Why I attended Summer School twice

My experience in 2021 and 2022

I am a Law student at the University La Sapienza of Rome and in this blog, I will tell you about my unforgettable double experience at the LSE Summer School, having attended in both 2021 and 2022.

Two years in a row at the LSE

I attended LSE Summer School for the first time in 2021. I still remember how excited I felt in the days before my departure. I knew I was going to study at one of the most prestigious universities in the world, but I didn’t know yet what a great experience I would have.

In 2021 I attended the LL204: Cyberlaw course, which was very interesting. It focused on practical and critical situations such as machine learning and algorithmic decision-making, the responsibilities of platforms like Google and Facebook for the content that they host, free speech and regulating personal data processing by examining them through comparison with the European, English and US legal system. Moreover, during the first week, I met wonderful friends, some of whom I am still in contact with today.

Unfortunately, during the second week, I discovered I had contracted Covid-19 and so had to isolate for the remaining part of the course, taking my classes online. Even in those rough times, I discovered that LSE is a helpful and united community - I could rely on the support and understanding of my professors and LSE staff, who helped me through this difficult time. Even though I wasn’t able to fully enjoy the entire duration of the course, I still experienced enough to understand that I wanted to come back as soon as I had the opportunity. This became possible during the summer of 2022 when I applied to LSE Summer School again for two courses: LL135: Introduction to Corporate Law and Governance and LL105: International Law: Contemporary Issues. 

Why did I choose these courses?

I decided to apply for the LL135: Introduction to Corporate Law and Governance course because I would like to work within company law in the future. It was a very interesting course, with high quality teaching and comprehensive content. I am very grateful to have been taught by Professor Kershaw, who held the morning lessons, and Dr Thomas Papadogiannis, who held the afternoon classes. They were engaging, able to keep my attention and, above all, my passion during the entire course, by which I was able to perform highly in my final exams.

The second course I chose was LL105: International Law: Contemporary Issues. I chose this as I think that we are living in a critical moment internationally: we are on the brink of a climate disaster and in the middle of a war in the heart of Europe, to name a few. Therefore, I decided that LSE was the best place to deepen my understanding of topics such as humanitarian law, climate change, international criminal law, and human rights. Again, within this course, I could rely on the support and kindness of Professor Veerle Heyvaert.

In 2022, I made sure to take advantage of all the opportunities that LSE had to offer. After classes and lectures, I used to spend many hours in the library – with its new computers, printers, silence, and countless books it was the best and most peaceful place to prepare for classes and final exams. On the social side, I took part in the sunset cruise on the River Thames, which was amazing, and allowed me to meet students from other courses. I also attended some Spark events, an innovative professional skills program that offers important extracurricular activities and workshop to help students stand out and develop unique skills to improve their employability.

This blog was written by one of our 2022 Student Ambassadors, who are here to share their stories and help you understand the summer school experience at LSE.