Super Lawyer

Category: Associates, In-House Counsels and Advocates

  • Fatima Quraishi on application and work of the post of a judicial clerk at Supreme Court

    Fatima Quraishi on application and work of the post of a judicial clerk at Supreme Court

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    Fatima is a graduate of 2013 batch of RMLNLU, Lucknow. She has extensive experience of the Supreme Court atmosphere and has worked as a judicial clerk just after graduating.

    In this interview we asked her in depth about her experience of working as a judicial clerk under Justice T.S. Thakur, the application procedure and the future prospects of her legal career.

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers who are mainly young and aspiring lawyers?

    I’m a 2013 Batch law graduate from Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University, Lucknow (RMLNLU). I recently completed my contract as a Law Clerk to Hon’ble Mr. Justice T.S. Thakur, Judge, Supreme Court of India. A first generation lawyer, I am very enthusiastic to join the development sector.

     

    Do you feel that there is a bit of resistance towards legal education in India? How did you incline towards a career in legal field? Do you reckon any specific incident influencing your choice?

    Engineering and Medical studies were sought after because our parents were brought up in that environment and they have continued to have that mindset until now. They could only picture traditional litigation in their heads and were insecure about letting their kids, especially girls join that community.

    Currently, there has been a wave of change in which parents have encouraged this profession because they see dispute resolution in a different light. The working conditions are much more civilised and there is scope and variety in the different roles a lawyer could play. This change has been brought about by the zeal of our generation who was genuinely interested in the profession and took it upon themselves to change opinions. There are Law Firms, Companies, Think Tanks, Non-Government as well as Government sector that absorb the major chunk of law graduates. The most crucial insecurity about the profession is to a great extent addressed with an improvement in job security. For example a litigator who mainly deals with civil/criminal matters has a retainer client for a regular source of income.

    I belong to a family of doctors so law was never on the cards until class 11th where I got introduced to the profession by Mr. Sachin Malhan who visited my school, Loreto Convent to promote LST. Thereafter, things just took shape with my family being ever willing to let me follow my calling.

     

    fatima-s3How would you describe your time at RMLNLU? What kind of co-curricular activities did you participate in?

    Frankly speaking, I was a very laid back student who just enjoyed the ambience that Law School provided. I had a small bucketlist of things to do in Law School. Moot-check, conference-check, publishing-check but never pursued one thing for long. I hated monotony in my work which has trickled down to my career objective too. I was always inclined to venture out and do different things. I was part of the Placement Cell initially and then switched to the Legal Aid and Welfare Committee. The only thing I was very particular about was internships which provided me a great opportunity to learn and network. I thoroughly enjoyed RMLNLU for its independence, flexibility and facilities.

     

    Which are the law firms and other places where you interned? Which internships would you consider to be right at the top and why? Tell us about the variety of work you were given during your internships?

    In my first year, I interned with U.P. State Legal Services Authority and Greenpeace which was a very good social sector introduction. Subsequently, I moved on to law firms like Anand & Anand, Remfry & Sagar, JSA,  M.V. Kini & Co., Vaish Advocates Associates and Khaitan & Co. where I mostly worked on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) issues which was my interest area then. The kind of work I got at each firm depended upon who I was directly working under. It’s always a good option to use every opportunity to directly interact and get work from the partners. I did quite a lot of drafting at Remfry, infrastructure related work at M.V. Kini and prepared presentations on law governing video games in India at Vaish. The rest of the work at my internships was research based.

     

    Interning at a top-notch firm is a dream of every law student. How did you procure your internships? Can you throw some light on the application and follow up process?

    Although, all law firms have an internship portal or email ID displayed on their website, in reality it’s difficult to get through, considering how all law schools have vacations practically at the same time. I got most of my internships through contacts. Importantly, most of these networks were my own that I had managed to form during my previous internships and conferences. It’s a good strategy to be referred and one can very well ask alumni and seniors for help.

     

    You have a Diploma in Entrepreneurship Administration & Business Laws. Tell us how helpful these courses have been in your career? Why did you choose to pursue diploma in corporate laws?

    It’s a fantastic course. It’s as good as a senior mentoring you at a law firm without any howler. It’s a study at your own pace program which explains practical aspects of business law lucidly. Career wise, I’m still to use this skill set which I have had no opportunity to use during Clerkship where I was mainly concerned with Criminal and Service law matters.

     

    Considering the fact that most of your internships have been in corporate firms, what drifted you towards the career of a judicial clerk?

    Clerkship was not my first career option. I was interested in IPR throughout my college days and somehow my law firm PPO in IPR did not work out. Alternatively, I had applied for Clerkship where I got through. I am extremely glad about the way things transpired. It’s an excellent first job experience which I would recommend all recent graduates to pursue.

     

    How did you obtain the Judicial Clerkship? What is the standard procedure to do so?

    The Supreme Court Registry annually publishes an advertisement inviting all final year National Law University students to apply. I applied through my Internship & Placement Committee at College wherein all applicants were required to send their application form, CV along with attested documents to the Supreme Court Registry.

    Thereafter, short listed candidates were called for an interview and results of the first list were declared within a month from the date of the interview. The list of successful candidates is not published and all selected applicants get individual phone calls from the Registry. As and when a vacancy for clerks arises, calls are made to the rest of the people on the list in accordance with merit. Once one confirms his/her availability for joining, the Registry asks them to report to the Supreme Court at a certain date wherein the person completes all paper work and then is informed about the Judge one is to assist for a term of roughly 10 months. Clerkship can be extended for a further period in consultation and by the approval of the Judge one works with.

     

    Tell us the daily routine of a judicial clerk? What is the kind of work you come across? How different is it from the corporate field?

    It will be patently wrong on my part to generalize my Clerkship experience as it totally depends on the Judge one is assisting, which continues to be a surprise till the last minute of joining. Speaking for my own self, I had flexible work timings and attending Court proceedings was not mandatory unless there was an important matter for which His Lordship required me to take notes. The office staff was extremely friendly and co-operative and provided me a conducive environment to work. I mostly worked on reserved matters or part heard matters as His Lordship was not inclined to let me make briefs only. The USP of the job was the daily discussions with His Lordship on nearly all matters that came before him. There were also other perks attached to the job which I think are part of the experience if you’re lucky to get a Judge who accommodates it.

    The experience can’t be compared with anything close to what one does as a lawyer, let alone exclusive corporate practice. Since you work for a Judge, your perspective on every matter is very holistic as you have the unique opportunity of weighing both sides of the matter and not be prejudiced. Your aim is the dispensation of justice rather than getting relief for your respective client.

     

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    Tell us about your work mantra? What do think are the most essential things required to excel in clerkship?

    I have never followed a rule book but patience, hard work and optimism has worked well for me. For law clerks at The Supreme Court of India, one has to make the best of whatever one gets since there is no certainty. Generally speaking, I feel it will be sensible if one could be flexible enough to mold himself/herself according to the work requirements of the Judge, be cordial to office staff and impeccable with the research notes submitted to His Lordship. Half-heartedly done work is easily detected. It is also helpful if one keeps a track of the Judge’s recent pronouncements, part heard and reserved matters. One will hit solid gold if he/she is fortunate to share a similar passion/hobby as His Lordship because then one will be able to interact with His Lordship on an informal basis.

     

    Do you consider pursuing an LL.M abroad? A lot of LL.M aspirants opt for judicial clerkship before higher studies; what is your thought on this?

    Writing a recommendation letter is completely the discretion of the Judge. One should be prudent not to bank upon it. Clerkship experience independently is very enriching and has no causal connection towards higher studies except in cases one is pursuing Clerkship only to be referred.

    In my case, I am inclined to go for a Masters Program for Fall, 2015 after working for another year.

     

    What will be your suggestions to our readers who wish to be a judicial clerk?

    Judicial Clerkship is a privileged short term contractual job that gives you an insight into the way the Bench works, that one can never hope to get otherwise at this age. It’s an opportunity to be mentored by one of the finest fraternity in the Country. No matter how clerical things seem initially, it does inculcate life skills. The experience provides an optimum amount of pressure, moulds, evolves and prepares you to be better equipped on the other side of the Bench.

     

  • Abhishek Srivastava on moots, requisites of arbitration work and experience at KLRCA and LCIA

    Abhishek Srivastava on moots, requisites of arbitration work and experience at KLRCA and LCIA

    abhishek-srivastava2Abhishek Srivastava graduated from HNLU, Raipur in 2010. After having explored his options at being an in-house counsel, working with a firm and a litigating lawyer, he joined Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitrationas a Case Counsel (KLRCA). He then went on to become the Deputy Registrar at the London Court of International Arbitration, India (LCIA-India).

    Most amazingly, his is not the usual path of success, of a brilliant CGPA and high profile internships, but of learning in life as it comes and then acing  it with all the dedication and go-getter attitude that is asked for.

    We take this opportunity to ask him about:

    • The utility of having participated in moots in his profession
    • Working for two major arbitration institutions, i.e. KLRCA and LCIA-India
    • Requisites for making a career in the field of arbitration

     

    Given that most of our readers are law students and young lawyers, how will you introduce yourself to them?

    I had graduated with a CGPA of 5.1 from HNLU, and thereafter I have been employed in varied job profiles, ranging from an in-house counsel for ETA Star Properties, to working under a lawyer, then working at Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration, and currently being appointed as the Deputy Registrar of London Court of International Arbitration, India.

    I want law students to know that even with this score, I could make it this far. Having said this, I’d like to give out the message that all the people with round about similar CGPA, should never feel that that it is even remotely the end of making a good career in this discipline. CGPA will not be the criteria to determine your success in this field, as long as you are ready to offer the best of your services. One might be an 8 pointer, and that could give him a head start with AZB & Partners or AMSS, but if he doesn’t have the calibre, there is no way he will be able to survive that place beyond six months or one year.

     

    Why did you decide to study law? Did you consider the conventional options of medical studies or engineering?

    At the very outset, I would like to mention, that studying law happened to me because it was recommended by a school friend — Vidisha Nandi. She was the one who  enlightened me about the potential of this field. And, I knew that had I done engineering or medical, I would not have had the caliber to go further in these domains, because my Maths was weak, and Biology was even worse. Honestly, I wanted to enroll for the flight steward programme, but got confused upon being advised to take up law.

    My father thought it was better to go for law, wherein my mother was still considering the old age adage–people who are not able to make their mark elsewhere, take up law. It took a lot of effort to convince them to allow me to pursue this field, and get an opportunity to explore my options. As a result when I started, I did not have much knowledge about this particular field. I had first applied to Mumbai University, since I had no clue about any of the conventional law colleges or NLSIU and the likes.this was also during the time when there was no CLAT, but  separate entrance tests for each of these colleges instead.

    Amidst all this exploring, just six months down the line, I was already considering giving up on this field. It was around that time, that I happened to read about the entrance exam to be conducted by HNLU, and thus started my journey in this realm. It was after joining HNLU, and interacting with teachers like Professor Shantakumar, and Professor Uday Shankar, that I could realize what law was all about, and what was expected out of me in this profession. This was how I developed an interest in law, and the Jurisprudence classes further went a long way in helping me comprehend this field better.

     

    Being a first generation lawyer yourself, do you think it is a disadvantageous position to be in? What would be your advice to other people who are similarly placed?

    My grandfather and father, both pursued the course of LLB, but none of themwent on to practice law. In the beginning, I thought that even I would be carrying forward this tradition of just studying law, and not looking back at it thereafter. Now, I feel that even they should have pursued law further, as it would have definitely provided me with many more opportunities. However, I am glad that I have been able to figure it out for myself, and realize that this is my true calling.

    However, there are a few things that a first generation lawyer should keep in mind, right from the time he begins to think about this profession. In my several interactions with CLAT aspirants, I have come across students who are passionate about taking it up, but give higher preference to factors like staying back in the home city, not having to stay in hostels etc., while choosing a college. If one is not ready to compromise on suchsmall things, then he should not take up law at all, for the struggle after graduation is going to be much more than this.

    Also, for the convenience of all the first generation lawyers, I must mention, that whatever be your area of specialization, in order to excel in this field in India, one must be ready for multi-tasking, and not just stick to your one field of specialization. For example, if one wants to make a career in arbitration, he should be well versed with Corporate Law, requisites of litigation etc. as well.

