Submissions
The Winograd Initiative and the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law invite proposals for the 2nd Annual Winograd Symposium on Law and Jewish Life, to be held on May 2, 2027, at The Leaf in Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
About the
Winograd Symposium
The Winograd Symposium supports emerging scholarship on law and Jewish life. It provides students and early-career scholars with a welcoming, inclusive, and intellectually rigorous forum in which to present works in progress, exchange ideas, and receive constructive feedback.
Read about our inaugural Winograd Symposium (held May 3, 2026) here.
Eligibility
Submissions are welcome from:
● Law students enrolled in a JD, LLB, or equivalent program
● Graduate students in any discipline—including MA, LLM, PhD, SJD, or equivalent programs—whose research intersects with law and Jewish life
● Postdoctoral scholars and recent PhD graduates who defended their dissertations after May 2, 2026, provided they have not obtained a tenure-track academic appointment
We welcome submissions from applicants based at institutions in Canada and internationally.
Submission Guidelines
We welcome submissions on a wide range of topics relating to law and Jewish life, including but not limited to:
● Legal responses to antisemitism
● Hate speech and freedom of expression
● Jewish history, Holocaust memory, and the law
● Definitions of antisemitism and their legal or policy implications
● Jewish identity and the law
● Jewish law and legal theory
● Religious freedom and accommodation
● Employment, labour, education, and civil society, including antisemitism in the workplace, university governance, Jewish involvement in labour unions, and legal challenges affecting professional and nonprofit organizations
● Immigration, refugee, and displacement issues affecting Jewish individuals and communities
These are merely examples. We will apply a broad and inclusive understanding of the intersection of law and Jewish life.
Submission Requirements
Please submit the following by December 31, 2026:
● A 300–500-word abstract describing the proposed paper.
● A 75–150-word biography including academic affiliation and relevant background.
Applications may be submitted through this link.
Submissions and inquiries may also be emailed to Kenneth Grad, Assistant Professor, University of Manitoba Faculty of Law (kenneth.grad@umanitoba.ca) and Rachael Buchwald, JD Student and Research Assistant, University of Manitoba Faculty of Law (buchwalr@myumanitoba.ca).
Decisions will be communicated by email before February 1, 2027.
Please note:
- ● A completed paper is not required prior to the Symposium.
- ● There is no obligation to complete a paper after the event, unless the applicant wishes to be considered for a publication opportunity.
- ● The Symposium is designed to offer constructive feedback on works in progress.
- ● No prior academic conference experience is required.
- ● The Symposium is open to all eligible applicants whose work engages with law and Jewish life, regardless of personal background or affiliation.
Please note:
- ● A completed paper is not required prior to the Symposium.
- ● There is no obligation to complete a paper after the event, unless the applicant wishes to be considered for a publication opportunity.
- ● The Symposium is designed to offer constructive feedback on works in progress.
- ● No prior academic conference experience is required.
- ● The Symposium is open to all eligible applicants whose work engages with law and Jewish life, regardless of personal background or affiliation.
Presentation Format
Successful applicants will be invited to deliver a 10–15 minute research presentation at the Symposium. Presenters will be divided into panels by theme. Each panel will be followed by a Q&A session and constructive feedback from faculty, attendees, and fellow participants.
Publication Opportunity
Following the Symposium, selected presenters may be invited to submit completed papers for possible publication in a special issue of the Manitoba Law Journal.
Travel & Accommodations
The Symposium will cover reasonable travel expenses for presenters, including airfare, hotel accommodation (2-3 nights), meals, and incidental expenses. We are happy to assist presenters with booking airfare and accommodation.
Awards
We are delighted to offer the following prizes at the Symposium (Canadian dollars):
- Outstanding Research Presentation: $5,000
- Three Honourable Mentions: $1,000 each
Ready to Share Your Research?
Join students from diverse disciplines in exploring the intersection of law and Jewish life. We encourage innovative ideas, emerging scholarship, and thoughtful dialogue.