Victoria Morgante, 30, Lawyer and Lecturer
In 2016, after studying Criminal Law in Nîmes, Victoria Morgante decided to study for the CAPA (Professional Lawyer’s Certificate) and a PhD on “The right to health protection for detainees under European law”.
Why did you choose UPPA for your PhD?
I’m from the south-east of France and I did my Bachelor’s and Master’s at the University of Nîmes. I also did a number of internships that helped me refine my areas of interest. Attending trials before the Assize Court and working in the Public Prosecutor's Office confirmed my desire to become a criminal lawyer, but at the same time, I was also very interested in prison law - the subject of my Master's dissertation - and I wanted to continue my research in this area. I chose UPPA because it is a renowned university in this field. A lecturer whom I referenced in my bibliography, Professor Jean-Paul Céré, Director of the Centre for Research on Criminal and Prison Justice and Chairman of the International Committee of French-Speaking Criminal Lawyers, agreed to be my PhD supervisor. I didn't hesitate! For four years, I travelled from Nîmes to Pau every two months, staying for a week to attend training courses, meet the other PhD students in the laboratory and my PhD supervisor.
What are your memories of UPPA?
It was a great campus that I enjoyed travelling to despite the distance. The workshops were particularly interesting and still serve me today in my work as a lawyer and lecturer. I particularly remember the "Voice and Gestures" course run by Claudio Antoniazzi, open to both law and non-law PhD students, during which we spent 20 hours working on “non-verbal language”, which is fundamental in our relationships with others. I also remember the encounters with other PhD students, who later became friends, and the opportunity to build my network and meet specialists. UPPA is a renowned university in the various specialities of law, with candidates for Master’s degrees, University Diplomas and PhD courses from all over France.
How does this training help you today?
I defended my PhD and passed the CAPA in 2020. I immediately set up a law firm, called EMS Avocats, in Nîmes, with two other partners. We each have our own areas of expertise, which include criminal and prison law, business law, personal and family law, civil law and medical and personal injury law. My research activities at UPPA and my PhD add real value to my business profile and, for my clients, the guarantee of cutting-edge expertise in the field of prisons and criminal law. I still keep in touch with my PhD supervisor, and we sometimes discuss particularly complex cases. This training also enables me to approach the firm's cases in a different way, with a much more scientific vision and rigour.
Also, thanks to this PhD, I can pass on another of my passions by teaching family and personal law, criminal law and criminal procedure at the University of Avignon. I also help students study for the pre-CAPA exam, to allow them to access law school.
What words do you spontaneously associate with UPPA?
Kindness, diversity, openness
What advice would you give to a young person starting a course at UPPA?
I would tell them to go for it and make the most of every aspect of their university years. I would also advise them to do as many internships as possible to gradually define their career plans. Try, be bold and don't be afraid of failure, which can teach you a lot!
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