Both legal practice and lawmaking are possible only through language. Beyond the precise wording of laws, however, other linguistic aspects are also of pivotal importance for judicial proceedings. For example, the careful analysis of regional or sociolinguistic peculiarities is often employed in profiling and assessments of witness testimonies and can actively support legal practitioners in reaching concise and accurate judgements. Conversely, language may also turn out to be a barrier, especially when it is necessary to overcome international and intercultural borders. The necessity to harmonize the European Union's legislation and strong trends of economic globalisation lead to a number of different problems. What should have priority in cases of language ambiguity? A perhaps incorrect translation into a national language or the English original version? In what way are international laws adapted to legal institutions of a particular nation? These questions underline that there is a close connection between linguistics and jurisprudence, between language and law. The Language and Law Conference will be held from May 17 to 19, 2006 in Duesseldorf, Germany. It is an interdisciplinary joint-venture of the University of Duesseldorf and the University of California, Los Angeles.