2021 Idaho Critical Legal Studies Journal Symposium

The Future of Work

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

DEADLINE: DECEMBER 30, 2020

The Idaho Critical Legal Studies Journal at the University of Idaho College of Law invites proposals for its annual symposium, which will be held via Zoom in April of 2021. This year’s topic, The Future of Work, will focus on COVID-19’s disparate impact on women and communities of color in the workforce, as well other contemporary issues in workforce law and policy in the United States.

In particular, we are interested in papers and proposals dealing with:

• Essential workers, including low-wage workers in the retail industry, farm workers, home healthcare workers, and paid sick leave and hazard pay as public health necessities in the midst of COVID-19;
• The incredible growth of the gig economy and its corresponding part-time work, as well as the ramifications of California’s Prop 22 for gig contractors;
• COVID-19’s impact on women in the workforce, particularly women of color;
• The current status and potential future of organized labor, including but not limited to the possibility of a resurgence among Gen Z and Millennial workers;
• The Labor movement’s support of Black Lives Matter and involvement in social justice protests;
• The success of minimum wage ballot initiatives across the country in the 2016-2020 elections;
• The Trump Administration’s OSHA enforcement regarding COVID-19 and other issues since 2017;
• And other workforce law topics.

The Idaho Critical Legal Studies Journal is committed to engaging a diverse community of academics in order to engage in difficult conversations relating to employment law and workforce policies. As such, we are seeking submissions from individuals with a variety of experiences and backgrounds, both inside and outside the legal field. These submissions may include alternatives to traditional articles, including commentaries and essays, both of which may be shorter in length. Quality submissions will be published in a symposium edition of the CRIT, with authors being invited to participate in a series of panel discussions relating to labor law and workforce policy during the symposium itself in April 2021.

Submission Procedure

Proposals should be approximately 250-500 words, double-spaced, and should be submitted by e-mail to Danielle Strollo, Symposium Editor, at stro2511@vandals.uidaho.edu no later than 5 p.m., Mountain Time, December 30, 2020. Please contact Ms. Strollo with any questions.

Proposals will be selected on a rolling basis, with final selections completed by January 25, 2021. Preference of presentation times will be given to those also planning to submit an article for publication. Articles will be due to the Idaho Critical Legal Studies Journal on February 25, 2021.