Course Spotlight - LL206: International Financial Regulation in the Digital Era

We sat down with Jens, who took the course LL206: International Financial Regulation in the Digital Era in 2023, to hear all about his experience of the course - from an average day as a LL206 student to Jens' top tips for future students. 

 

Why did you decide to attend LSE Summer School?

It was a spontaneous decision to apply for LSE Summer School, but I’d heard only positive things about the university and the condensed and intensive curriculum taught at Summer School. It also helped that LSE is renowned for its academic excellence and global community. Further, LSE offers the opportunity to take courses that were not offered at my home institution.

Why did you choose LL206?

When I browsed through the LSE Summer School course catalogue, I stumbled upon LL206 which appealed to me because it was a whole new branch of jurisprudence and it had more of a conceptual sense to it contrary to the other courses, as we discussed in class whether to regulate AI, Big Tech, FinTech etc. and how to do so. This required us to navigate the landscape of digital finance and fintech services and products. It felt like being at the forefront of an industry that is evolving rapidly.

Tell us about an average day as a student on LL206.

At the risk of sounding like a ‘A day in the life of’-Youtuber, after eating breakfast with fellow students at my dorm, I read the remaining curriculum for the day before pairing up with my new LSE-mate and walked to LSE which was within walking distance from our LSE accommodation. Score!

After our seminar of the day, a 1.5-hour highly interactive and discussion-based group session with our fantastically clever and approachable teacher, we ate lunch together in the sunshine on LSE's campus – just overlooking the tempting George IV pub. In the afternoon we had a three-hour lecture with our Associate Professor which also was very involved and student-focused. Afterwards we either went for drink(s) with other LSE students, a London cultural offering or just hanging out at the dorm.

What was your favourite part of LL206?

My favourite part of LL206 was the feeling of being at the forefront of – or at least keeping up with – an entirely new legal domain. We were introduced to the ideological considerations and the balancing of interests behind regulating this new and rapidly growing field. Exploring topics such as blockchain technology, cryptocurrency regulations, and emerging financial innovations offered an exciting glimpse into the future of finance. The course was somehow both an introductory course to the subject and had in-depth critical aspects to it.

What advice would you give to students considering LL206?

Do it.

If you are an adventurous spirit and interested in what the future holds for financial law, give it a go. Be curious and participate actively in the case studies with your fellow students. It is not a prerequisite to be an expert of non-fungible tokens nor understand the reason to consider regulating Big Tech. None of us had awe-inspiring knowledge of FinTech nor Digital Finance but we certainly learnt a lot which is of much use when trying to stay updated on this rapid evolution on technological advancements.

What are your short-term professional goals?

My short-term professional goal is to secure a job offer as an assistant attorney.

Was meeting and talking to other students on your course easy?

Very much so. We quickly created a safe space to engage in class discussions and my fellow students were all easy-going and approachable. Despite us coming from diverse cultural backgrounds and age groups, we had a lot of fun and informal conversations outside of class.

How would you explain LL206 to someone who has never heard of it?

That’s a good question. The title of the course “ International Financial Regulation in the Digital Era” gives a hint. Anyhow, the course provides an in-depth exploration of the complex world of digital finance and fintech – whereto you also need to understand the traditional world of finance – and provides the student with critical aspects on the legal framework and regulatory landscape within this evolving sector. All through lectures, case studies and discussion-based sessions.

How did you find the course and teaching experience at LSE?

In hindsight, it was intense. There was a lot of reading and a whole new legal domain to understand, but our teachers understood how to break it down and structure the otherwise condensed and intensive curriculum in a manageable way. And just like that, we felt confident in explaining otherwise complex financial concepts and being able to have a qualified discussion on the pros and cons to regulate this area.

Did you feel supported by your lecturers?

Very much so. Both our Associate Professor and teaching PhD student were able to create a safe space for all questions and discussions. Further, they were both great at challenging us in class and giving us a chance at this new curriculum without drawing unnecessary attention to our – at the time – non-know-how.