What started as a combined passion for sailing and the intricacies of the legal system is now turning into a promising maritime law career for Swansea University Law graduate, Michele Autuori.
The 27-year-old sailing enthusiast from Salerno, Italy, who graduates with a postgraduate degree, the LLM in International Commercial and Maritime Law, today (Wednesday, July 21), was ranked first in his region for sailing by the age of six.
He also came third amongst the Italians who entered the Europa Cup in 2004.
Michele’s interest in marine vessels and the sea, first inspired by his father’s passion for sailing, has also sparked a love for maritime and commercial law.
This has resulted in outstanding academic achievements for Michele – both at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
He was awarded a distinction plus laude for his final dissertation in his undergraduate BA Law degree in Salerno, Italy and was the first student in his intake to graduate on time and at the top of his class.
At Swansea University, Michele has achieved similar success.
Ranked as one of the best students in the School of Law’s LLM in International Commercial and Maritime Law postgraduate degree programme in his year (2008-2009), Michele was awarded three distinctions and one merit for the four modules.
He has also been awarded the Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law’s prize for submitting the best Law report in 2008-09.
Commenting on Michele’s achievement, Professor Baris Soyer, Director of Taught Master Schemes in the University’s School of Law, said: “Michele is a determined and hard-working individual who has managed to develop his legal understanding considerably in the course of his LLM studies at Swansea.
“The LLM degrees offered by the Law School are well-known and regarded in shipping, banking and insurance sectors. The courses are taught by internationally recognised experts who are at the cutting edge of their disciplines. I have every confidence that the LLM degree will accelerate Michele’s rise in the legal profession as he joins the elite class of Swansea LLM Alumni which is spread all around the world.”
Michele, whose proud family, dad Ferdinando, mum Elisa, and sister Ada, will be there to see him graduate, is delighted.
He said: “My father is very passionate about sailing and although he personally did not sail for very long, he certainly succeeded in passing on his love of the ocean to me.
“As a child, I also thoroughly enjoyed reading books by John Grisham which were filled with all that legal drama. Although law was not a subject offered at school level, I knew then that I wanted to be a lawyer and combine this somehow with my love for sailing.”
After completing his undergraduate degree at the School of Law of the University of Salerno, Michele decided to apply for a postgraduate degree at Swansea University.
“The University contacted me regularly, provided information and assistance where needed and I was also encouraged by the School’s continued growth and success. It definitely was the right decision for me,” he added.
Michele is currently preparing for his oral exam – the last step in becoming an ‘Awocato’, which is the equivalent of a barrister and solicitor in Italy, while working as a trainee in the shipping finance department at the Rome office of Watson, Farley and Williams, a leading international law firm.
He said: “I had a number of offers from legal firms in Italy and abroad following my exams. Although I was not planning on returning to Italy straight away, I am really happy with my choice and just enjoy working after all those years of study.
“I may return to Swansea to do a PhD or I may venture outside of Europe for a bit where my fluency in French, Spanish, Italian and English can be used to advantage.”
For more information about Swansea University Graduation Week visit http://www.swansea.ac.uk/graduation/.