     

    How did you go about your journey of job-hunting after graduation? How did Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration happen?

    With the kind of CGPA that I had, and  not a great number of good internships as a result thereof, there was only one way to secure a job—getting out in the field and treading the hard way. Hence, right after my graduation, I came down to Delhi, and used to walk into all the law offices that I could get to know of, with my CV. There were only a few good offices that actually entertained this, and were kind enough to conduct interviews. At the same time, I was still confused between taking up a corporate job, or litigation, orexploring many other options that this field could offer.

    In the process, I approached Ramni Taneja, who was associated with Little & Co. at the time. She forwarded my profile to one of her colleagues Mr. Jithesh Thilak, who was the then head of ETA Star Properties in Dubai. Thereafter, I started with my first job as in-house counsel for their company in India, and had to move to Dubai for the required training. It would be interesting to mention over here, that my interview for this job was conducted in a personal meeting with Mr. Jithesh Thilak at Khan Chacha Rolls, when he had come down to India, due to paucity of time on his end.

    Subsequently, I took up my second job under a lawyer, Dr. Adish C. Aggarwala. Coincidentally, it was then that I found my way to KLRCA. He had gone to adjudge the Law Asia Moot Court Competition, and upon his return from there, was carrying a huge compendium. In that compendium, I happened to find the business card of Professor Datuk Sundra Rajoo, Director of KLRCA. It gave me the idea of exploring this new field, and I decided to send across my CV to him.

     

    What was the application and interview procedure that you had to follow for KLRCA? What did your work profile as a Case Counsel at KLRCA consist of?

    After I had sent across my CV, to my utter surprise, I received a reply from him the very next day. He  told me about the available vacancies in KLRCA, and that they were interested in taking in people. Thereafter, I was interviewed through Skype. I was selected on the basis of this interview, after which I was told to come down to Malaysia immediately.

    As a Case Counsel, I was entrusted with the task of managing the international arbitration cases, which involved one Malaysian party and other international party/ parties. Accordingly, I had to look after things like—the requisite authorities before which the case had to be presented, and routing of funds from the parties etc. Even though I was looking after international arbitrations, I had to be extremely thorough with the Malaysian Arbitration Act.

    Along with this, I was also closely involved with their product development exercise, which required me to assist the Head of the Department in making the fast track rules for the institution. I was also involved in comparative analysis of arbitration procedures worldwide, and the marketing activities of the institution. This provided me a very well rounded job, rather than just being at a 9 to 5 desk job.

     

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    How did the huge leap to becoming the Deputy Registrar of the London Court of International Arbitration happen? How is it different from working at Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration?

    I had applied to LCIA-India in accordance with a vacancy notified by them. Thereafter, I was interviewed by the then Deputy Registrar, along with other candidates. Accordingly, candidates were shortlisted on the basis of this interview, whereafter the shortlisted candidates were again interviewed by the Director General of the London office. The final selection for the post was done on the basis of this interview.

     

    Having been an avid mooter throughout your college life, do you think it assisted  you in this field?

    I believe mooting helped me a great deal, and played an immense role in my performance at different levels. For example, the first opportunity wherein I got to speak in public, apart from law school, was at KLRCA. I strongly believe that while speaking in front of so many arbitration experts, the only thing that aided me in knowing what to say, and the manner of delivery, is my thorough participation in moots.

    So, in order to know the soft skills required during written or oral conversation, I strongly believe that participation in moots goes a long way.

    Specifically, in my case, I was able to project my interest in arbitration to KLRCA, on the basis of two of my moots—International Maritime Arbitration Moot Court organized by Murdoch University, and Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Hong Kong. Since I had not taken up any specialization in arbitration, or an LLM, my thorough knowledge in arbitration during interview came from these two moot courts.

     

    What are the internships that law students can take up, if they want to make a career in arbitration?

    To be able to make a career in this field, one must know what arbitration is all about, which includes—the bare provisions of the Arbitration Act or procedure, and how the entire arbitration process starts, proceeds and ends.

    In order to be able know these intricacies, one can intern with an arbitrator, or with an institution, say KLRCA, LCIA etc., or with an arbitration lawyer, or with a firm having an arbitration department. These internships will help you know about the procedures of arbitration, like request for arbitration, its processing, and when do the actual hearings come into play.

    Also, as one will start working at the aforementioned places, misconceptions about arbitration will draw away, like—arbitration is similar to litigation, except that it happens outside the Court. There are arbitrations where hearings do not take place, instead everything is decided on the documents itself, which does not leave any opportunity for the arbitration lawyer to argue at all.

     

    What advice would you give a law student who wants to pursue a career in your field? Since you are now on the other side of the table, can you give us the “recruiters’ point of view”, as to what they are looking for in a potential hire?

    What would be looked in for a potential hire in this field is, how well they can project their interest, which could be by way of thorough knowledge of the field during interviews. For example, my question to all those who claim to be interested in the field is – Have you read the BALCO judgement?

    To start with, a potential employee must know the basics of international commercial arbitration, like compositeur, doctrine of separability, etc. And since we are from India, he must also be clear about the basics of the Indian arbitration, especially the landmark judgements.

    Other ways of reflecting interest in the field is by taking up suitable specialization at graduation and post-graduation level. One could pursue an honours in International Commercial Arbitration at graduation level. At the same time, one could also pursue various courses being offered by Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), which entails one to membership of the institute in capacity of an associate, a member, or a fellow, depending upon the course that one pursues. Since I had pursued their course in Malaysia while working with KLRCA, I had the opportunity of being taught by some of the best faculties from around the world.

    After graduation, one could pursue an LLM in International Commercial Arbitration, which could open doors directly into the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Singapore International Arbitration Centre, and other similar institutions.

     

    Where do you see yourself ten years down the line? Do you aspire to be like somebody from this field?

    I would want to be actively working as an arbitration lawyer, arguing before the arbitration panel on behalf of my clients. I would then be able to use my intensive knowledge of rules and procedures of arbitration that I have gained from my current recruitments.

    Also, having worked with these arbitration institutions, I have witnessed a lot of amazing foreign lawyers incorporating some really ingenious methods, while arguing before the panel. So, I will be able take all of that along with me.

    Very humbly, I would want to be like Professor Jan Paulsson. He is one of the leading authorities in the field of arbitration. If one aspires to be an international commercial arbitration lawyer, one must follow him diligently. If somebody has read his works thoroughly, there are absolutely no chances that they would have missed out on anything.

     

  • Aman on pursuing BCL from Oxford, working with International Organisations and getting higher grades

    Aman on pursuing BCL from Oxford, working with International Organisations and getting higher grades

    aman-cb-4Aman, a graduate of National Law University, Jodhpur, of the 2012 batch, talks about his spectacularly awe-inspiring journey as a Law student. Not one to be charmed by the glamour of law firms, as most University-toppers admit to be guilty of, Aman chose to pursue his academic instincts further, by completing his BCL degree from Oxford University, with a focus on International Law, and then moving onto complete a prestigious internship at the International Criminal Courts, The Hague. All set to join Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza, he shares with all Law Students, the following :

    • What went into winning the Trilok Chand Mangilal Sancheti Gold Medal.
    • The importance of balancing academics, moot courts and extra-curricular activities
    • The significance of choosing the appropriate internships
    • Why one should choose to pursue higher education
    • The experience of studying at Oxford, and of interning at the ICC.

     

    Most of our readers are law students and young lawyers. How will you introduce yourself to them?

    I am yet to figure out a good response to this question! Anyway – going the conventional way – I finished my undergraduate studies in law and policy sciences from the National Law University, Jodhpur in 2012. Pursuant to that, I proceeded to Oxford where I completed my BCL with a focus on Public International Law, Equality Law, Jurisprudence and Political Theory. Post Oxford, I had been interning at the Trial Chambers at the International Criminal Court, The Hague till March this year. I am preparing to join an organization called the Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza this month.

     

    How did you gravitate towards law? What interested you most about the subject at the time? Is that interest still intact?

    I have grown up in an environment – both at home and school – where I have been exposed to and sensitised about various social issues. I wanted an education that helped me do something about such issues. Law was one such option (along with Medicine and Journalism)! However when I decided on pursuing Law, I did not have a very clear understanding of how the study of law would be directly instrumental in working towards the issues that motivated me. It was perhaps the interest in gaining more familiarity with social policies and laws; the attraction of the inter-disciplinary approach to legal education that the five year law schools promised; and discussions with a few people who studied/were studying law that convinced me to pursue it.

    The motivation is intact today (though the focus is on fewer issues!). In fact, the interest is much stronger since I have grown to know how the study and the practice of law, through litigation, policy and academia, help in dealing with a variety of problems plaguing the society.

     

    You have won the Trilok Chand Mangilal Sancheti Gold Medal. Surely a lot of effort must have gone into coming first in BA.LL.B (Hons.). Please provide us with some actionable tips on how to get good grades.

    To be honest, to top the class was never a primary motivation and the effort was never directed towards that. I really enjoyed what I did and, possibly, that was the reason I put in effort in making projects, working on court room exercises, and making assignments/presentations. There were also moments where I did not sit for tests, missed classes (and consequently lost marks that used to be allocated for classroom attendance in the first few semesters at law school) to work on things/participate in events that I enjoyed! Though it did cost me a few grades, I don’t regret it. I just feel it’s best to put in effort and explore the things that we enjoy – the results will automatically follow!

     

    How did you keep your law school life exciting? Share some memories with us.

    Luckily, I was involved with a lot of things in law school and never really sensed the monotony some of us complained about. Besides dealing with regular tests and assessments, extra-curricular activities like mooting (both as a participant and as an advisor), debating kept me busy. From my first year, I was involved with college committees and editorial boards which also kept me occupied. With time, the responsibilities in these committees also increased! I also found myself actively involved in the organisation of intra university sports fest, literary fest, and cultural fest and moot court competitions at the University. There were also a couple of initiatives by some of us – some of which I had to discontinue my association with because of the time crunch! Basketball was an excellent source of recreation – especially in my fifth year! I also enjoyed taking part in the regular cultural, literary, sports events organised in college.

     

    You have participated in moot competitions as a participant, advisor and even as a judge. How do you feel a student should go about a moot in order to reap the maximum benefit from it?

    From the time I had been introduced to moot courts, I found it to be an excellent learning experience. Not only does it help one in getting a good grasp over the area of law on which the moot proposition focuses but it also helps one develop researching, drafting and advocacy skills. It won’t be incorrect to say that being a participant at moot court competitions was probably the most rewarding experience! It is perhaps the things that I picked on the way as the participant – through my experience or the wisdom of others – that helped me serve as an advisor or judge moots now! Even as an advisor or a judge I continue to feel the same about moot court competitions and still find it to be a learning experience for me!

    As to how students should go about moots – I am not sure if I am in a position to suggest anything but I always felt that one should take up a competition if they are really keen on mooting. It is definitely not something that has to be mandatorily done in law school. However, if one picks it up – it is essential that one takes it up with all sincerity and gives the proposition the due time it demands – for research, drafting and oral practise. By my experience, I also feel that having someone to guide you in the area of law, drafting and for the oral rounds also helps a lot.

    I also did a bit of debating and played a bit of basketball.

     

    As an undergraduate student, you have done a variety of internships. Did these happen by chance or did you consciously choose to pursue such internships?

    No, all of the places were consciously chosen. However the guidelines of the placement cell (i.e. to work with X institution at the end of Y semester) was kept in mind. HRLN was an obvious choice when I was looking for NGO options to work around home at the end of the first semester. The internship here introduced me to the MGNREGA. The legislation sparked a lot of interest in me and was the reason that I participated in the said survey under the supervision of Professor Jean Drèze and Dr. Reetika Khera.

    At the end of my third semester, I was keen on working with an advocate practising in appellate courts and ended up working with Mr. Prashanto Sen in New Delhi. The choice of a relatively small office was again a conscious one – it helped me get exposed to a variety of matters and be directly involved at every step. Despite my age back then, the internship helped me gain a great familiarity with the work of a practising lawyer.

    I was also keen on working with a judge at an appellate court and hence the clerkship. Since I stay in Allahabad, the working of the Allahabad High Court was also something I wanted to see.

