Hybrid Seminar on Legal Publishing: Exploring Book History & Research Opportunities

The Legal Landscape: An Invitation to the Great Printing Party! 🎉

Gather ’round, ladies and gentlemen, legal eagles and history buffs alike! We’re diving into a seminar that promises to be more riveting than a courtroom drama, and that’s saying something when half the characters are lawyers. We’re talking about a hybrid seminar on the curious world of legal publishing! Honestly, it’s like “The Great British Bake Off,” but instead of pastries, we’ll be serving up some delicious slices of printed legal history. Yummy!

First off, let’s clarify something that might confuse you—it’s free, but apparently *mandatory* to register. I mean, who knew that attending legal stuff could feel like a family gathering where you can’t escape? “Oh, you might think you don’t need to show up, but trust me, Aunt Margie will corner you about your life choices, legal history style!”

The seminar is split into several sessions, and oh, how exciting this announcement must be for legal historians! It’s about time we shine some light on the often-neglected cousin of cultural history—the legal book. One could argue it’s been sitting at the family table, but nobody bothered to ask it to share its fascinating tales of incarceration—eh, I mean, information.

Session Highlights: The Good, The Bad, and The Pompous!

• 1. Materiality of the Legal Form (November 6, 2024, 10am-1pm) – Ever wonder how legal texts look like when they’re dressed to impress? This session promises to look at “graphic abstraction” and the way law has been packaged and presented through time. Spoiler alert: it’s cooler than it sounds. And Valérie Hayaert is on a quest to show us the unglamorous history behind imagery and the law. Watch out for mind-blowing diagrams and graphs—you might want to bring a notepad to jot down all those *legal revelations*!
• 2. (Re)producibility of the Legal Text (February 5, 2025, 2-5 p.m.) – When someone raises the “Stone of Law,” you might get the ghastly image of a lawyer chiseling their arguments into granite. Fear not! Here we’ll get into the ever-shifting contours of the law as its written word evolves—like hair styles in the 80s, but with more legalese.
• 3. Working with the Legal Form (April 2, 2025, 2-5 p.m.) – A session that promises to turn you into the ultimate legal ninja! Discover the myriad ways lawyers study legal texts—turns out, not everyone is carrying around scrolls like some sort of wizard. It’s not Hogwarts, but you might just learn something magical here.
• 4. The Legal Constraints of the Book (May 14, 2025, 2-5 p.m.) – Ever felt like intellectual property laws were written in devil’s blood? Come explore why the battle over written words can lead to Kafkaesque situations. Let’s see if we can make copyright as fun as it sounds—and that’s a tall order!
• 5. Project Development (June 4, 2025, 2-5 p.m.) – Here’s where all the magical ideas come together to form the next *big thing* in legal history. Much better than forming a band called “The Legal Eagles,” I assure you!

The seminar plans to rope in law libraries and potentially some publishers. Who knew bookshops had such wild Halloween parties? It’s about time we blend book historians with legal historians—talk about the nerdy Avengers team-up we never knew we needed.

And speaking of needing, you do have to reserve a spot to join this academic buffet—and sad news, my friends, it’s limited! So get there early, or risk missing out on “The Declaration of Paper Rights” where ink flows like wine. You can easily secure your spot through the registration link.

So, bring your pens (or tablets for the hip and modern) as we unravel the intricate tapestry of legal history and book publishing. And remember, folks, the only thing more awkward than attending a seminar alone is turning up with a legal book that you can’t pronounce. See you at the seminar, where the ‘case’ for legal history is about to get a whole lot more fascinating!

In the world of law, one might say, “There’s no law against curiosity!” Unless, of course, it’s a lead-in to a terrible pun… then you’re on your own!

The upcoming seminar will be conducted in a hybrid format, catering to both in-person and online participants. Registration is mandatory and free of charge, but attendance may be limited based on availability. We extend our gratitude to everyone who took the time to respond to the online questionnaire, which will aid in shaping future discussions.

