topic they are working on. The program includes Doctoral workshops and methodology sessions, several Mini-Courses touching both on questions of international law and on general questions of legal theory, and classes exploring unique topics such as legal pluralism and state and religion. The program also includes a visit to Jerusalem with a visit to the Israeli Supreme Court, the Yad-Vashem Museum and the Old City. The Faculty includes both professors from Bar-Ilan and professors from other universities in Israel and abroad. Special mention of Professor Poonam Puri and Professor Jean-François Gaudreault-Desbiens who have agreed to give a lecture as part of the AGORA.

Please see the program here. Should you have any questions about the program please email: atlas.biu2012@gmail.com

How to Apply

To apply, please write a letter (not exceeding 500 words) that outlines your thesis topic, explains the progress that has been made thus far and outlines how you would benefit from participating in the ATLAS Agora. The letter should be signed by your supervisor or your supervisor should email a separate letter of support to the MLS Office for Research.

Applications are due in the Office for Research by 23 February 2012.

Participants at the Agora will need to find funding to cover the costs of return airfares to Israel, accommodation and most meals. Any candidate who is accepted for the Agora can apply for funding from the Law School's Research Support Funds and the University's MATS scheme. If you have funds remaining in your Research Support Fund, you are guaranteed that you will be given approval to use them for the Agora if you are selected. The MATS process is university-wide and competitive, but the Law School will support your application.

If you have any further questions about the ATLAS organisation or your application to attend this symposium, please do not hesitate to contact Associate Professor Sean Cooney, Associate Dean (Research) or the Office for Research.