     

    You had worked as a Student Teaching Assistant and later with Professor Jean Drèze. These were definitely a bit unconventional. How did your experiences at these places help with your skill development and shaping you as a person?

    I was always very keen about teaching and have given it very serious thought as a long term career option. In fact, the revival of the Student Teaching Assistant Programme in college was with the efforts of some of us. I really enjoyed the experience of teaching public international law to my juniors. This also helped me realise some of the challenges one can face as a teacher in a law school like mine!

    Working with Professor Jean Drèze again was very rewarding. Post my internship with HRLN, I had developed an interest in the Right to Food Movement. After law school when I got the chance to work on a study related to Pubic Distribution System (of food grains), I readily took it up. This involved a field study on the drawing up and the management of BPL lists used for distribution and also focused on the problem of the leakage of grains. This greatly helped me understand some of the problems at the ground level; and the reach, working and the shortcomings of PDS in dealing with hunger. This is one area that I really wish to continue working on!

     

    When and how did you decide to pursue higher studies?

    I was very keen about pursuing higher studies right from the beginning of law school. I had heard that it opens more avenues – which I later found to be true. Like most people, I was also attracted to the prospects of studying in some of the dream institutions! However, it was only by the end of my third year that I gave it a very serious thought. By then, I had a discovered my inclination for public international law and some areas of public law; I also had some sense of what I wanted to do in life (academics, policy, diplomacy, politics and developmental work). These factors necessarily led me to consider higher studies. By this time, I also had an idea about which institutions were reputed for the courses I was eyeing.

     

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    What was your motivation behind pursuing BCL? Would you say the purpose was well served?

    As I pointed earlier, I was very keen on developing stronger foundations in the areas of law that interested me. Oxford was definitely one of the places high on my list considering the extensive focus BCL offers in the four courses one chooses to study through the year. This was a great motivation and I was very happy to have studied courses like equality law, international law and armed conflict in such detail. Also, as I mentioned earlier, I was looking at postgraduate course with the hope that it would openavenues that were not open or visible to me otherwise. This purpose was also duly served as I do not think it was possible to know of/get internships at the ICC or the PCHR without Oxford. In fact, grants/awards by Oxford Law Faculty also helped/are helping in funding these internships.

     

    Many law students would want to pursue higher studies from abroad. What would be your suggestions to them?

    If one is interested, I feel it’s good to start considering the LL.M. option at the start of the penultimate year of law school and also take a call if one wishes to apply in the final year (or subsequently). A good way is to talk to seniors who are pursuing/have pursued higher studies abroad and read about the Universities one wishes to apply to. This gives a good understanding about i) the law school – renowned faculty and courses, prospects pursuant to an LL.M from a particular University; ii) what the selection entails and how should one go about the specific application for a particular University; iii) any specific requirements like TOEFEL etc.;  iv) and even scholarship opportunities.

    As for what it takes to get in – it’s difficult to give suggestions! Every LL.M. candidate I met had different experiences and approach towards the application. Perhaps the connecting factor would be a good academic background! Speaking for myself – besides maintaining decent grades, I put in effort in doing all the things I enjoyed all through law school.  I tried to reflect the same through my application. I guess, broadly, every person tries to do the same.

     

    Does Oxford provide students with scholarships? Are there any other institutions which provide scholarships?

    Oxford offers a couple of scholarships – some are offered by the University, some by the Law Faculty and some by the Colleges at Oxford. A list of such scholarships is available on the website of the law faculty (click here).

    Besides the ones by Oxford there are a few other funding avenues. The popular ones like Rhodes, Felix, Inlaks and Commonwealth are known to all. There are a few less known options which give partial scholarships/ soft loans which one should also explore. These include – KC Mahindra Scholarships for Postgraduate Studies Abroad, Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship, Narotam Sekhsaria Scholarship, Oxford and Cambridge Society of India Scholarship. One must research more on these funding avenues – especially the smaller ones!

     

    Did you undergo a rigorous academic schedule? How was that different from your under-graduate course?

    Yes, BCL was very demanding. Unlike most classes during my under-graduate course, one had to necessarily prepare for the classes which involved completing a reading list assigned for the said class/seminar. It is difficult to appreciate, and at times follow the discussions in the class hours if one does not complete one’s readings (thus making the limited amount of class hours futile). Besides the regular preparation for the seminars, we also had tutorials spread through the three terms. These were sessions beyond the regular class hours where students discussed their essays/ specific topics with their tutors and a small group of students who had also taken the course. Though it was difficult to work on these tutorials along with the regular readings for class, these tutorials were academically rewarding. Also, unlike law schools back home, Oxford grades depend solely on an end-of-the-year, closed-book examination which makes the preparation for it quite rigorous. In fact, I never felt that there was a concept of a break – as one is busy with reading during both term breaks!

     

    Oxford is well renowned for its brilliant faculty. How was your experience with the faculty?

    One of the primary motivations to study at an institution like Oxford was to get the chance to interact, and even brainstorm with some of the most renowned scholars in the areas you are studying. Besides the interaction in classes, I greatly benefitted from the one-on-one interactions during tutorials, or the feedback received on my work from my teachers like Dr Dapo Akande, Prof. Sandra Fredman, Prof. John Gardner, Dr. Nicos Stavropoulos, Dr. Tarunabh Khaitan and Dr. Antonios Tzanakopoulos. It was also great to see how they received my ideas and encouraged me. Some of the faculty members had also helped me take some career decisions!

     

    How difficult was studying abroad in terms of finding accommodation, finances and settling in?

    Not to sound intimidating, but all three were indeed a bit difficult for me.

    I had not got College accommodation and was slightly apprehensive about finding a place in the beginning. Eventually, I did manage to find a great place offered by the University Accommodation Offices (the next best alternative to on-site college accommodation) before the start of the term, but it was slightly far off from the Law Faculty.

    Finances were another issue. Since I could not manage a full scholarship, I had to rely on a student loan.

    Settling in was not that big a problem as compared to the other two. However, it took me some time to adjust with the academic pressure, weather, lifestyle, and also to get used to cooking etc.

     

    What difference did you find in the pedagogy of Oxford relative to an NLU?

    There is a huge difference! As mentioned earlier, one was expected to read extensively for the seminars – which were more discussion oriented. At NLU the focus was more on class room lectures as opposed to discussions. However, I find the comparison a bit unfair. Though I have my reservations about the way legal education is administered in many Indian law schools, I feel the focus of undergraduate education is to develop an interest in law and should involve more lecturing and it’s not very wise to expect all students to read as much for classes as we were expected to at Oxford. A postgraduate course like BCL is designed on the premise that the candidates have an interest in the study of that area of law and aims towards developing an advanced understanding of the chosen area. That said, it would be nice if the reading component is given some focus which is largely absent in many law schools today.

     

    How do you think the BCL programme will help you in your career?

    It is difficult to predict how it will help me in my career! I can just say that I feel that I have developed a stronger foundation in some of the areas that interest me and will definitely help me if I am to pursue a career that involves an understanding and application of these areas. BCL has also helped in developing my analytical and writing skills – something that will be useful in whatever I choose to pursue. Besides academic foundations, I also feel that Oxford has made visible, and, in situations, accessible, options that were not visible/accessible otherwise – be it international firms or international courts and originations. For example, it would not have been possible to get an internship at the Trial Chambers ICC without BCL, where I had taken up specific courses on dispute settlement and armed conflict.

     

    There has been a recent trend amongst Indian law graduates to pursue higher education abroad. Why do you think this is happening?

    Another tough one! There could be multiple motivations. However, I feel that to some extent it’s a result of the exposure that students get these days. A few years back, pursuing LL.M was not really a well-known/advertised option. With more people opting for it, a lot many get exposed to the prospects of an LL.M, and now think of it as another feasible option after their undergraduate studies. Also, the breaking of the myth that an LL.M. is necessarily for those who wish to pursue academics has led many to aim towards specialisation in their practise areas. Many of my friends intend to take up higher studies for this very reason. Some are also interested in exploring opportunities abroad.

     

    You have recently completed a clerkship at the International Criminal Court, Hague. How did you get it and what prompted you towards it? How was the experience?

    I had applied for this clerkship while I was at Oxford. Desirous of building a career in international dispute resolution, I was looking at some international courts/tribunals back then. Besides the ICC, I had also applied for the ‘ICJ Traineeship Programme’ that is offered to graduates from of a select few universities around the globe (Oxford being one). However, I was unable to get the final offer despite making it to the final shortlist from Oxford. The other option was the ICC. Having taken up a course on International Law and Armed Conflict at Oxford, I was especially keen on working there.

    For the same, I had to make an application which involved completing the application form available on their website. I was also required to send a sample of my written work, a statement of purpose, a copy of my resumé and arrange for two referees who had to send their recommendation letters. This was followed by an interview by the Judge who I eventually worked with.

    I really enjoyed my stay at the ICC. I worked with Judge Eboe-Osuji (Trial Chambers) and the set of legal officers assisting him. While I was at the Court, I assisted the Judge in drafting a number of decisions and separate opinions; prepared memorandums; assisted in the preparation of witness summaries; and helped the judges and the legal officers in other trial procedures. Besides the feedback on my work, I greatly benefitted from the discussions with my judge and the legal officers.

     

    You have recently taken a series of lectures at NLU, Jodhpur in the subjects of Jurisprudence and Constitutional Law. Can we say you may gravitate towards an academic career in the future?

    I am quite keen! As I mentioned earlier, I was always very keen about teaching and have given it very serious thought as one of the options I wish to pursue in future.

     

    You are joining the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights in Gaza. Tell us something about this.

    The Centre is a non-profit company, dedicated to protecting human rights, promoting the rule of law and upholding democratic principles in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. It also supports all the efforts aimed at enabling the Palestinian people to exercise its right of self-determination.

    I am expected to be assigned to the International Unit at PCHR which has experts on international law, fundraising and advocacy. The Unit supports other Units of the PCHR in carrying out their work as well as producing reports, position papers and press releases.  Staff in the Unit are often involved in conducting field-visits as part of their advocacy programme or field-research as part of the research programme, and are involved in building relationships between Palestinian, Israeli and international NGOs who work on human rights issues.  The International Unit also produces interventions to international bodies – including the UN. Interns are involved in all these tasks. Considering the small size of the organisation and my background, I am informed that I might also be involved with the work of the Legal Unit (composed of a team of lawyers who give free legal aid and counsel to individuals and groups, especially Palestinian prisoners in Israeli or PNA custody), Democratic Development Unit, Economic and Social Rights Unit and Women’s Unit.

    However, things are still in the pipeline. Though I have been offered the position, I am still waiting for all the clearances that are needed to enter Gaza. I hope things work out soon!

     

    What are your long term objectives? Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

    It is very difficult to say whereI see myself in 5 year’s time! I am quite keen about pursuing a career in a number of areas and am not blocking any option at this stage. However, if I am to broadly categorise – there is a good chance that in the long run I will be associated with academics, policy making, diplomacy, politics, developmental work, international/domestic dispute settlement or even a combination of a few of these. A lot depends on the opportunities that come my way!

     

    What would be your message to law students who want to pursue a BCL from Oxford?

    There is not much that I can say to people who wish to go to Oxford! They probably know about the place and all that it has to offer. I suppose it is best for this motivation to stay alive (right till the application stage which can be pretty daunting!) while one continues doing whatever they enjoy doing, with all sincerity!

  • Pankhuri Mehndiratta on working for International Human Rights Organisations and insights of a career in research work

    Pankhuri Mehndiratta on working for International Human Rights Organisations and insights of a career in research work

    pankhuri-a-m-4Pankhuri Anuradha Mehndiratta is a NUJS graduate of the Class of 2014. She has recently joined the Centre for Legislative Research and Advocacy as she is keenly interested in International Human Rights and Public Policy. We have taken out this opportunity to ask her about:

    • Specifically choosing internships that help in Humans Rights Law.
    • The importance of taking up courses that have an impact on one’s career as a Human Rights Researcher.
    • Things to be kept in mind while compiling a research work.
    • Insights for law students who aspire to work for international non profit organisations.

     

    Most of our readers are law students and young lawyers. How will you introduce yourself to them?

    Hello! I am Pankhuri Anuradha Mehndiratta. I am a graduate of the Class of 2014 from NUJS. I am keenly interested in International human rights and public policy. I have just joined the Center for Legislative Research and Advocacy as a Project Associate.

