Call for Conference Proposals: AP-LS 2027 Annual Conference
We are pleased to invite proposal submissions for the AP-LS 2027 Annual Conference via the Ex Ordo Conference Submission Portal, due by October 15th, 2026, by 11:59pm PT. Proposals will be evaluated through a blind review process focused on intellectual merit, innovation, novelty, and integration of multiple aspects of the field.
Submissions for Special Consideration
We welcome submissions in all areas of psychology-law. However, we particularly encourage proposals that align with the conference theme: “From Evidence to Impact: Translating Psychology-Law Science and Expertise to Advance Justice and Human Rights.”
Special consideration will be given to proposals focused on
- settings, issues, and populations particularly vulnerable to human and civil rights violations, such as immigration detention and immigration courts, juvenile justice, false confessions/pleas, and correctional settings;
- research that strengthens and advances forensic assessment and treatment practices, particularly with culturally diverse populations; and
- innovative approaches to effectively communicating and translating psychology-law science and expertise to legal professionals, policymakers, practitioners, and the public.
We encourage you to think creatively about symposium formats and consider submissions that extend beyond traditional research findings and engage with broader issues facing our field. These might include topics of debate that grapple with challenging or contested issues in psychology-law; interdisciplinary work that bridges psychology with other fields and professions operating in the legal system, such as legal scholars, judges, and attorneys; explorations of ethical dilemmas; mock trials that create opportunities for learning and discussion; or case-based presentations that illustrate important issues in research, practice, and policy.
Submission Requirements
This year’s proposal requirements will be similar to last year’s, including shorter abstract word counts across submission categories. Data Blitzes are no longer a proposal type for the upcoming conference. Visual instructions, linked below in this call, have been provided to clarify and streamline the submission process, particularly for symposium submissions. In this year’s conference submission process, we will be asking authors to attest whether they have used generative AI in their submission. Note that any use of generative AI does not result in automatic disqualification, but the submission will be routed to reviewers with expertise in generative AI.
Proposal Types
1. Symposium (Please use this document as a helpful, step-by-step guide for submitting a symposium via the Ex Ordo Conference Submission Portal; Note: This process is different from last year’s symposium submission process)
A symposium (called a “panel” in Ex Ordo) is a 60- to 80-minute session with multiple presentations (i.e., papers) focused on a single topic. This includes an independent discussant or chair, and a minimum of 3 papers and a maximum of 5 papers. To ensure blind review, all proposal materials must be completely anonymized.
The symposium submissions will occur in two steps:
One member of the symposium (we suggest the chair and/or discussant of the symposium) will submit a 1,000-word summary of the overall symposium via the “Panels” submission type in the Ex Ordo Conference Submission Portal.
- The summary should include 3-4 learning objectives.
- List the discussant and/or chair for the symposium. Also, please add the submitting author of each symposium paper as a “Convener” when submitting the symposium summary.
- When submitting the summary of the overall symposium, the CV(s) for the discussant and/or chair is required as a PDF upload.
Once the summary of the overall symposium has been submitted, the submitting authors of each symposium paper listed on the submission as a “Convener” will see the symposium appear in their “My Panels” list on Ex Ordo. At the bottom of the entry, there will be a “Submit to Panel” button for the author to submit their 400–500-word abstract. Abstracts should concisely explain the purpose and content of the paper.
- Abstracts for empirical studies, literature reviews, and meta-analyses should include the following sections: Objectives, Method, Results, Conclusions, and Implications.
- Abstracts for case studies, theoretical, and methodological studies should include the following sections: Purpose, Description, Assessment, and Conclusions.
- Abstracts should include 1-2 learning objectives.
- When submitting the symposium papers, the CV(s) for the submitting author and all listed co-authors is required as a PDF upload.
2. Paper (Please use this document as a helpful step-by-step guide for submitting a paper via the Ex Ordo Conference Submission Portal)
A paper is a presentation describing an individual research topic or piece of legal scholarship. Accepted papers are clustered into 60-minute themed sessions, with 3-4 papers in each session. To ensure blind review, all proposal materials must be completely anonymized.