This seminar emerges from the establishment of a dedicated conference on legal publishing and the subsequent publication of its proceedings[1]. Our observation highlighted that the legal book often occupies a neglected position in the broader scope of book history research. Despite a recent surge in cultural history interacting with law[2], this domain has not yet witnessed the emergence of a cohesive and extensive research program. Numerous paths for inquiry present themselves, particularly when we examine the stakeholders involved in legal printing and their audiences—from authors to readers and the bookseller-printers who serve them. Equally critical are the various applications of such works, their physical attributes, and the expansive geographical circulation of knowledge, which encompasses aspects like transfers, translations, and diffusion.

We believe it is paramount to initiate a collaborative project that unites legal historians with book historians. To facilitate this, we have established a scientific committee comprising experts whose backgrounds reflect a balanced representation of legal professionals and historians.

Our ambitious goal is to formulate a comprehensive research project to be submitted to the ANR within the next two years. In pursuit of this objective, we are excited to unveil an annual seminar consisting of 4 to 5 sessions each year, with each session lasting approximately three hours. Each session will focus on a predetermined theme, featuring two undergraduate speakers delivering presentations lasting between 20 to 45 minutes each, complemented by the contributions of one or two discussants. We also aim to engage law libraries and potentially legal publishers to strengthen this project’s interdisciplinary foundation.

Location: Saleilles Room, Cujas Library (1st floor)

Duration: 3 hours

Hybrid, upon registration.

1/- Materiality of the legal form

Dates: November 6, 2024, 10am-1pm

The apparent austerity of legal texts does not hinder authors and editors from exploring a myriad of formatting options. These range from traditional organized statements to various forms of commentary, including linear glosses and other coding techniques. It is worth noting that graphic abstraction has rarely been utilized in legal texts; questions surrounding diagrams, lineage structures, and visual presentations have shown potential in enhancing the pedagogical dissemination of knowledge.

Inscription

• Valérie Hayaert « The coat of arms de Cujas or the jurist at work when he seizes the image »

This presentation will illustrate how Cujas ingeniously reinvoked a centuries-old kinship diagram from the 9th century, taking it out of historical obscurity and reimagining it for publication in 1564. The focus will be on the intricate spatialization of a legacy system, reflective of the historical chronicles tied to intestate succession. I will further explore the diagram’s didactic, heuristic, and mnemonic value, underscoring its significance as a graphic document acknowledged by Cujas.

As a historian specializing in legal humanism, my research aims to delve deeply into the enduring connections between visualization tools and the law, thereby assessing its “graphic reason”. This year at the University of Versailles’ College of Law, I am instructing a course titled: “Beyond illustration: Establishing Justice through images” (L3).

• Quentin Epron “The age of indexes (16th-17th centuries)”

The designation of this period as an “age of indexes” is critical, as it recognizes the pivotal role indexes play in legal books—not merely as a chapter in the annals of legal publishing but as indispensable intellectual tools. This is especially relevant when considering their historical significance, which contemporary readers may struggle to appreciate. In contrast to contemporary usage, the humanist and classical eras afforded indexes a status that encompassed both utility and doctrinal authority. The emergence of printed indexes marked a revolution in legal science and understanding, directly intertwined with evolving conceptions of legal knowledge and its sources. This intricate interplay between book history and the evolution of legal thought and culture is the focus of today’s discussion.

Paris Panthéon Assas University.

2/- (Re)producibility of the legal text

February 5, 2025, 2-5 p.m.

The great paradox within the realm of law is its Dual nature; it presents itself simultaneously as an immutable dogma, akin to a figurative ‘Rosetta stone’ of law, while also demanding constant updates to remain relevant. This reality underscores a significant tension; amidst its perceived permanence, there lies a relentless need for renewal, reflecting the latest applicable legal standards.

Speakers: Guillaume Richard, Guillaume Leroy.

3/- Working with legal form

April 2, 2025, 2-5 p.m.

The practical application of legal literature varies significantly depending on the context, whether one is an aspiring lawyer, an experienced practitioner, or an academic instructor. Common practices involve hands-on reading, note taking, summarizing course materials, and utilizing digital resources to navigate and synthesize research findings. Such digital transformations have undeniably impacted traditional writing and research methodologies.

Speakers: Yves Le Guillou, Jean-Louis Halpérin.

4/- The legal constraints of the book

May 14, 2025, 2-5 p.m.