    I was born and raised in Jaipur and did my schooling at Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls’ School .I trained as a kathak dancer from a very young age and was also the Cultural Head Girl of my school. I love to read, travel and am also a licensed Scuba Diver. I enjoy my adventurous streak. I like to learn new languages and am pursuing French as a foreign language at the moment.

     

    You studied Humanities before finishing your schooling. How did you gravitate towards law thereafter? Did you have someone who inspired you to study law?

    I took up Humanities in school owing to my inclination towards it. I had always been interested in subjects that relate to the human behaviour and relationships.

    I come from a family of doctors and thus the importance of a profession that adds value to society had been instilled in me at a very young age.The pursuit of law not only trained me to think critically but also gave me the tool to make the change I wanted to see in the world in however small a measure. I am a first generation lawyer and in that sense did not have any person who I looked up to at the time I entered law school. However, along the way I met many admirable individuals in capacities of mentors, teachers and peers who enriched me immensely.

     

    pankhuri-a-m-3Barring one or two exceptions almost all your internships at WBNUJS were focussed on non-profit and research work involving primarily matters of Human Rights Law. Were these all planned internships or did you just take them up as they came along?

    I do not believe in coincidences. I consciously opted for subjects that exposed me to the various facets of Human rights. I backed my theoretical knowledge with practical and on the job experiences at various national and international organizations through my internships. Apart from one corporate internship which helped me be sure of the fact that I did not want to tread the path of the corporate world, all other internships were consistent and conscious choices.

     

    Your work shows a great enthusiasm and interest in the field of Human Rights Law. What brought you into Human Rights? Were there any incidents which inspired you into it?

    Thank you. As I said it always has been very important to me that the work I do has a direct and positive impact on the lives it touches. I have never been one to accept things on face value and have always intellectually pushed the limits of what the apparent status quo is in my sphere.

    As for what inspired me, there was not any one definitive moment that did. It was the steady and gradual realisation of how much discrepancy that lies between ‘what is’ and ‘what should be’ which inspired me to work towards bridging that gap.

     

    You interned at The Office of the Prosecutor, The Special Tribunal for Lebanon, at The Hague. How was your experience as an intern? What work did you get to do there? How did you come across such an opportunity?

    It was truly enriching. Each day was packed with immense experiential learning. The level of mentoring and guidance to the interns was stellar .The STL was at the Pre- trial stage at the time and I got to do lots of research and drafting on topics of International Criminal Procedure as well as Human rights that apply to the victims of terrorism. Since the nature of the work was sensitive and confidential, it is best not discussed on public forums. But most importantly, I got to witness the workings of the various echelons of International justice up close and that to me, was a reward in itself.

     

    pankhuri-a-m-5

    What are the courses you have taken up as a law student? And which are the ones that may have a long-lasting impact in your career as a Human Rights researcher?

    My university offered quite a few optional as well as credit courses. I took up a few on Human rights and its relations with many aspects of life as and when they were offered. Unfortunately, the practice of offering of the Credit courses is not very regular in most law schools as it is basically dependant on availability of experts in a field and the liasoning of the university with them. Hence, you just basically make your choices based on the available options at the time. I feel each of these courses that I took gave me an added perspective on human rights and its various facets and helped me understand the corpus of International human rights and its various off shoots from different angles.

     

    What has been your most memorable incident working for these NPOs?

    I think the best part about the field of human rights is the fact that you have your memorable incidents everyday! Considering how I have human rights internships spanning my whole law school career, skimming out only one such incident would be grossly unfair. Suffice it to say that the satisfaction you get after back breaking effort to entitle someone to a better life is mighty addictive.

     

    What is it like researching for so many International Organisations? How hectic is it? Are there new challenges everyday or has work settled into a predictable pattern?

    I researched for a couple of International and Non Governmental organizations during the course of my law school. It used to be hectic but it was not an impossible task to make time. Most of the work is project based and spanned over a duration of weeks/months. On a lighter note, what else have we learnt in law school if not time management?

     

    Most of our colleagues would say they need a higher pay package than an NPO can offer to sustain themselves. Do you think remuneration is a serious impediment to pure research based work?

    I strongly feel that research and innovation is a grossly undervalued professional arena in our country and it can be very difficult for people to sustain themselves with the pay packages that NPOs offer and in turn the NPOs lose out on brilliant people as a result of the same. However, it is also true that should one go through the rigours and hardships of the first few years, the experience gathered is unparalleled and the remunerations follow in due course.

     

    What are the top three things you keep in mind while compiling a research work? How do you suggest we become efficient at it?

    Firstly, the researcher must get acquainted herself with the topic across a range; starting with something as banal as a Google search on the same.

    Secondly, the sources are what differentiate a good research piece from a bad one and it is for this purpose that one should be very sure of the source of the information and its authenticity and admissibility.

    Thirdly, after the information is gathered from eclectic sources and duly analysed, a logical skeletal structure for its presentation must be kept in mind.

    Lastly, the end product/report should be aimed towards the audience and at all times be concise, precise and comprehensive.

     

    Where do you suggest one can intern or apply for research opportunity if she is interested in working for Human Rights issues?

    There are various levels of organisations at the national, international, micro as well as macro levels. Since the arena of Human rights law is vast, the best thing to do is to identify an area of specific interest and then go ahead and look for available opportunities.

     

    What is the best possible course of action for a law student who aspires to work for international non profit organisations?

    In my opinion, the peculiar thing about the arena of International law is that it follows the rules of Calvinball. That is to say, that there are no set rules or course of action since it is a very niche area. That being said, the best thing to do is to gather as much experience at various levels and be consistent in your endeavours.

     

    Where do you see yourself by the end of the coming five years? What are your long term objectives?

    At the end of five years, I see myself as a specialist in International Human rights, making a significant contribution as part of an International Organization.

     

    What would be your message to law students who are research enthusiasts?

    I would like to tell them that as future lawyers they have a very powerful tool to effectuate social change and that they must use it to its fullest potential. Even though the field of International human rights might look very glamorous from the outside, it requires immense emotional maturity and objectivity. That being said, if anyone is fortunate to have it as their calling, they must absolutely pursue their dreams. In the current law school set up in India, it can feel like a lonely path in the absence of proper mentorship, counselling, guidance and placement efforts, not to mention the assessment of your worth by the pay package you land by your peers. However, they say the roads less taken most often lead to beautiful destinations and that’s the road to take for anyone aspiring to be an International Human rights lawyer.

     

    Pic credits: Arghya Brata Mandal
  • Ashitha Bhagwan on being an Attorney at Royse Law Firm, LL.M. from NYU and the American Legal Industry

    Ashitha Bhagwan on being an Attorney at Royse Law Firm, LL.M. from NYU and the American Legal Industry

    Ashitha Bhagwan graduated from University Law College, Bangalore in 2007 and subsequently completed an LL.M. from New York University. After working in India and Singapore, she is currently practicing in California. Being a dual licensed corporate attorney focusing on start-ups and mid-market companies, she regularly counsels on a wide range of corporate issues such as formation, equity structure, employment, general corporate governance, intellectual property protection and commercial transactions for domestic and international clients.

    We took this opportunity to ask her about:

    • Her experience at New York University
    • Work atmosphere in the U.S.
    • Working as an attorney at Royse Law Firm

     

    “Law school”, have become synonymous with the NLUs. Have you faced any such bias during your career? What would you say to the future graduates of ULCB regarding this?

    You will realize as you grow into the profession that what matters is what you made out of the school that you graduated from. And as you are well aware, opportunities that present themselves to the legal student community are open to all students, irrespective of the school. The school that you graduate from cannot really hold you back – you are at liberty to be as involved in this profession as you would like to be.

    I didn’t let the comfort of life at law college get to me while I was completing my course. I used every opportunity I got to explore and build an identity beyond the shadow of my college. The legal community is a closely knit profession so it’s important that you network among your peers, focus on your courses and make the most of the internships/moot courts that you are given an opportunity to participate in.

     

    After graduating from ULC you had taken up a Post Graduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Rights from NLSIU. What attracted you to this course? How has it impacted your overall career trajectory?

    [sociallocker] I wanted to get some background and insight into Intellectual Property (IP) laws since I was interested in corporate laws, and IP and corporate laws intersect at various junctures. I completed this course alongside my ULC degree, so it was twice as much pressure but I managed to learn quite a lot from the course. It helped me master the basics of IP laws which have proven imperative in my day-to-day practice.

     

    Of all the internships that you have done, which ones do you think really enhanced your chances of getting admission in such a prestigious University? How would you recommend students to go about choosing their internships?

    The thing about internships is that it is not so much a single stint that will lead to your LL.M admission, as it is a holistic view of your entire career as a law student. I enjoyed all my internships since each one gave me an opportunity to explore a new facet of law. In the end, it became clear to me what I wanted to pursue in future.

    Since most students in India are enrolled in the five year course, they have at least 8 breaks (short and long) in which they could potentially intern. It is important that you show for these times when you are not required to be in class, and they all add up to your end goal. You could certainly spend a break or two doing something you like, unconnected to your end goal, but for a post graduate degree, it is important that your resume tell a story that leads up to the LL.M.

     

    How did you decide upon New York University School of Law for your Post-Graduation, from the plethora of options available in the United States?

    It was a really simple choice – I had applied to 6 schools (in US and UK) and got admitted in 5, and NYU was simply the best of them all. It was located in NY (which is the financial hub), the faculty was awe-inspiring (we had professors coming in from all over the world, even legal luminaries that I had only read about as a student), and it was in the top 3 when I enrolled. Also, I knew that I would have the most fun living in NY.

     

    How did you get through the selection process of NYU? What would you say increased the probability of your candidature? What are the things one should do while at law school to have to sail through these selection processes?

    As any other potential post-graduate student, you need to show that your application is different from the thousands that the school receives that year. What helped me was top grades, a solid set of internships, publications, and victories at national level moot court competitions.

    Make sure that your 5 years in law school count – pursue internships/clinics that are of interest to you, participate in moot courts, write articles, work with your professors (if possible) on articles they may need research assistants for, and, most of all, make sure your grades don’t slip. Universities generally look for well-rounded individuals to mould into lawyers – if you can show that the natural next step after your time in law-school leads up to the LL.M., I think you would have better chance.

    Also, you should tailor your resume/application for the specific school – some prefer work experiences, some are more academic oriented so, keep that in mind while preparing an application.

     

    How was your time in NYU School of Law? How is the academic workload there?

    I enjoyed it! Workload was heavy, takes getting used to, but you learn pretty quick when you’re there – the adrenalin and the need to catch up is pretty high, so you will be fine. Prepare to study hard, and party harder!

     

    How difficult was it for you, as a student who had theretofore been used to the Indian education system, to adjust to the environment of a US University?

    It was very different from what I was used to, but as I said, you become a quick study when you are there. I suppose you learn to swim when you are thrown in the water! You also have a lot of flexibility (with courses, timings etc.) which gives you the opportunity to be creative with your courses.

     

    Corporate Law is oft seen as a dry arena of Law, sometimes with humongous workload. What made you gravitate towards this field?

    It is all about perspective. The way I look at it is that I have an opportunity to facilitate deals. One of the things which makes it very interesting for me is that I have the opportunity to work with entrepreneurs working on exciting products and help those products reach markets where it might have never reached a few years ago. My clientele is primarily from the technology sector and being part of the ever-changing advancing landscape of technological innovations in the Silicon Valley is a great opportunity.

     

    ashitha-bhagwan1Before starting work as an attorney you had to clear the Bar exam at California. Given that it is one of the toughest bar exams what was your experience?

    The California Bar Exam is the toughest exam that I have ever taken. It required my undivided attention and focus, and I am so glad it is over! If you are planning to crack this exam, remember that you have to give it your all – one hundred and ten percent. I know of people who have attempted this multiple times and failed. The volume of material is overwhelming but tackle it in small sections and you will be able to get through it.

     

    Which events led to your induction into Royse Law Firm? Were there any interviews or selection processes?

    I have always been looking for opportunities where I would not be stuck to a desk, but be able to meet new people and interact with clients on a regular basis. The Royse Law Firm presented itself as the perfect opportunity. It happened by being at the right place, at the right time. After meeting with team I was convinced that there was a great potential for me here, and I have enjoyed my time here ever since I joined.

