The Coase-Sandor Institute for Law and Economics at the University of Chicago and the Center for Law & Economics at ETH Zurich are soliciting submissions for the 2026 International Junior Scholars Forum in Law and Social Science, to be held at the University of Chicago Law School on May 18-19, 2026 (following the 2026 ALEA conference). The goal of the Forum is to promote in-depth discussion of scholarship using social science methods to study legal issues, to build bridges between junior and senior scholars, and to foster an international community of legal scholars whose research uses social science methods. 

At the Forum, about eight junior scholars from around the world present their work and receive in-depth feedback from a group of senior scholars from leading institutions around the world. The Forum is organized by Omri Ben-Shahar & William Hubbard (University of Chicago) and Elliott Ash, Stefan Bechtold & Alexander Stremitzer (ETH Zurich). It has been organized by the University Chicago and ETH Zurich since 2020.

How to Apply: Researchers who use formal or quantitative social science methods in their legal research and hold a junior research position at a law school or legal research institution – ranging from postdocs and fellows to assistant or associate professors before tenure – are eligible to submit their work. Researchers from any country around the world are welcome to apply. To apply, please submit a draft paper (written in English) as well as a CV by February 28, 2026. Papers that will be published prior to the Forum are not eligible, and candidates may only submit one paper. There is no publication commitment. The Forum will cover selected participants’ travel and hotel expenses.

Enquiries concerning eligibility should be addressed to Omri Ben-Shahar (omri@uchicago.edu). General inquiries concerning the Forum should be sent to Ben-Shahar or to Stefan Bechtold (sbechtold@ethz.ch).