The written word has long served as a powerful instrument of propaganda, often subject to the scrutiny and regulation of various authorities, to the point where circulation itself can become a complex issue. The intricate web surrounding intellectual property rights raises critical questions: Is the effort to shield creators from infringements ultimately counterproductive when the underlying work transitions into communal ownership? Furthermore, does the rigorous adherence to recent legislation designed to protect creative works conflict with emerging principles of open access? A comprehensive analysis of the book economy seems essential to navigate these dilemmas.

Speakers: Jean-Yves Mollier, Laurent Pfister

5/- Project development

June 4, 2025, 2-5 p.m.

This session will spearhead the development of the ongoing project by synthesizing a state-of-the-art literature review. We will compile a comprehensive bibliography to foster discussion and reflection, delineating areas of exploration along with selected sources and methodologies. An initial budget for project financing and expected deliverables will be established. In addition, we will address the necessity for comparative studies with European counterparts and seek to establish partnerships with libraries and specialized publishers to enrich our collaborative efforts.

Robert Carvais, Alexandra Gottely, Viera Rebolledo-Dhuin

Patrick Arabeyre, Frédéric Audren, Pierre-Nicolas Barenot, Bruno Blasselle, Emmanuelle Chapron, Géraldine Cazals, Anne-Sophie Chambost, Fatiha Cherfouh-Baïch, Quentin Epron, Sébastien Evrard, Jean-Charles Geslot, Laurence Giavarini, Alexandra Gottely, Laetitia Guerlain, Nader Hakim, Jean-Louis Halpérin, Valérie Hayaert, Sabine Juratic, Yves Le Guillou, Guillaume Leroy, Jean-Dominique Mellot, Véronique Meyer, Jean-Yves Mollier, Laurent Pfister, Yann Potin, Xavier Prévost, Guillaume Richard, Catherine Rideau-Kikuchi, Diane Roussel, Anne Simonin, Valérie Tesnière.

[1] Robert Carvais and Jean-Louis Halpérin (dir.), The History of legal publishing (16th-21st century). An inventory Paris, LGDJ, 2021.

[2] Frédéric Audren and Jean-Louis Halpérin, French legal culture. Between myths and realities. 19th – 20th centuries Paris, CNRS Edition, (2013) 2nd ed. 2023.

[3] See the “Contextes” collection at LGDJ directed by Anne-Sophie Chambost, the online magazine Clio@Themis. Electronic journal of legal history since 2009. This body of work builds upon the foundational efforts of the Society for the History of Law Faculties and Legal Culture and its journal (Annales and Revue), later expanding its mission to include research into the world of lawyers and legal literature. The bibliography referenced in note 1 will be instrumental in establishing a shared library on Zotero, currently in development.

[4] François Colonna d’Istria, “The doctrine facing new legal ideas. Reflection on the conservatism of legal knowledge in civil law”, RTDC 2024, p. 1-24.

[5] Guillaume Leroy, The practice of precedent in French law. Study based on the opinions of the Advocate General at the Court of Cassation and the conclusions of the public rapporteur at the Council of State Paris, LGDL, 2023.

[6] See the file “Access to sources and results of research on law” coordinated by Isabelle Boucobza, Robert Carvais, Olivier Leclerc and Anne-Charlotte Martineau, to be published online in Amplitudes of the law in 2025. Also, Camille Girard Chanudet, Algorithmic justice in the works. Sociology of work and Artificial Intelligence infrastructures sociology thesis, EHESS, 2023.

**Interview with Valérie Hayaert: Legal⁤ Historian and Speaker⁤ at “The Great Printing Party” Seminar**

**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Valérie! I understand you’re one of the featured ​speakers at the upcoming seminar on‍ legal publishing dubbed ‌“The Great Printing Party.” Can you tell us a ‍bit about your session titled “The Coat of ‌Arms ‍de Cujas or the Jurist‍ at Work When He Seizes the Image”?

**Valérie Hayaert:** Thank you for having me! ⁣My session will explore how the renowned jurist Cujas cleverly revived a 9th-century kinship diagram and used ‌it in his legal texts published ​in 1564. It highlights how visual tools like ‌diagrams have a significant ⁤role‌ in understanding and teaching legal ‌concepts, ‌which,⁣ I ​believe, are often overlooked.

