Law and Humanities

The Law & Humanities workshop aims to give students the opportunity to explore the dynamics of the relationship between law and various artistic languages. This will stimulate debate and discussion on the influences from the world of the arts, culture, and philosophy that affect our understanding of the legal dimension of social, economic, and cultural phenomena.

In particular, the course aims to develop students’ ability to draw possible connections between the artistic representation of reality and the legal phenomenon. It also seeks to help them develop advanced skills in interpreting the law, situating legal concepts within general theory, and reflecting on the criminal policy options adopted by legislators. 
The workshop forms part of the Law & Humanities teaching model, which has provided an opportunity to critically rethink the experience of the legal professional. From this perspective, this approach has the merit of highlighting how the work of the jurist must be reconsidered in terms of thinking that is not only rational and calculating but also emotional and experiential – that is, capable of viewing the legal phenomenon as a transformative narrative example.

The workshop features a single subject focus, relating to some of the main forms of artistic expression.

The artistic expressions selected for the 2026/2027 academic year are cinema and literature. Cinema, in its broadest sense as a form of representation through images and sound, has always been capable of depicting the human being in all its many nuances. It acts with immediacy, eliciting an emotional response from the audience, but often also serving as a platform for criticism and social commentary. Literature also allows us to reflect on issues, events, personalities, and the human condition in general.

The workshop is divided into three thematic blocks, each built around an analysis of the philosophical and legal relationship between responsibility and trial:

1. Through literature, the first module explores the trial as a phenomenon, a place, and a tool for making decisions and forming judgements about individuals.

2. The second module focuses on the relationship between the media system and trials, with a particular emphasis on criminal proceedings. Indeed, while the interaction between the media and trials ensures democratic scrutiny, it can also lead to “media pillory” or the exploitation of investigations. Finally, we examine the media's influence on criminal legislation (symbolic laws/copycat legislation) and on the perception of punishment. The focus will primarily be on journalistic language.

3. Finally, the third module, again through the medium of film and literature, explores the concept of individual and collective responsibility, the principles for defining it, and the legal and philosophical perspectives that can be adopted to ascertain its role within the trial.

Each thematic block consists of three sessions:

• The first session aims to initiate a process of sharing ideas about the film or literary work that will be the focus of the next session, as well as the readings that will be shared.

• In the second session, we will instead watch the film together or read excerpts, which will take place in shared spaces with the chosen community (cinemas, theatres, museums, etc.). Students will need to address the problematic aspects that emerge in the film or literary plot, with a view to collaborating with the chosen social fabric.

• In the third session, students will have the opportunity to engage with experts, critics, and industry professionals. Based on their experiences, they will then create a podcast during the third session of each module.

Upon completion of the activities, the workshop aims to create and share with the Academy and the community both a series of podcasts (to be published on Spotify) and papers. These papers will be collected and published to showcase the progress made through in-depth exploration of the theme and artistic language, as well as through discussions with various stakeholders.

The course aims to help students, through discussion and sharing, develop the ability to draw possible connections between the artistic representation of reality and the legal realm.
In particular, it is believed that engaging with the artistic experience in its various forms enables young lawyers to develop strong skills in understanding and deciphering reality. 
Engaging with artistic complexity aims to make lawyers aware of their role as mediators in social conflicts.

The workshop aims to provide young lawyers with an opportunity to engage with the social and cultural fabric around them.

Lecturers

Pietro Sabella – Edoardo Messineo

General Rules

• The course lasts a total of 30 hours, after which students will be required to work on assigned project work. To have the University Credits recognised, students must attend 80% of the total hours, which amounts to 24 hours (therefore, a maximum of 6 hours of absence is allowed), and must be deemed eligible for the final assessment by the lecturer.
• A tutor will be responsible for recording attendance, which will be done by signing a register. Failure to sign in and/or out will be considered an absence. There will be no exceptions to the sole criterion for awarding university credits: attendance.
• Absence hours will be calculated based on the attendance records. Depending on the schedule or personal needs, students can either take a full day off or miss individual hours across multiple lessons.
• Once a student has chosen their pathway, they will not be able to earn University Credits through any other means.
• Students who have already earned the University Credits required by their study plan for Other Activities, or who have already started attending optional language courses or other activities for which credits are recognised, are excluded.

Additional information

• The course will take place during the first semester.
• The course will be delivered in Italian.
• All sessions will take place on either a Friday or a Saturday.

The activity schedule will be available in September.

Registration

Students enrolled in the third year of the Single-Cycle Master’s Degree in Law for the 2026/2027 academic year will be able to select the Soft Skills Law and Humanities course directly from Web Self Service while completing their Study Plan, in order to earn the relevant credits.