Postgraduate Clinics with Dr Dominic Thomas-James

Want to get the most out of an academic or practitioner conference?  Or learn how to best present and defend your research?  How can you make the most of the myriad of networking opportunities available?  Maybe you want to turn  your dissertation into a publication but you're not sure where to start? Current Postgraduate Students can benefit from the advice and experience of Dr Dominic Thomas-James Global Justice Fellow at Yale University,  Tutor at the University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education and a Research Associate at Fitzwilliam College.  Slots for Dominic's clinic hours should be booked in advance 

Dr Dominic Thomas-James FRSA, LL.B. (Hons)(Lond), M.Phil., Ph.D. (Cantab), Barrister (Inner Temple)  is a Global Justice Fellow at Yale University, a Tutor at the University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education and a Research Associate at Fitzwilliam College. He earned his PhD and MPhil from the University of Cambridge and read law at King’s College London. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales by the Inner Temple, and is a Barrister at Goldsmith Chambers, London, and an accredited Civil and Commercial Mediator. Dr Thomas-James has served as an advisor or consultant to various international and inter-governmental organisations, including presently as a Consultant and Director of Publications to the International Chamber of Commerce FraudNet. He is author of the book Offshore Financial Centres and the Law (Routledge, 2021) and numerous other journal articles, edited texts and book chapters. He is a senior organiser of the annual International Symposium on Economic Crime at Jesus College, Cambridge. 

MAKING THE MOST OF ACADEMIC CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION

Conferences are worthwhile opportunities to not only share and defend your research, but also expand your network and become familiar with the breadth of academic life. In this clinic, guidance will be provided on how to get the best out of the opportunity of attending and participating in academic or practitioner conferences. We shall discuss identifying opportunities and focusing on one’s objectives of a conference and the necessary preparation tasks from submitting an abstract, to opportunities to publish the paper in a conference-affiliated journal, as well as thinking about the valuable networking opportunities presented. We shall consider how this can translate to collaboration opportunities with scholars world-over, as well as its ability to expand one’s knowledge in similar or different fields and seeing research ‘in action’. Advice will be given on presenting and defending research and dealing with questions, as well as the different ways of participating in a conference in the role of speaker, panellist, discussant, chair or audience member; as well as guidance on what to do in follow-up to a conference. The clinic is designed to provide opportunity to discuss questions or concerns you have about conferences.

ACADEMIC PUBLISHING: PLAYERS, PROCESSES AND PROPOSALS

We shall consider turning dissertations into publications – with particular reference to books and monographs, but also edited texts, book chapters and journal articles. We shall discuss important steps in preparation for the complex publishing journey including making decisions on publishing and publication type. We shall consider the steps to be taken in advance of dissertation submission and guidance on converting one’s thesis thereafter. Drawing upon experience as both an author and editor, the session aims to support students in becoming familiar with key processes and players in the publishing journey, and to provide practical advice on timings, selecting a publisher or specific book series, and guidance on making contact with editors and seeking their feedback or input. We shall go over some essentials in making the right sort of ‘business’ pitch and the process of writing and submitting your book proposal and the necessary components therein, as well as preparing additional supporting documents. The clinic is designed to provide opportunity to discuss questions or concerns you have about publishing.