A 400–500-word abstract should be input directly into the Ex Ordo Conference Submission Portal. Abstracts should concisely explain the purpose and content of the paper.
- Abstracts for empirical studies, literature reviews, and meta-analyses should include the following sections: Objectives, Method, Results, Conclusions, and Implications.
- Abstracts for case studies, theoretical, and methodological studies should include the following sections: Purpose, Description, Assessment, and Conclusions.
- Abstracts should include 1-2 learning objectives.
3. Poster (Please use this document as a helpful step-by-step guide for submitting a poster via the Ex Ordo Conference Submission Portal)
A poster is a concise, visual summary of research or legal scholarship that is displayed on a large poster board (e.g., 4’ x 6’). Accepted posters are presented at one of two evening poster sessions (Friday or Saturday). While not required, we encourage presenters to adhere to the APA Convention Poster Instructions. To ensure blind review, all proposal materials must be completely anonymized.
A 400–500-word abstract should be input directly into the Ex Ordo Conference Submission Portal. Abstracts should concisely explain the purpose and content of the poster.
- Abstracts for empirical studies, literature reviews, and meta-analyses should include the following sections: Objectives, Method, Results, Conclusions, and Implications.
- Abstracts for case studies, theoretical, and methodological studies should include the following sections: Purpose, Description, Assessment, and Conclusions.
- Abstracts should include 1-2 learning objectives.
Please contact the co-chairs with any questions at . We look forward to receiving your submissions and seeing you in Louisville!
Tallie Armstrong and Colleen Berryessa
AP-LS 2027 Conference Co-Chairs
Proposals should be submitted online at ap-ls2027.exordo.com
Submission Deadline: October 15th, 2026, 11:59 pm PT
Call for AP-LS 2027 Annual Conference Reviewers
Reviewers, including professional and graduate student reviewers, are invited for all content areas. Proposals will be distributed for review in mid-October, and reviews will be due back by November 20th, 2026, by 11:59pm PT.
There are two ways you can become a reviewer for the AP-LS 2027 Conference:
- If you are submitting a proposal, you will be prompted to indicate your interest in serving as a reviewer in Ex Ordo during the online submission process. Later, an email directly from the Ex Ordo submission portal will be sent to you to indicate your topical areas of expertise for reviews.
- If you are not submitting a proposal, or if you would like to complete the Reviewer Sign-Up Google Form now, please follow this link to provide your full name and email address. Later, an email directly from the Ex Ordo submission portal will be sent to you to indicate your areas of expertise for reviews.
Call for AP-LS Pre-Conference Workshop Proposals
The AP-LS Continuing Education (CE) Committee is accepting proposals for pre-conference workshops at the AP-LS Annual Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. These workshops are scheduled to take place the day before the general conference programming begins: on Wednesday, March 17, 2027. We are seeking workshop proposals for innovative and cutting-edge topics and ask presenters to briefly describe how their proposed workshop promotes equity, inclusion, and justice in psychology and law.
Workshop presenters will receive an honorarium commensurate with the workshop length (i.e., half-day or full-day). Proposals are due by October 15th, 2026, by 11:59 PM PT, and can be submitted here. Contact Sara Millspaugh, Ph.D., at with any questions.
Please note: The pre-conference workshops are separate from general AP-LS conference programming (e.g., separate application portals and review processes). Therefore, you are welcome to submit proposals to both the CE Committee for a preconference workshop and to the AP-LS Conference Chairs for general conference programming from March 18th to 20th, 2027.
We look forward to receiving your pre-conference workshop proposals!
Sara Millspaugh, Ph.D.
Pronouns: she/her
Chair, AP-LS CE Committee
If you have questions about the call for proposals, please contact the conference co-chairs at . We look forward to receiving your submissions and seeing you in Louisville!
Tallie Armstrong and Colleen Berryessa
AP-LS 2027 Conference Co-Chairs