     

    What is it like working in a law firm? How hectic is it? Are there new challenges everyday or has work settled into a predictable pattern?

    As a lawyer, there is never a dull moment. It is pretty busy – entrepreneurs always have interesting challenges and it’s our job to come up with even more interesting solutions. Being innovative is part of the job, and I love that I have the opportunity to do that.

     

    Tell us about your work at Royse Law. Can you tell us about a few of the most challenging problems you have faced thus far?

    I work with start-ups and mid-market companies. Since my practice encompasses cross border transactions, I am often required to reconcile the different jurisdictional implications of a single transaction. We work on strategizing the best way to ensure that the product can be accessed in the same way in a foreign jurisdiction, as it would be in the US. What I love is that I get to oversee a well-rounded perspective of working across multiple jurisdictions – tax, IP and corporate all of which are an integral part of a corporate lawyer’s career.

     

    How different is the work environment in the USA, from that in India?

    One thing I have noticed is that there is a clear line between your professional and personal life in the US. I find that that line in India is a little blur. Other things that are more specific to the US work environment are that it is more formal (people love setting up meetings), a little impersonal and is extremely professional.

     

    What are your plans for the next 5 years in the various fields of Corporate Law?

    Corporate Law is a broad term, and I have had the opportunity to explore various facets of it. I will probably be in the corporate law practice in the foreseeable future.

     

    What would be your word of advice to Law Students who want to practice law in the US?

    Read. Be well informed before you make any decision. Information today is very easily accessible and there is no reason that you should not make use of that.

     
    If you would like to reach Ashitha Bhagwan, Esq., feel free to connect with her on LinkedIn, alternatively you can also email her at abhagwan@rroyselaw.com

    [/sociallocker]

  • Divya Chawla, LL.M. candidate, University of Pennsylvania, on joining Linklaters and her internship experience

    Divya Chawla, LL.M. candidate, University of Pennsylvania, on joining Linklaters and her internship experience

    divya-chawla2Divya Chawla graduated from NLU Delhi, batch of 2014. She has just been accepted to the University of Pennsylvania. And soon after completing her LL.M. she shall be inducted into Linklaters, London.

    We took this opportunity to ask her about:

    • The process of application for LL.M. to an Ivy League University
    • Planning a successful Statement of Purpose for LL.M.
    • Internship and job offer from Linklaters

     

    What motivated you to choose law?

    It took me a long time to decide what I really wanted to do, so much so that to buy time I joined Delhi University after Class XII. I studied Political Science Hon. at Jesus and Mary College for a year during which the idea of studying law grew on me gradually. While there were no lawyers in the family, it really helped that my elder brother was studying law at that time. I was able to make a first-hand comparison between the prospects and scope of a traditional graduate degree and a professional degree. In retrospect, the gap year really helped me identify what I wanted to do and I was glad I didn’t rush into something immediately after Class XII.

     

    Please share some of the memorable experiences of your college life.

    The exciting aspect of being part of a fairly young institution is that one gets the opportunity to be a part of many ‘firsts’ of the University. I had the opportunity to be a part of the editorial board for the first edition of the NLUD Student’s Law Journal. Subsequently, as a member of the RCC, even the recruitment process had to be envisaged and managed from a fairly rough foundation. While the lack of guidance can be daunting, such experiences strengthen character and enhance leadership ability.

    Further, in terms of co-curricular activities I was lucky to be a part of the team representing the University at our first ADR competition endeavour, the Brown-Mosten International Client Counselling Competition in 2011. Mooting was also strongly encouraged right from the start and this helped me improve my research and oratory skills immensely through college.

     

    What triggered your interest in Arbitration and ADR?

    My initial interest in ADR competitions developed from the unique format. Participation in ADR competitions helps build valuable skills such as strategising, negotiation and problem-solving.  Moreover, these skills are relevant to any path you choose after graduating and are not confined to the career of a negotiator or mediator.

     

    How did you secure an internship at the Planning Commission of India and World Bank?

    The Planning Commission and the World Bank regularly list internship opportunities on their respective websites. While the Planning Commission internship is a standard program structured over a month, internship opportunities at the World Bank are on a more ad-hoc basis. Both the internships involved working on a research project under a supervisor.

    These internships helped me look at commercial issues from different stand-points. At the Planning Commission I worked on legal issues faced by the Government in airport modernization through public-private partnerships, while at the World Bank I got to analyze an industry perspective on the regulation of the microfinance sector. So this helped me understand different facets of commercial undertakings/projects.

     

    How does an Indian student get an internship in London?

    International firms such as Linklaters, organize a vacation scheme program each year for penultimate year law students, which is essentially a three week internship at the firm’s London office. As part of this program, the firm focuses on selecting a certain number of students from Indian universities. It is an exciting opportunity but the selection process is quite rigorous and competition is fierce. I think the key to be a successful applicant is to show genuine interest in commercial law and a commitment to the idea of working at an international firm. Relevant internships would demonstrate exposure to the practical side of commercial law. It would also help to highlight any publications relating to commercial issues or an elective/ short-course/ certificate program taken up. This reflects a sincere attempt at developing one’s understanding of the field. Awareness of international deals and business events and an enthusiasm to get involved in cross-border matters helps fortify the commitment towards working at an international law firm.

     

    How did your internship transform into a job offer?

    At the end of the vacation scheme, the opportunity to interview with a Partner for a training contract is automatically offered. This interview is based on an assignment that is prepared individually during the scheme and involves identifying legal and commercial issues in an international business deal.

    In a nutshell, the scheme provides the opportunity to intern in two different practice areas under an experienced Principal, and also affords a great learning experience through a range of professional development sessions. These sessions are designed to provide a broad understanding of the Firm’s global business strategy and practice areas, as well as the chance to develop skills like mediation and pitching to a client. For me, the best part of the program was when as an intern in the Banking team I got the opportunity to visit Lehman Brothers’ Canary Wharf office and get involved in the insolvency administration.

     

    What prompted you to apply for an LL.M. abroad?

    The prospect of being able to get an in-depth knowledge of subjects that I was interested in prompted me to apply for a Master’s Degree. Moreover, the Masters program can be structured to suit career goals, like a number of Universities provide a choice between practical skill-intensive courses and research-oriented courses. Some Universities are particularly good for undertaking cross-disciplinary study like NYU, University of Pennsylvania and Northwestern University. So it is basically a year of study focused on subjects that one is keen to pursue further professionally and at the same time there is the fabulous experience of being taught by distinguished professors in a multi-cultural environment.

    Further, an LL.M. provides the opportunity to gain more knowledge of the international market, thus adding a global outlook to one’s perspective. Since I am looking at working in an international legal environment I decided that opting for an LL.M abroad would be more suitable in terms of my career goals.

     

    What do you think were some of the contributing factors that helped you get into UPenn?

    From my experience with the admissions process I believe US schools are not purely focused on a student’s rank or GPA. It is a more comprehensive selection process which seeks not just ‘intellectual potential’ but also something that sets a candidate apart like volunteer work, leadership experience or professional accomplishments. Despite the obvious upside to this approach, this does bring in a huge amount of subjectivity into the process which makes it all the more difficult to espouse a formula for getting through an Ivy League School.

    It certainly helps to be an all-rounder with achievements across a range of academic subjects and extracurricular pursuits. This is viewed as a definite indicator of future success which to the admissions board is important to assess your value as an alumnus of their University. However, if one falls short of being an all-rounder there’s no need to lose hope! Showing extraordinary caliber in a specific area of interest that has been consistently pursued coupled with a definite future course of action would also make a strong application.

     

    What other courses and universities did you apply for?

    I applied for the BCL at Oxford and the LL.M at University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, NYU, and Cambridge. An obvious parameter for choosing a University is the brand name, because resume enhancement is a huge plus. On a more subjective front, it’s a good idea to identify what feature of a particular University or program ties in with your career goals, not only for the purpose of making a choice but also to highlight that your application is not a generic submission made to all Universities, but has in fact been carefully thought through.

    Personally, I believe it’s a better idea to opt for a school depending on its ranking in your intended subject area rather than a general ranking. I opted for Penn Law because it has a strong reputation for corporate law which I was interested in studying further. It also has a great cross-disciplinary program for LL.M students called the Wharton Business and Law Certificate (WBLC). Wharton is UPenn’s business school and is ranked as one of the finest. The WBLC offers law students the opportunity to learn about fundamental business, financial and management concepts in a legal context.

     

    How did you plan your Statement of Purpose?

    How a SOP is planned differs depending on the University. While some schools require that applicants address specific questions in the SOP, others follow a more general and open-ended theme. Typically, it should cover the applicant’s background; academic and professional interests, a persuasive reason for choosing the University and program of study and lastly how this choice ties in with career goals and ambitions. This means being concise is key, because information about your past, present and future must be condensed into a limited word count and must make for a compelling read. So be prepared for endless drafting and editing! Also, a conclusive future course of action that ties in with the applicant’s past and present experiences, and envisions a positive impact in a specific field (could be law, politics, business, the social sector, etc.) shows determination and passion.

    Broadly, my SOP was focused on how my background shaped my ambitions, my experience in commercial law through academics and internships, and how the LL.M. would prepare me for an important role in a trans-national legal environment.

    I’m looking forward to getting a sense of the US legal system and particularly look forward to taking up courses at Wharton during the LL.M. I expect there to be a substantial value addition to my academic credentials and a smoother transition from being a student to working in an international law firm. Finally, I’m excited about being part of a culturally diverse class and hope to build strong relations through the course.

     

    Which are the scholarships one can apply for at UPenn?

    Penn law is certainly on the expensive side as there aren’t too many options for obtaining financial aid. Applicants belonging to a few specified countries (including India) are automatically considered for financial assistance on a merit basis. There are a few such scholarships but the exact number that is awarded is discretionary and financial need is not a criterion in arriving at a decision. Further, only a part of the total cost incurred towards the LL.M is covered. However, if you are focused on human rights issues there is a dedicated human rights scholarship.

    In addition, in India there are some foundations which accept applications for education-related travel grants, like the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust. Such grants typically cover the cost of travel, insurance and visa fee. Another option is to apply for an interest free loan from the Narotam Sheksarai Foundation which selects awardees based on merit.

     

    Lastly, what would be your message to all the law students who aspire to work in one of the Magic Circle firms?

    From a technical point of view, I think the most important skill to work on consistently is commercial awareness, preferably of the international market. Equally important is sharpening professional communication ability and social skills.

  • Chitrrangada Singh, Legal Assistant, Appeals Chamber of International Criminal Tribunal, on LL.M. from UC Berkeley and practice at The Hague

    Chitrrangada Singh, Legal Assistant, Appeals Chamber of International Criminal Tribunal, on LL.M. from UC Berkeley and practice at The Hague

    chitrrangadaChitrrangada graduated from University Institute of Legal Studies, Panjab University in 2010. She took a certificate course in Arbitration and Mediation from the WIPO Academy and thereafter in 2011 she went on to pursue her LL.M. from University of California, Berkeley.

    Chitrrangada is working as a legal assistant in a defense team at the Appeals Chamber of International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Her job entails researching for and defending people who are indicted of international crimes. She has also worked in various high level and landmark cases at The Hague.

    In this interview we asked her about:

    • Studying at UC, Berkeley
    • Interning and practicing at the Appeals Chamber of International Criminal Tribunal (Yugoslavia)
    • Working in landmark cases and representing people indicted of international crimes

     

    How will you introduce yourself to our readers?

    Hi, I’m Chitrrangada. I’m a lawyer from India. After getting my license to practice at the Punjab & Haryana High Court, Chandigarh, I successfully completed my LL.M. at University of California, Berkeley. Since then, I’ve been working and living in The Hague for the past three years.

     

    Did you ever feel that not being from an NLU was a disadvantage?

    I graduated from the University Institute of Legal Studies at Panjab University in 2010. Itwas, at the time, the newly established institute setup by the university to offer a five-year B.A. LL.B degree. The faculty and administration, under the leadership of Prof. Dr. R.S. Grewal, was different from the three-year graduate degree in Law offered by the Department of Laws. The batch that I was a part of was the second batch to have graduated from this institute. At the time, we could not boast of a well-connected career placement programme. This experience would resonate with most newly established law schools in India and not just non-NLU schools.

