Call for Papers: Artificial Intelligence and the Law – Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals through Law, Governance and Practice, 08 – 10 July 2026

The University of Johannesburg (UJ), through the AI and the Law Institute, continues to position African legal scholarship at the forefront of global debates on technology, justice, and societal transformation. As artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly shapes legal systems, governance structures, and access to justice, there is a growing need to interrogate these developments through the lens of sustainability and sustainable development.

THEME

This theme explores how AI-enabled legal systems, regulatory frameworks, and pedagogical practices can either advance or undermine sustainable development. It invites reflection on how the law must evolve to address the environmental, social, economic, and institutional implications of digital transformation, with particular attention to African contexts and decolonial perspectives.

The conference will feature keynote and distinguished addresses by leading figures in higher education, artificial intelligence, and global governance, including: Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University (Keynote Speaker) Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg (Keynote Speaker)

Their participation emphasises the conference’s commitment to advancing globally relevant, Africa-centred scholarship on artificial intelligence, law, and sustainability.

IMPORTANT DATES