The European Society for Empirical Legal Studies (ESELS) aims to bring together persons and organisations interested in or actively engaged in research, education or practice in the field of empirical legal studies (ELS) in one multi/interdisciplinary society and on a European level, to foster empirical legal scholarship, and to encourage exchange and cooperation among those engaged in ELS. ESELS is committed to foster a methodologically pluralist, intellectually open, and disciplinary inclusive academic culture.

ESELS was founded in September 2021 at the Emperical Legal Studies Conference in Amsterdam. ELS Academy researchers, together with other European scholars, were one of the founding members of the European Society for Empirical Legal Studies.