    Further, as I did not graduate from a National Law University, it would be unfair for me to make assumptions about the experiences of an NLU graduate. However, I would say that I did find myself somewhat disadvantaged when it came to opportunities in commercial firms.

    Nevertheless, it would also be too simplistic to say that there is a bias against non-NLU students when it comes to professional opportunities. In retrospect, I think that the avenues, which each of them offers, are different. Therefore, what one can make out of the experience is also different. While the lack of facilities and the bureaucratic hurdles in state universities can threaten one’s chances, strangely, they also make you resourceful, resilient, and patient.

    I believe that, having lived and worked in Chandigarh both at the district court level and at the High Court within a Chamber, helped me immensely during my assignment as an intern and legal assistant at ICTY defence. I was able to integrate faster within the daily court functioning and minimize the adjustment period greatly. More importantly, I was able to observe and learn from seasoned criminal law professors at university and work closely with trial lawyers at the district court level over a period of two years. This gave me invaluable experience, which I was able to obtain by virtue of being at Panjab University.

    My law school experience varied a lot because of the subjects that were being taught each semester and the kind of projects I had aligned myself with every year. I was a mooter and that always kept things interesting. On an average, I was able to fit in a moot and a half per year in my schedule.

    A large part of one’s experience at the university level is determined by the expectations one has of oneself and their career – and then to make the best out of the opportunities available. For me, while it was tempting to work in a high profile commercial law firm in India, I knew that I would miss the daily rush of being in court and working on criminal law cases. I worked from that bottom-line, upwards.

    The institute faced a lot of logistical challenges on account of being newly established. However, overall, I would say that it was a positive experience.

    In conclusion, I think the nature of the law school, in and by itself, cannot change much of your career path if you are aware of what your bottom line is.

     

    How did tge certificate course from WIPO help your career?

    I took a certificate course from the online WIPO Academy on Arbitration and Mediation Procedure under WIPO Rules under their Distance Learning Program. This program offers different courses on topics related to Intellectual Property over one year and most of them are free of charge. The courses being offered currently are available online here while the full list of the courses offered by this academy can be found here. This course had a fee but it was subsidised for students from developing countries. The course required a good knowledge of the fundamentals of IP law and I had already taken their General Course on IP.

    Reading this course was quite fun actually. It covered three aspects:

    • main features and advantages of the procedures designed by WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center;
    • selection of an appropriate means of dispute resolution; and
    • drafting appropriate dispute resolution clauses for the purposes of a formal agreement.

    I liked how it focused on the procedural aspects of IP dispute resolution. However, what I liked best about this course was that it helped me look at dispute resolution further in a better way. The course material covered the basics comprehensively and was quite interesting to read. I would recommend taking this course if you’re at all interested in exploring this area of law.

     

    How did you decide to pursue an LL.M.?

    Having a Master’s degree is almost a requirement for one to entertain the idea of a career in international law. Therefore, I’m glad that I was able to conclude that step at the first given opportunity before seriously building my professional experience around that goal. However, I do think that having some amount of professional experience before beginning the LL.M. helps one make more informed choices about how best to maximize on the one (or two) year(s) of study.

    Further, successfully completing an LL.M. was important for me personally to understand whether or not a life lived abroad was for me. Even though it was at a big financial cost, I think that my experience at Berkeley was instrumental in shaping my life and career for the long term. I would have had a different opinion, had I decided to go back and work in India.

    I had applied for admission into LL.M. in my final year of law school. I did not have vast amounts of practical experience as an advocate to boast of except for numerous mooting stints and internships as a student.I had planned the application in a way that would allow for the examiners to know about me as a person as much as possible. I used my application to show that I had made the best of my situation and would do the same with the opportunities available at Berkeley.

     

    How different has Berkeley been when compared to your graduating university?

    Both the universities were unique in their own respect, especially in how they shaped me as a professional. In retrospect, I am grateful for the experiences in each of these universities, as they were big stepping stones in how my career developed. Berkeley was different from Panjab University in a lot of ways. What I appreciated the most was the flexibility in planning one’s own curriculum. During the one year of the master’s programme, I was able to pursue both thesis and course track, along with the asylum law clinic, and take courses ranging from foreign investment law to mediation etc. to humanitarian law. This was quite beneficial to me as an entry-level professional; I was able to expand on my substantive learning and build upon my research and writing skills, while graining practical experience in dealing with clients, especially those that don’t speak your language.

     

    Anything memorable that is stuck in your mind?

    The year at Berkeley was quite memorable and it is difficult to isolate one experience out of the many. The course on International Business Transactions taught by Professor Buxbaum was a delight. The majority of the students in that class were LL.M. students who, apart from the class discussions and readings, were given specific problems to discuss. Personally, I found it quite exciting to observe the various ways and means of problem-solving from the perspective of 20-30 lawyers from around the world. Before this, I was wary of the differences but not of the manner in which they operate in terms of how a problem should be approached, researched, and solved as well as how the solution must be offered and expressed to the client. Not only was this class testing you on the laws governing international transactions in business, it was also preparing us to handle the geographical and cultural sensitivities in the legal profession. I thought that was great!

     

    How did you apply for an internship to the Appeals Chamber of International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia?

    A fellow student from Boalt Hall had successfully completed a six months internship at the ICTY. I spoke with him about his experiences and the life in The Hague. After that, I decided to apply for an internship as well. The online application system on the ICTY website is fairly simple. I applied during my first semester of the LL.M. almost one year in advance of the starting date of the internship. This also gave me time and space to look for other opportunities during the LL.M. career fairs. When I got an offer for an internship at the ICTY, I also had an offer to intern in Los Angeles where I would work on community mediation projects and an offer to stay in Berkeley in pursuance of the J.S.D. degree. I was not able to obtain financial grant for the L.A. internship as well as the J.S.D., so I decided to defer my admission to the J.S.D. and take up ICTY.

    While in The Hague, I was constantly exploring funding options and was able to obtain a grant from Sir Richard May Trust to cover my living costs for the duration of my internship. This went a long way in being able to extend my stay and look for further opportunities.

    As an intern for the drafting team in the case of Prosecutor v. Lukic and Lukic, this was my first experience in a truly international working environment (Case Information Sheet, available here). I had a wonderful team to work in and everyone was very encouraging and supportive. I learnt a lot at this stage about the laborious process of judgement-writing in the appellate stage. Most importantly, I learnt that as a lawyer, one can never underestimate the significance of a carefully thought-out format. I worked on the preparations for the appeal hearing, including the deliberations between the judges.

     

    You also worked as a Pro-bono Legal Assistant, Defence, Trial Chambers at ICTY. How did you get this opportunity?

    I was recommended for this opportunity by my work supervisor at my internship in the ICTY Appeals Chamber. I applied right away and was selected for an interview. I was interviewed by a Senior Legal Assistant of the defence team. After having received an offer, I was able to start right after concluding my internship. I remember being quite excited about this opportunity. Criminal defence work at the international tribunals is quite hands-on and there is a lot of scope for learning and growth.

    My work included substantive tasks like writing research memos on specific questions of international criminal law, statute of the ICTY, Rules of Procedure and Evidence; reviewing submissions to be filed before the Trial Chamber, as well as case management tasks like organisation of evidence and providing technical and research support to the Case Manager and the counsels during court hearings.

     

    You are currently working at the ICTY as a part of the defence team. How is the work environment? Who are you representing? How did you start working on this case?

    I am part of the defence team representing Jovica Stanišic in the case of Prosecutor v. Stanišic and Simatovic under Counsel Wayne Jordash and Co-Counsel Scott Martin (Case Information Sheet, available here). Mr. Stanišic was the head of the State Security Service within the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs during the regime of Slobodan Miloševic. I started working on this case in February 2012 when I was taken up as a Pro-Bono Legal Assistant in their team. I was hired as Legal Assistant four months afterwards.

    In terms of the work, there was a steep learning curve in the beginning as this case covers very complicated aspects of the five-year conflict. However, I was lucky to have found myself in a team that was very dedicated, motivating, and good-humoured. They came through well together even during the most work-intensive and stressful times during the case. There is not one member of the team, who I have not learnt a lot from.

     

    You also worked as a junior associate at Global Rights Compliance. What do they do? What was your job as a junior associate?

    Global Rights Compliance, LLP provides international advisory services to business and government, including those operating in conflict-affected and other high-risk areas of the world, to identify, prevent, and mitigate adverse human rights impacts. Details of their recent projects can be found here. They are one of the very few pioneer firms that provide specialised services in international human rights law and responsible business practices, including public international law, international criminal law, and international trade and development.

    My job as a Junior Associate involved conducting intensive research and drafting memoranda on international human rights law and regional treaties, UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and complaint mechanisms under the OECD Guidelines for Multi-National Enterprises. I also assisted in preparation of training material on business and human rights and conducting country-specific due diligence on their human rights record and compliance with international human rights standards.

    Earlier this year, I was also able to assist in the two short-term intensive training courses that were undertaken by Global Rights Compliance at NALSAR, Hyderabad on Business and Human Rights and International Criminal Law.

     

    What is it like working to defend persons indicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity?

    The work of the prosecution is complex, painstaking, and rigourous at any given situation. However, it is still incomplete without a well-functioning defence.

    The criminal justice system is based on respect for human rights, among them being the right to a fair trial. To limit criminal justice solely to a severe contest between the prosecution and the defence and/or the victim and the accused amounts to undermining its objectives. Its objective is to aid the restoration of the imbalance caused by violation of human rights by ascertaining and affixing guilt under law. That restoration can not happen at the cost of the human rights of the accused.

    It is honourable to be working towards assuring that a person, irrespective of their charge, is able to access his right to a criminal defence. Contrary to what is sometimes assumed in respect of the ethical issues relating to this aspect of legal work, I find this work quite meaningful and fulfilling. I don’t see criminal defence as more perverse (or hallowed for that matter) than any other job description in the legal field. It is an exciting,albeit delicate, job and it deserves to be done to anyone’s best of abilities.

     

    Lastly what would be your message to all the law students who aspire to work at the International Criminal Tribunal?

    I don’t have anything new to say because there is no generic formula for this. In my case, I sometimes feel like I’m making it up as I go along. But there is no right way of doing it. I would, however, advise not to shy away from applying to opportunities that you think you’re suitable for.

    For a long-term career, you will almost definitely require a master’s degree. However, if you’re determined and hardworking, you will get there; to make life easier, it’s best to choose an LL.M. program that can provide you that opportunity. It is important to be mentally prepared to invest a good amount of time and energy in the initial few years; it can be quite a struggle.

    Few of the internships are paid, for example, sometimes the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia offer stipends. However, most of the internships are unpaid but it’s possible to obtain grants for the entire duration or part of the internship.After my grant dried out and before a job came about, I was babysitting and dog-sitting after work as well.

    I also know of some very determined people who have worked an extra job while interning in order to fund their stay.Lastly, it’s helpful to learn French and to be able to use it fluently. More obviously, it’s very important to like the work and to be committed to it, especially working in criminal law. And once you’re there, you should continue working on yourself.

  • Manan Bhatt, Advocate, on studying in Westminster University, his internship experience, and litigation

    Manan Bhatt, Advocate, on studying in Westminster University, his internship experience, and litigation

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    Manan Bhatt graduated from Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in 2010. Thereafter he went for an LL.M. in International Commercial Law to University of Westminster. He practises as a litigator and is registered as an Advocate. He also had the opportunity to judge the 10th Willem C Vis Arbitration Moot.

    In this interview he talks to us about:

    • Days at MSU and differences between MSU and Westminster
    • Comparison between an Indian LL.M. and an LL.M from the UK
    • LL.M. experience, faculty, facilities and overall academics from Westminster University.

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    Hello, you are reading an interview of a person who is experiencing the field of law since 2005 and actively learning the Law since 2010. I did my undergraduate in Law (B.A, LL.B) from Faculty of Law, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. In 2010 I graduated and my name has been entered in the roll of advocate of Bar Council of Gujarat. I started my practice as an Associate with the Chamber of Hriday Buch which has its presence in High Court of Gujarat. After practicing before High Court of Gujarat for more than a year and a half, I went to UK to pursue LL.M in International Commercial Law from University of Westminster. Currently, I am honing my Legal acumen under the guidance of Mr. Asim Pandya.