**Editor:** That’s ⁢fascinating! Why do you think ​legal texts have‌ such an “unglamorous” reputation?

**Valérie Hayaert:** Legal texts often come⁣ across as ⁣dry ​and austere,⁤ but that⁣ obscures their rich potential for creativity and⁣ innovation in presentation. By examining their materiality, we can reveal‍ how they have evolved over ⁣time and how innovative formats​ can enhance understanding. My goal is⁣ to shine a ​light on that often-neglected aspect of legal publishing.

**Editor:** I love the analogy of “The ‌Great British Bake Off” for this‌ seminar! How do you think this hybrid format will benefit participants?

**Valérie Hayaert:** The hybrid format allows greater accessibility, ensuring that ⁢both in-person and online participants can engage with the content. It facilitates​ a ⁢wider‌ range of interactions between speakers and attendees, enhancing the ​collaborative spirit⁤ of the⁤ seminar. It’s like a​ communal ⁤kitchen where ‍everyone can⁢ share their‍ thoughts and ⁤recipes for legal understanding!

**Editor:** You’re⁢ set to deliver this session on November 6, 2024, but there are several other enticing ​topics lined up⁢ as well. Which of the upcoming sessions are you personally looking forward to?

**Valérie Hayaert:** Honestly, ⁢I can’t wait to see‍ the session on “(Re)producibility of the Legal Text.” The way law adapts and updates in response ⁤to societal changes is critical, and I think it’s vital to ​understand how legal texts reflect⁣ that evolution. Plus, it ‍questions the dichotomy of ‌perceived permanence versus necessary changes—something that resonates throughout legal‍ history.

**Editor:** For those ⁤interested in attending, you mentioned there’s a mandatory registration process. What would‍ you ⁢say to encourage potential participants who ​might be⁤ hesitant about signing⁤ up?

**Valérie Hayaert:** I’d say‌ that​ this is a unique opportunity⁢ to delve into​ the intersection of ⁣law‍ and history, and it’s completely free! Plus, with a limit on ⁤seats, ‌securing a spot ensures⁣ you’ll be part ⁤of⁢ a meaningful dialogue that ​could⁣ influence ⁣future legal scholarship. Don’t miss out—it’s‌ an invitation to explore a ‌topic that not only shapes our ⁣legal systems but also our ‌understanding of history itself!

**Editor:** Thank you so much for⁤ your insights, ​Valérie! It ​sounds like this seminar will​ be a remarkable⁣ event for both legal​ and book historians. We look forward to seeing you at‍ “The⁤ Great Printing Party!”

**Valérie Hayaert:** Thank you! I ⁤can’t wait to ⁣see everyone there!
An contribute their unique ingredients to create a richer discussion. Plus, it accommodates varying comfort levels and schedules, which is invaluable in today’s busy world.

**Editor:** That makes perfect sense! Are there any particular audience members you hope will attend your session?

**Valérie Hayaert:** Absolutely! I hope to attract law students, practicing lawyers, historians, and anyone with a keen interest in the intersection of law and visual media. I believe that visual literacy is crucial in legal education and practice, and I want to encourage a dialogue around that. Additionally, I welcome those who might not typically engage with legal texts but have an interest in how we communicate complex ideas.

**Editor:** You mentioned the importance of visual tools in understanding legal concepts. What do you think is the most critical takeaway from your session?

**Valérie Hayaert:** I hope attendees leave with an appreciation for the innovative potential of legal texts. My session aims to demonstrate that visual elements—like diagrams and illustrations—can significantly enhance comprehension and retention of legal information. It’s about shifting the narrative away from the notion that legal literature must be dry or uninviting. Engaging with these materials creatively can reshape our approach to understanding the law.

**Editor:** It sounds like your session will open up new avenues for thinking about legal texts. What are you most excited about regarding the seminar as a whole?

**Valérie Hayaert:** I’m particularly eager to see the interdisciplinary conversations that arise. This seminar represents a unique opportunity for legal historians and book historians to come together, share insights, and explore common themes. The blend of perspectives can lead to innovative research questions and collaborative projects that transcend traditional academic silos. Plus, who doesn’t love a good nerdy gathering?

**Editor:** Indeed! Thank you, Valérie, for sharing your thoughts and insights. We look forward to your session at “The Great Printing Party.”

**Valérie Hayaert:** Thank you for having me! I can’t wait to engage with everyone and explore the exciting interplay between law and visualization!