School of Law welcomes students from around the world to Leeds International Summer School
The School of Law welcomed international students to this year’s Leeds International Summer School, giving participants an engaging introduction to English law and essential legal skills.
Held over two weeks in July, the Leeds International Summer School (LISS) programme attracted students from across the globe, including Brazil, Indonesia, Pakistan, Australia and the United States, bringing together a diverse group of learners to explore the foundations of the English legal system.
The module, Path to Justice: Criminal Law and Legal Skills, taught by Dr Nina Herzog, combined interactive seminars, practical exercises and moot-style debates, giving students an authentic insight into what it is like to study law in the UK.
Experiencing English law first-hand
The programme culminated in a moot court assessment, allowing students to apply the knowledge and advocacy skills they had developed over the two weeks. For many, it was a rewarding opportunity to put their learning into practice and gain confidence in presenting legal arguments.
For many participants, the summer school also offered their first experience of studying law at a UK university. Alongside engaging with case law and legal reasoning in the common law tradition, students experienced seminar-style teaching and developed practical legal skills in a supportive international environment.
Reflecting on her experience of the course, one student said:
Nina is a great professor and made me feel safe during our classes, because English is my second language and sometimes I would feel insecure before talking, but she really listened to me and made me feel comfortable.
Another student commented:
Prof. Herzog was excellent. She put thoughtfulness into each class and was prepared. Her lectures were engaging, intellectually stimulating, and highly relevant. I thoroughly enjoyed the class!
Learning from a global community
A key feature of the programme was the opportunity for students to learn from one another. Participants compared legal traditions from their home countries, debated case studies from different perspectives, and developed a deeper understanding of how law operates across different jurisdictions and cultures.
Reflecting on the experience, Dr Herzog said:
What makes this experience so special is that while I am leading the classes and introducing relevant knowledge, concepts and theories, the learning is to a great degree student-led. Students are constantly comparing notes with each other, questioning assumptions, and discovering just how differently, or similarly, law works in different parts of the world. Watching them build those connections across cultures has been the real highlight.
Building international connections
This year's summer school also marked the beginning of a new collaboration with the University of Louisville in the United States. Students from Louisville joined the programme as part of a broader partnership designed to strengthen international academic exchange and collaboration in legal education.
The programme reflects the School of Law's ongoing commitment to global engagement, providing students from around the world with the opportunity to experience legal education at the University of Leeds while building international networks and friendships that continue long after the summer ends.
Students who attend the Leeds International Summer School also become part of the University of Leeds alumni community, making them eligible for a range of alumni benefits, including discounts on postgraduate study at Leeds.
Beyond the classroom
Students also explored England's legal heritage through a field trip to the Law and Order Museum in Ripon, where they learnt about the history of English courthouses, policing and prisons, bringing their classroom learning to life.
Ready to spend your summer in Leeds?
Discover how the Leeds International Summer School can help you broaden your horizons, develop new skills and experience life at a leading UK university. Find out more and apply at www.leeds.ac.uk/leeds-international-summer-school.