     

    What motivated you to pursue law?

    One or the other reasons did not allow me to stay in the same school for more than three years. I got good exposure by having education from various different schools situated in different areas of Gujarat. My primary education was from Government Primary School, Kheda. Then my father relocated in Gandhinagar and I got secondary Education from Mount Carmel High School, Gandhinagar. I successfully finished my XII – Commerce from Sheth C. N. Vidhyalaya, Ahmedabad. In this manner, I consider myself very fortunate that I have lived, experienced and seen rustic life as well as City life in a very early age.

    I am the ‘first-generation’ lawyer. My entire family is from the education field. So, it was a difficult task to choose a career path. Though, my mom always inspires me to be a lawyer as she believes I am good at arguing (being a victim of my argumentative skill!). Jokes apart, I always believe to be in a field where I can get opportunity to communicate with people and observe every sphere of the Society.

    In fact, I scored very well in XII – Commerce even I got full marks in Business Math in my Board Examination. So, many of my relatives and well wishers impressed upon me that I should become CA. unfortunately, I did not fall prey to their choice of career and got myself admitted in St. Xavier College, Ahmedabad for F.Y. B.A. (Psychology). In the same year Maharaja SayajiRao University announced five year integrated Law course and I opted in. In a sense, I can’t say that law has been my career choice from the beginning at the best I can say that I have inclination towards law from my early years of the school.

     

    What kind of internships did you do while you were a student?

    From the very first year of our under graduation we required to attend court proceedings as a part of our academic calendar. I did various internships at various different organisations that include Chambers, NGOs, MNCs, Solicitor firms, etc. It helps me to gather first hand information of the legal field. Being a first-generation Lawyer internship is the only source to get to know about the profession. I have read a few autobiographies of Law Legends, but I could have not known the profession and its true color had I not done internships.

    When I was doing my internship with Mr. Majumdar a lawyer and Public Prosecutor in Ahmedabad district Court, I was given an assignment to draft an Appeal for Consumer Matter. I suppose it was a Pro bono brief. One fine day that client came to get the copy of his Appeal. He thanked Mr. Majumdar for his help. Mr. Majumdar called me in his chamber and told the client that he has drafted your Appeal. In a literal sense the client touched my leg and thanked me. This was happened when I was in my second year, I was so embarrassed and at the same time happy to see the happiness engraved in the eyes of that client. From this incident I learnt a lesson in life that the lawyer’s duty is not just give his client a best possible professional advice but, it is also the duty of every lawyer to generate sense of confidence in his client so that he can feel that he is in the safe world.

     

    How did you go about securing internships under people like Mahesh Jethmalani?

    Faculty of Law, M. S. University gave a large number of legal doyens to the profession. In the year 2005, as many as nine Justices were alumnus of Faculty of Law, M. S. University. It also gave many Chief Justices to various High Courts. Even many of its alumni have been elevated to Supreme Court of India. So, the brand name ‘MSU’ plays very important role to secure Internship in good organisations/chambers/firms.

     

    What stark differences did you find between MSU and Westminster University?

    We are the first batch of Baroda School of Legal Studies. Being a first batch of Five Year Course has its own merits and demerits. I believe infrastructure was the biggest hurdle in MSU. Though, we had renowned faculty member. There were many practicing lawyers who came as a visiting faculty and which helped us immensely.

    The stark different between MSU and UoW is infrastructure and library. In UoW, we have library which runs in five floors. Not only books but we also have a facility to borrow laptops from our library. We can access full version of many web portals such as WestLaw, LexisNexis, HeinOnline, Jstor, etc. We do not need to visit the campus just to renew the books which we have borrowed three weeks back. This helped me a lot while I was making my dissertation. In MSU you are constantly in a pressure to find out the sources for your research. Expensive books are not available and if available then only for the reference purpose. This all have very bad impact in your research quality.

     

    What was your motivation behind doing an LL.M. abroad?

    This is the question which I have answered zillion times. Invariably, every person asks this question why not an LLM in India. The answer is simple. I was convinced that I am litigation material and hence, I want to expand my knowledge base that too in a short span as I want to rejoin the profession again. In India at that time LLM courses were of two years. And in UK it does not consume more than 9 months. This is the first reason.

    I am not a ‘DEGREE CENTRIC’ person. I want to expand my knowledge more particularly; I like courses which require intensive research and a more independent approach to working towards DEGREE without the constraints of attending timetabled lectures. In India, we are obsessed with attendance and ‘text book–based–examinations’. This is what I hate the most and hence I decided to pursue LL.M from UK.

     

    How did you choose the universities that you applied to?

    Actually, I had three countries in my mind for pursuing my LL.M i.e., UK, USA and Singapore. Then I contacted many LLM students through LinkedIn that helped me massively to zero down on UK.

    After I decided that I will be going UK, the task became easy and I surf, read, research and talk with many people. Here, I would like to give an unsolicited advice don’t hire any agent for a help to make your research and application. DO NOT believe what they say; use your own mind and do your own research. Contact Admission Office of any of the universities of your choice and ask every single query your mind has cultivated.

    As I said earlier I want to join some Research University. I have applied in SOAS, Kings College, Queen Mary, Durham, Leeds, and Leicester. I received offer letter from Kings College, Queen Mary and Leicester University.

     

    How did LL.M. at University of Westminster happen?

    It all happened very hurriedly. I decided to go for higher education in May 2011 when we have Summer Vacation in the High Court of Gujarat. Though, I have already made research on ‘LLM -IN –UK’. Hence, I knew that I was late in applying. I have applied University of Westminster through UKPASS. I was in touch with the Admission office of UoW. They guided me with my application process.

     

    How is the recruitment for overseas students?

    I personally, do not believe that ‘Foreign – LL.M’ improve my chances of employability. At the same time, recruiters do call you for an interview by acknowledging your foreign degree mentioned in your CV. After all it’s all about Confidence and rapport you share with your interviewer which might help improving your chance to employability. Miss Swethaa Ballakrishnen has written a paper viz. “Homeward Bound: What Does A Global Legal Education Offer The Indian Returnees?” on chances of employability of an LL.M holder. I recommend all the aspirants to read this paper. It will provide crucial insights regarding LL.M and Employability.

     

    How was your experience in Westminster?

    One of the main reasons I chose UoW is its faculty members. John Flood, Reza Banekar, Richard Earle, Joseph Tanega, Adam Samuel, Simon Newman to name a few, are our faculty members. They are reservoir of knowledge, very active and attentive, ready to help and they are the Professor in its true sense and spirit. They respect knowledge and talent. They made me strive for knowledge.

    I could not find a single reason for which I can say that paucity of resources in UoW hampered the quality of my research/overall outcome of my result. We have good library. The central library system in UK allows me to visit any library situated in UK. In fact, I used to visit LSE’s library for research. They have online database. Prompt reply from faculty members is the rule. So, there is nothing for which you can blame UoW for your bad quality of research. They help you in settling up interviews if your research demands interviews of various stake holders of the society. These all facts make you to concentrate on research only. The administrative side has been looked into by UoW. This helped me a lot.

     

    manan-bhatt3

    What do you suggest one should necessarily do while at the Westminster University?

    The Cinema in Regent Street London is the part of UoW.  You are not an alumnus of UoW if you have not experienced the Cinema. “Walking Tour of the Neighbourhood” guided by Adam Samuel should not be missed out. One should join Adam Samuel to know food joints around the neighbourhood and history of the neighbourhood.

     

    What did you specialise in?

    I did my LLM in International Commercial Law. Foundation in International Commercial Law is a mandatory module for the Student of LL.M-ICL. International Commercial Arbitration, Comparative Commercial Arbitration: Law and Practice, Research Theory and Practice, International Commercial Litigation And Corporate Social Responsibility Issues in Business and Law are the other modules which I had opted for and successfully cleared.

    My first love is Litigation rather, Dispute Resolution. Arbitration and litigation is therefore, natural preference. I took Research Theory and Practice because I thought and which also became reality, that it will help me to make my research more effective. The selection of these modules paid well in terms of marks I secured 65 marks in the dissertation. I wrote my Dissertation on “Interim Measures of Protection in International Commercial Arbitration and its Practice in India.” Corporate Social Responsibility module had been chosen just because I find the name of the module somewhat fascinating.

     

    How was the academic schedule?

    Our Course is based on 180 credits. 60 credits for Dissertation and rest of 120 credits are divided in to twenty credits per subject that comes to six subjects in an academic year. I studied five subjects in the first semester of my post graduation. I must admit that the first semester was more hectic than the second one as in the second semester I have only one subject and Dissertation. But, in the last it helped me because in second semester. I got ample time to set my focus on Dissertation. So, the academic work depends on how you choose your modules.

     

    How’s the Indian fraternity over there? Are there many Indian students?

    There are many Indian students and if we count south Asian students then I believe they are more than English students! My course had three Indian Students including me. So, around the university there were many Indian students but in my course we have not that luxury to have 75% Indian Students unlike Queen Mary or Kings’ College.

     

    What about accommodation?

    I have not stayed in a hostel or dorm. I was staying in Private accommodation. Private Accommodation is economical.

     

    Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

    Five years down the line I would be more mature in terms of Law as well as life.

     

    How has your life been after the LL.M. from UoW?

    After LL.M I got the occasion to represent a client in International Arbitration. It was an ICC Arbitration held in Geneva. I was invited to judge/arbitrate Tenth Willem C. Vis (East) International Arbitration Moot held in Hong Kong on 11th – 17th March, 2013. I was invited to judge 3rd ILNU International Moot Court Competition 2014. At present I am working on various domestic Arbitration brief.

     

    What would be your advice to law student interested in going for higher studies?

    Do your research by yourself, Cross check what you read online. Get your priority straight. Define your purpose for higher studies. If the only purpose is to open up more avenues then think twice. If you want to do pure legal work in other Jurisdiction. Better you give Bar Examination i.e. In UK QLTT, LPC or GDL; USA New York Bar Examination etc. It is economical and it will increase your chance of employability.

     

    Lastly, what would be your message for law students?

    Read. Re-read. Analyse. Think. Write. Listen. Pay Attention. Observe. Speak.

  • Mayank Mishra, Founder, TeamResearch, on working in Private Equity and starting up with TeamResearch

    Mayank Mishra, Founder, TeamResearch, on working in Private Equity and starting up with TeamResearch

    Mayank Mishra graduated from HNLU, Raipur in 2009. Long before graduation he had received a PPO from Paras Kuhad & Associates. Later he moved on to Pathak & Associates and at present he is an attorney at Caspian Advisors. Mayank has also started TeamResearch.in, a platform for lawyers and law students to convene and exchange ideas.

    We take this opportunity to ask him about:

    • Studying law and managing internships from HNLU.
    • Working at two major law firms and then moving to Caspian Advisors; and
    • Starting up with and building TeamResearch.in

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    With honours in corporate and intellectual property laws, I graduated from Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur (HNLU) in 2009 and was awarded the Chancellor’s Gold Medal for overall achievement in my law school.

    After graduation, I joined Paras Kuhad & Associates, New Delhi (PKA) and worked for two years with litigation and corporate teams. I shifted to P&A Law Offices, New Delhi (P&A) as a corporate law counsel where I advised domestic and offshore clients for structuring their investments in India. For the last one year I am associated with Caspian Impact Investment Adviser Private Limited, a Private Equity (PE) fund in Hyderabad and handle all its legal matters. Also, I have co-founded www.TeamResearch.in – an online legal research portal meant for lawyers, professionals and law students.

    I have also secured the Post Graduate Certificate in Management (PGCM) in Finance from All Indian Management Association (AIMA), New Delhi and planning to pursue MBA soon.

     

    How did you gravitate towards law?

    I remember those days when almost every other friend of mine was either preparing for JEE or C-PMT. Being a mathematics student, by default I was a part of the rat race and was getting trained to somehow manage a seat in one of the IITs. The journey to IIT was difficult and I always wanted to opt out of it, but without an alternate career it was difficult to convince my parents. What came to my rescue was an article I read in Hindustan Times by Ms. Pervin Malhotra, a career counsellor who then predicted law as a rewarding career and compared it with IITs. I was quite impressed by the article and was happy to discover a career which was as good as an IIT. After a thorough research on National Law Schools, course curriculum and job potential, I opted for law over engineering and got admitted to HNLU.

