This year, the Institute of Legal and Constitutional Research (ILCR) was launched at the University of St Andrews. The program is led by SAIMS members Professor John Hudson (Director) and Professor Caroline Humfress (Deputy Director and Postgraduate Convenor). The purpose of the ILCR is to encourage cross-disciplinary research in the fields of law, legal history, and constitutionalism, uniting scholars and graduate students from history, international relations, and literature backgrounds.
Beginning in the next academic year, 2016-2017, the ILCR will be offering a MLitt in Legal and Constitutional Studies. In keeping with the cross-disciplinary approach of the Institute, MLitt modules will be taught by faculty from different schools across the university, including the schools of History and International Relations. The ILCR will also offer scholarships for the MLitt, with applications closing 1 May 2016.
On 8 October, Baroness Hale of Richmond, Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, gave the ILCR opening lecture, speaking on ‘The Supreme Court in the United Kingdom Constitution’. In her lecture, Lady Hale addressed the constitutional relationship between Westminster and the devolved parliaments of the UK, as well as the role of the Supreme Court within an international legal and political context, including its relationship with the European Union and the Council of Europe. The full text of Lady Hale’s lecture is available here.
You can keep abreast of the latest ILCR events via the website or Twitter.