all academic applications should have consolation prizes. doesn’t have to be much, like a mug that says “i applied for leverhulme 2020” or a t-shirt “UKRI reject 2023”

Today ask yourself only one question. Where were you when Spanish Eddie cashed it in?

Now open for booking: OU Law School's legal histories conference. This year's theme is 'moments of rupture' and we have an exciting range of speakers, topics, jurisdictions and periods. 20-21 November, online, free. Programme and booking at the link.

A French cyclist survived for three days after a horrendous 130-foot fall into a ravine, kept alive by the bottles of red wine he had in his shopping bag, police said.

After submitting a FOIA request UKRI, I obtained success rates by three grant call scheme and I can only say that I am disheartened by the results: - AHRC Responsive Mode 2025: 2% - ESRC New Investigator Grant 2025: 1% - ESRC Research Grant Round 2025: 1%

I’ve been looking out for this book. It looks like a fun topic. #RomanLaw

France’s Sorbonne University about to leave Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings: "These rankings are...black boxes that operate in a closed system” sciencebusiness.net/news/univers...

✒️ New on the blog @sententiaepauli.bsky.social chats to EUP about his new book: Henry Maine’s Ancient Law as an Expression of Victorian Humanism. Read the post:

Our first event for the coming academic year. It is an in-person event. #RomanLaw www.law.ed.ac.uk/news-events/...

Join us for this event on Friday. Hybrid. www.law.ed.ac.uk/news-events/...

It’s publication day, folks. Available from the website of the Press or from Amazon. May you find it useful in your own work. #AncientLaw #HenrySumnerMaine #RomanLaw

Publication – « A Companion to Byzantine Law. From the Foundation of Constantinople (330) until the End of the Macedonian Dynasty (1056) », éd. Eleftheria Papagianni, Daphne Penna rmblf.be/2025/09/26/p...

Here’s how I sometimes start a new project. First I buy a fancy new notebook. Second I write some very well-ordered notes in my best handwriting on the first page. Third I never look at it again.

#AncientLaw - early November. Good line-up.

Preach it from the hilltops.

Eventually you have to accept that no matter how many different notebooks you buy, they won’t make you a better writer. For that, you need to spend a lot of money on the right pen.

The only suitable replacement for Melvyn on In Our Time

The Cambridge comparative history of ancient law – Bryn Mawr Classical Review bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2025/2025.09...

I have nothing to declare except my imposter syndrome.

An ‘ultracrepidarian’ (19th century) is one who loves to give their opinion, at length, on matters they know nothing about.

The Full Moon this month is known as Stationery Moon. Traditionally the time of year for harvesting notebooks, pens and pencils.

Call for Papers - Legal History in Asia and Beyond: Lessons from the Past for the Present 17-18 March (Hong Kong) & 23 March (Oxford) 2026 (participants can join in either location) Deadline 31 October 2025 www.law.cuhk.edu.hk/app/events/c...

Excited to invite you to the launch of Legal History in the Curriculum: Comparative Perspectives, Critical Approaches and Future Directions. Hear from contributors on how and why to teach it, and its subversive potential! 6pm, Monday 8 Sept, online. Booking: forms.office.com/e/VFgwKs9iHM

Freud, preface to updated edition of The Interpretation of Dreams.

Clifford Ando (Classics Prof at UChicago) is a hero in this story. He's calling out the University at every turn, dissecting their flawed finances, and making sure everyone knows they're a bunch of profit-seeking hypocrites who gambled away tuition money on crypto. chicagomaroon.com/40486/news/u...

Finding that forgotten early draft in a folder.

Selden's Sister has launched an essay competition for undergraduates interested in legal history. £100 @hartpublishing.bsky.social vouchers up for grabs, as well as an invitation to receive your prize at our annual lecture - this year at the University of Nottingham. #legalhistory

Preparing slides for a talk on Marxism in the 21st century I asked an AI programme to give Marx a contemporary hairstyle. I’m sure he served me once at a craft beer place in Shoreditch.

Second Rare Inscription Honoring Justinian and Theodora Unearthed in Kosovo’s Ancient City of Ulpiana - Arkeonews arkeonews.net/second-rare-...

This would be funny if it weren’t so awful.

Terry and Dune

Very excited that Legal History in the Curriculum is now published! It brings together amazing contributors from around the world, looking at how and why to teach legal history. Special thanks to @sandbergrlaw.bsky.social - contributor, series editor, and more!

*The deafening sound of the stable door being shut after the horses have bolted*

JOB: PhD candidate legal history (first half of the 20th century), University of Regensburg, Prof. Dr. Martin Löhnig, Chair for Civil Law, German and European Legal History and Canon Law (DEADLINE: 18 July 2025) esclh.blogspot.com/2025/06/job-...

Out in September. Available to pre-order now from all good online bookstores. #HenryMaine #AncientLaw edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-henry-m...

Devastating news: "An end to teaching and research in ancient history, religion, theology, Portuguese, German, and Italian. The schools of ancient history and theology will close."

Charity regulator to investigate crisis-hit university www.bbc.com/news/article...

I am once again pitching my romantic comedy: - two academics start dating - discover they are each other's terrible reviewer - hijinks ensue Working title: Love is Double-Blind

Now available for pre-order from Cambridge University Press: Neil MacCormick: A Life in Politics, Philosophy, and Law — a definitive study of one of the most influential figures in contemporary legal philosophy. Find out more: cup.org/neilmaccormick #LegalTheory #NeilMacCormick #LegalPhilosophy

@cowan-lisacowan.bsky.social and I pondering the “imperishable foundations” of Scots law.

Had a great time in Glasgow yesterday listening to the next generation of Scottish Roman law scholars talk about their discipline. Illuminating paper by. Tommaso Beggio from Trento (an honorary Scot). #RomanLaw.

Stolen from FB

@armanddangour.bsky.social - how would one express the following as a Latin motto? “Do more with less, but better!” 😏

Every lawsuit in civil law ever starts with the phrase “but it was going so well … “.