Kevin de Sabbata, research phd student at the School of Law.

Kevin De Sabbata

Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I am a PhD student in Law at the University of Leeds. I previously studied law at the University of Trieste (Italy) and qualified as a lawyer, following cases on elder law, medical liability and inheritance law. My PhD research focuses on care decisions of people with dementia in Europe, studying the application in this area of principles affirmed in Article 12 UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

What motivated you to apply for your course at Leeds?

I decided to apply to the University of Leeds because it is one of the most well-known centres for disability studies in Europe and has played a very important role for the development of the social model of disability. At the moment the Law School hosts the biggest research group on disability law in Europe, counting many leading scholars in the field of legal capacity law.

What do you think of your course?

I am really enjoying my course. In particular, I like the possibility of working on very topical problems, such as the rights of people with dementia, with recognised experts in the field.  I also enjoy having the opportunity to interact with colleagues from various parts of the world and to participate in important conferences around the world.

How would you describe the guidance you've received? 

My supervisors have always been very supportive, giving me very valuable advice and guidance in my academic work. They have notably contributed to my knowledge, especially at a theoretical level.

What do you think of the facilities?

The University has a good library service, with bibliographic resources constantly updated. Moreover, it provides a good range of sport facilities, theatres and spaces for entertainment.

Have you been involved in any extra-curricular activities?

I am part of the University of Leeds Opera Society, which has provided me a lot of opportunities to perform and also enhance my knowledge of music and theatre through the encounter with great professionals in the field.