Learning objectives

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

• describe the benefits of attending an academic conference
• find appropriate conferences
• describe the process of submitting a conference paper.

Presenting conference papers

Attending workshops and conferences is a critical part of networking. However, you will gain the most benefit if you present a paper. Conference papers are a means by which you can attract the attention of potential employers and influence academic debate in your field. Some other benefits of presenting a conference paper include:

• a higher personal profile
• early dissemination of the results of your research
• opportunities to receive useful criticism
• experience in the process of peer-review.

Finding the a conference in your field This can be done in a number of ways. There are a number of online databases which provide information on future conferences. These include: Law Conferences Worldwide Law Council of Australia Allconferences.co Conference Alerts.com PapersInvited.com HERO Conference Diary Browse through these sites. Can you find a conference in Australia or overseas which is relevant to your research? If so, consider the potential benefits of attending. Elsewhere on the ALPN site you will find a page on Conferences and Forums. Many academic and professional journals also include details of forthcoming academic conferences relating to particular disciplines. Supervisors and other academic staff are an additional resource.

Many of the major criminological institutes in Australia host annual conferences. Institutes such as the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) or the Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration (AIJA) post details of future conferences on their Web sites.

Non-law related agencies and organisation are also useful sources of information about conference-going opportunities. The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) is one example. The AIFS site hosts a comprehensive list of Australian and international conferences in the area of family studies and related disciplines. Some of these conferences, such as those on Child Protection or Sexual Assault, may be particularly relevant to your area of studies.

Which conference?

Not all conferences are worth attending. Some of the factors you need to consider include:

• the conference sponsors
• location
• conference size.

Sponsors

The identity of the sponsors is often an indicator of the quality of the event. Some conferences are organised by commercial companies for the sole purpose of making a profit. The papers presented at such conferences are generally of lower quality, although the conferences themselves often provide opportunities for networking. In most cases, conferences sponsored by professional societies, universities or groups of academics represent better value.

Location

Location is another important consideration. Major conferences held in capital cities are often easier to attend in terms of transport and the range of available accommodation. Unfortunately, the costs of attendance can be much greater than conferences held at regional centres.

Size

Conference size itself is a significant factor. If the conference covers a broad area, it is likely that the audience will be bigger, with added benefits in terms of exposure and networking. At the same time, it might be hard to find others with a serious interest in your area of research. Smaller conferences tend to be more tightly focused. At a small conference is possible that you will find yourself in closer contact with the specialists in your field. You will need to strike a balance.

Getting the best from a conference Michael Ernst, Attending an academic conference, MIT, July 2004. Although not concerned specially with law conferences, this paper some good advice on attending any academic conference. If you plan to go to a conference in the near future, take a few moments to read this advice.

Presenting a refereed paper

The refereeing of conference papers is relatively unusual in law. Most conference papers are unrefereed, both in Australia and overseas. Despite this, carefully consider any opportunity to submit a paper for refereeing.

In the case of a refereed paper, you will be asked to submit a short abstract of your paper. This abstract will be subject to an initial review. If the conference organisers feel that your proposed paper will be of interest to conference attendees, they will ask you to submit the full paper. This paper will be peer-reviewed by referees selected by the conference organisers. The referees will accept your paper unchanged, ask for improvements or reject it entirely.

Some conferences have a theme. If the theme is relatively broad, it may not be hard to fit your proposed paper to it. Otherwise, don't try to shoehorn your research into the conference theme. This is usually a waste of time. Look for another conference or change your topic.

Outright rejection or negative comments by referees should not be taken personally. Potential presenters often exceeds the number of papers that can be given. Treat any adverse comments as an opportunity to improve your paper.

Further reading Gordon Rugg and Marian Petre (2004) The Unwritten Rules of PhD Research, Open University Press, Maidenhead, Berks. If you are new to conferences, read the chapter on academic conferences in this book.

Summary

This module examined the following:

• the benefits of attending conferences
• how to choose an appropriate conference
• the process of submitting a conference paper.