In Conversation with David Kershaw, Dean of the LSE Law School
Professor David Kershaw joined LSE in 2006. He is Dean of LSE Law School, a member of the LSE Council and an Associate Tenant at Cornerstone Barristers. Prior to his academic career, he qualified as a Solicitor at Herbert Smith in London, and practiced corporate law in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group of Shearman & Sterling in New York and London.
LSE’s Department of Law has recently been become the LSE Law School from the LSE Law Department. What led to the creation of this new identity, and what does it mean for the LSE Law community?
We’re one of the leading law schools internationally, but our former name didn't really resonate in some parts of the world. We were keen to change the name to project ourselves more globally as a Law School. And all the credit really is due to my predecessor, Professor Niamh Moloney, who was the first Dean of the LSE Law School. It was her idea, a fantastic idea indeed, and she made it happen.
Becoming the LSE Law School has prompted us to reflect on who we are, what we do, and where we're going. It has given us a platform to think about our core purpose and values, and how we project ourselves externally, and to look at ways in which we can improve. I think the change of name has also generated a community building effect amongst faculty and a stronger sense of our institutional identity.
The Law School is an intrinsic part of LSE, and is embedded in the heart of London. What advantages does this bring to its teaching, research and global impact?
The interdisciplinary interaction within LSE is phenomenal, and we've always been very much a part of that. We work closely with colleagues in Finance, Data Science and Anthropology, to name just a few. We have an interdisciplinary outlook in our teaching and research, and the interaction with other parts of the School is crucial to what we do.
We’re also lucky to be distinctively situated in the heart of legal London. We’re around the corner from the Royal Courts of Justice and the Inns of Courts, and a short walk away from Westminster Hall, the Houses of Parliament and the Supreme Court as well as the Bank of England and the Takeover Panel.
Being near all these legal institutions and regulatory bodies makes a big difference when you're studying law, reading cases and thinking about legal development– it just brings it all alive!
What is your vision for the Law School, and what are the key priorities you will be focusing on in the coming months and years?
Our first priority is ensuring that our programmes are cutting edge for the 21st century. We're looking closely, for example, at how we can reform our undergraduate programme with a particular focus on how students progress from one year to the next, and the different options they have to choose from as part of that progression. We’re also planning for a residential Capstone project for all third years to provide more scope for them to apply what they have learnt in class to solving practical legal problems.
Our second priority is to lead on global conversations about law and its impact; to ensure that we truly are a forum for discussing and debating the legal issues of our time. For example, when Russia invaded Ukraine in February of this year, we put on five events within a three-week period to discuss different elements of law applicable to the conflict, from international law, the sanctions regime, the role of lawyers, to the effect of the crisis on the European Union. And we made these events publicly available because it is important to create a space for these conversations not only within our community, but also more broadly.
Another key priority for us is to create a legal clinic for both our undergraduates and postgraduates. A legal clinic is an excellent way to provide students with real world context for their studies. We’d like to start with a poverty law clinic, where our students would provide free legal advice on areas of law such as social security and housing. I think it is so important to give our students exposure to the role that law actually plays in society, how it helps to protect people's rights and how it contributes to living in a just and fair society.
Our students – the lawyers of tomorrow – are the guardians of the rule of law. Regardless of the field they choose to develop their careers in, they all have a duty to ensure that people can understand the law and enforce their rights, whether or not they have the means to pay for legal advice.
How would you encourage our alumni, friends and partners to join in the journey and support the LSE Law School?
Our alumni play a key role in supporting our students. Many have already become mentors or come to our career discussions to share their experiences and insight, and I hope they will continue to support us in that way.
We’d also like to reach out to our alumni, friends and partners and seek their support for some of our longer-term projects, especially the legal clinic, which will require some investment. Projects like this will set the LSE Law School apart, and will enable us to give back to our local community by providing free legal advice to citizens who are unable to pay for these services.
What makes you feel part of LSE?
I love the openness of LSE, the enthusiasm and willingness of colleagues to have conversations, even difficult and controversial conversations, about the issues of our time. I love that we are a relatively small university located in our wonderful part of London. I think this generates a superb community of colleagues committed to helping each other out and working together. We are all bound together by our motto – “to know the causes of things for the betterment of society”. From the outside I know that it sounds a little strange, but that is what we’re all trying to do in a curious, enthusiastic and energetic way. This collective effort makes me feel very much part of LSE.