     

    Tell us about your internships.

    Internships are important part of law school life. All together I have interned for more than 300 days in NGOs, District Courts, High Courts, Supreme Court and leading law firms. Despite begin a member of my batch internship committee, all my internships were secured on my own. Unfortunately, I never had those uncles or bhaiyas who could fetch me an internship over a phone call. For many of my other batch mates, HNLU internship committee played a vital role in getting the internships with NGOs, senior counsels and law firms.

     

    Do you think law schools prepare students adequately for on the job experience?

    During my internship days I always thought that my law school training was sufficient enough to take all possible assignments during my internships. Thanks to that belief and the so called self confidence, I could take various internships and perform to the best of my caliber. However, on hindsight I believe that it’s not about delivering an assignment but the manner in which an assignment is performed matters most in an internship. Hard work which is the bare necessity will be appreciated only if it is coupled with a correct and smart approach. Soft skills including small things like how to write an email or a memo to clients are never made part of a law school curriculum. The projects which we use to submit or the research we did for moots were far away from the real world assignments. After being five years in the profession, I believe that there is a serious disconnect between a law school teachings and what profession actually demands. TeamResearch.in which is my venture is devised to bridge this gap and equip 3rd to 5th year students get a sense of real world experience in their law school. It is my firm belief that one day TeamResearch.in will play a key role in helping students to be better professionals.

     

    Tell us about the life at HNLU.

    In HNLU I participated in various moot court competitions, debates, extempore, Mock-UN and other customary co-curricular activities. Thanks to the well devised academic calendar, I could get more than twenty articles published in national and international journals and simultaneously have sufficient time to be a part of cricket and football teams of my batch. The idea of TeamResearch.in, which is now a reality, has taken its roots in HNLU. On personal front, HNLU got me more than a few good friends and the life partner. Taken all together, life at HNLU was anything but hectic and monotonous.

     

    Do you subscribe to the belief that certain NLUs are more elite than the others?

    With the number of law colleges mushrooming every year, lack of experienced faculty members and the poor education quality I believe students of certain ‘elite’ and established NLU’s have a much easier time in kick-starting their career as compared to law students from other colleges. The best example is to compare a final year student of any one of the new NLUs with a NLSIU student. On an average top 5% of NLSIU grads will either have a scholarship from a foreign university or a trainee contract with magic circle firms. However, even after years of inception, toppers of new NLUs struggle hard to secure a job with tier one law firm. However I have always believed the famous saying “It isn’t where you came from; it’s where you’re going that counts.”

     

    After graduating from HNLU you directly joined Paras Kuhad Associates. How did the appointment take place?

    In the final year of my law school when recession was at its peak I interned at PKA, when I received a pre placement offer. I accepted the offer and opted out of my college recruitment drive. After graduation, I joined the firm and actively worked in both litigation and corporate teams. I was fortunate to personally work with Mr. Kuhad, who is now designated as the Additional Solicitor General of India and learn intricacies of law from him.

     

    mayank-mishra2What prompted the switchover from PKA to Pathak & Associates Law Offices?

    After working for two years at PKA, I wanted to broaden my learning curve and consensually decided to work with a corporate law firm. One of my senior from HNLU who was then working with P&A helped me to get an interview with Mr. Pathak. The interview went well and I joined P&A.

    In terms of clients and work environment, the two firms were quite different. At PKA we had majority of Indian clients, whereas at P&A we use to serve foreign clients. Likewise while working at PKA, I use to make plans for dinner with my friends, but at P&A I could only manage to get last movie show of the day once in a fortnight. In terms of work quality both these firms were fantastic and helped me to grow as a professional and a person I’m today.

     

    You thereafter left P&A to start working at Caspian Adviser. What led to this shift?

    Working for P&A was certainly my first choice but starting a venture of my own was something which I always wanted to do. In the midst of love and quest for passion, I decided to shift to Caspian Adviser – a Hyderabad based private equity fund and took a break from demanding law firm’s life. At Caspian, I’m responsible for management of all legal matters. The scope of work includes liasioning with law firms and key managerial personnel of our investee companies, attending board and committee meetings, making periodical presentations to the board of directors, drafting and negotiations of transaction documents and advising the senior management on structuring of domestic and cross border debt and equity transactions.

     

    mayank-mishra3

    Please tell us about your venture TeamResearch.in.

    TeamResearch.in is India’s 1st professionally managed and most reliable online legal research assistant. With an extensive market analysis and experience gathered, the venture has been designed to effectively assist the lawyers, hard pressed associates in law firms, in-house counsels, professionals and entrepreneurs, in performing the complex legal research on varied areas of law. If I have to summarize in one sentence, TeamResearch.in is designed to redefine the way legal research is being conducted. I endeavour to provide my clients a tailored and most reliable and authentic legal research assistance which they can rely upon.

     

    What is the overall model of TeamResearch.in?

    I personally ensure simplicity and credibility remains the virtue for TeamResearch.in. The mode of TeamResearch.in is as simple as one can comprehend. The entire venture is divided in following 3 steps:

    One – Lawyers, associates in law firms, in-house counsels, professionals or entrepreneurs (Client/ Query Seeker) who wish to avail services of TeamResearch.in are required to visit our website and post their query online. Once a query is received, we send an email to the Client/Query Seeker confirming the delivery schedule and our bank account details for processing the payment.

    Two – The query is sent to at least two meritorious researchers who are registered with TeamResearch.in and one qualified lawyer of TeamResearch.in.

    Three – All responses are then compiled, reviewed, crosschecked and authenticated by an independent experienced lawyer. Thereafter, a final research note is prepared and delivered to the Client/Query Seeker in a time bound manner. For clarifications and questions, we also arrange on call support services.

    For further details, please refer to http://teamresearch.in/How-it-Works.htm

     

    How will you ensure the quality of research by students?

    To maintain quality of research note, all queries are independently researched upon by at least one qualified and experienced lawyer of TeamResearch.in. Additionally, TeamResearch.in closely monitors and reviews every research note which it sends out to the Client/ Query Seeker.

     

    Who do you think will take services of TeamResearch.in?

    The services of TeamResearch.in will be availed by all those individual lawyers who wish to follow their passion, enjoy weekend getaways, spend ‘that’ extra hour with family and friends and more importantly have dearth of capable juniors and resources to conduct exhaustive research on their own. Additionally, small to mid-sized law firms and in house counsels who look forward for reducing their operational cost, will take the services of TeamResearch.in. We also expect budding entrepreneurs and start-ups with financial constrain to take services of TeamResearch.in.

     

    Apart from your clients, how do you think student fraternity will be benefited by TeamResearch.in?

    Students who are and will be associated with TeamResearch.in are trained to handle work pressure and equip themselves with research skills. Further, TeamResearch.in gives a flavour of gaining real world work experience which a student just can’t get in his/her classroom. Furthermore, TeamResearch.in financially rewards its researchers and pays them for every successful research assignment.

     

    Where did you get the inspiration for this venture?

    The idea of TeamResearch.in developed its roots during my law school life, where I discussed the idea with my roommate and the co-founder of TeamResearch.in Mr. M. Srinivas. As a student, I have got various opportunities to intern with a broad range of organizations and leading law firms. During my internships I was expected to extract information, research for relevant case laws and process them into a fine deliverable, which formed the basis for answering queries to structuring transactions and arguments in court rooms. I realised the necessity of having a capable and well groomed intern throughout the year and not just during the semester breaks of law schools. As the academic curriculum of most law schools demand high classroom attendance, I visualized making an intern available all round the year on a virtual platform.

     

    Why will you succeed where so many others have not made the cut?

    (It seems that other competitors have tried this business model earlier and have not been much successful in evolving a revenue stream. Grayscale and Lexbiosis come to our mind.)

    It would not be wise to comment on success or failure of Grayscale and Lexbiosis but certainly the substratum of TeamResearch.in is completely different than its predecessors. Unlike a typical undergrad initiative, TeamResearch.in is an organization which is lead by professionals and meant for professionals. Our core team comprises of qualified lawyers who are well versed with the requirements of legal fraternity. The reason for our success is the effective pricing of our services and credibility of the research assistance.

     

    How are you financing the business?

    The initial funding came from my personal savings and a portion from Srinivas. With the fantastic pace TeamResearch.in is growing, I believe it should reach its break-even point very soon. After reaching the break-even point, we will be looking for an angel investment to take our start-up to a whole new level. Meanwhile, I wish to recruit a few lawyers in order to cope up with the growing spree of TeamResearch.in.

     

    You are a corporate professional and also have started-up at the same time. How do you manage these two different involvements?

    I firmly believe that if one deploys his time wisely, managing a venture along with routine professional life is not difficult. Yes, at times I feel pushed but my team is always available for rescue.

     

    If I want to start up on my own someday, what would be an ideal time in my career to take such a risk?

    As Walt Disney said “The way to get started is to quit talking and start doing.” If the idea is good and one can financially sustain the venture for at least 24 months, any time is a good time. Do remember it’s always good to try than to cry.

     

    Who all are associated with TeamResearch?

    Apart from Srinivas and my wife Ruchi who is also a lawyer and a member of TeamResearch, we have retained a part-time IT engineer for managing the TeamResearch.in web portal. Presently, we have a database of approximately one-hundred researchers from almost all NLUs and law colleges, an advisory group comprising of fifteen associates/senior associates from leading law firms and one practicing company secretary to handle secretarial compliance. In past, we have also taken services of several experienced lawyers for drafting of petitions and corporate agreements.

     

    What qualities or factors should one look at while selecting a co-founder?

    I believe that there is no definite mantra. It’s not you but the idea which identifies a co-founder on its own. Compatibility and trust are the two important factors which one must look while selecting a co-founder. I am fortunate to have Srinivas as a co-founder of TeamResearch.in.

     

    Tell us about the biggest challenge you faced while starting up and how you solved them.

    The biggest challenge which I faced was to come out of my comfort zone and start TeamResearch.in. To overcome the myth that one cannot start a venture while working as a legal professional was difficult to crack. It took me 4 years to make TeamResearch.in a reality. Thanks to Srinivas and Ruchi for the constant support which has helped me to get TeamResearch.in where it stands today.

     

    Where do you see yourself five years down the line?

    Five years is a very long period. I see TeamResearch.in as a consultancy firm in a few years which will not only help lawyers across the country to identify correct legal position or a case law but also assist fresh graduates from law schools to understand the profession better. I want TeamResearch.in to groom students in their law school life and make them marketable for the real legal world. Just like, moots, publications and courses, I want TeamResearch.in to be a de facto part of every law student’s life.

    Also, we are going to add new services which include drafting of agreements, petitions, preparation of study materials for workshops and conferences and providing research assistance to students who are pursuing higher studies.

     

     

  • Ankit Yadav, LL.M candidate, NYU, on researching with legal luminaries and drafting the perfect memorial

    Ankit Yadav, LL.M candidate, NYU, on researching with legal luminaries and drafting the perfect memorial

    Ankit Yadav is one of the illustrious graduates of 2012 batch from RMLNLU. He subsequently went on to pursue his Masters NYU School of Law. After graduation he went for an LL.M. to New York University. During his tenure as an LL.M. candidate at NYU he worked with many legal luminaries and also had the opportunity to judge in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot.

    During this interview we speak to him about:

    • LL.M experience at New York University
    • Researching for Prof. Jose E. Alvarez and Prof. Eda Katharine Tinto
    • Perspective of a judge of Philip C. Jessup on what is an awesome memorial

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to them?

    I am still a student of law, who is endeavouring to make a mark in this field.

     

    Tell us something about your life before college.

    I am a first generation lawyer. I did my schooling in the science background which, I still believe, helps me in having an objective approach towards various situations.

     

    How did you gravitate towards legal studies?

    I would not go on to the extent of saying that I always dreamt of being a lawyer. But yes, it always appeared to me as a fascinating profession, especially because most great leaders across the globe are/were lawyers. I believe that the study of law helps one relate better to the society and its needs.

     

    How did you go about securing internships at places like top tier firms?

    My idea of doing internships was to get a sense of different areas and work setups in this field (law firms, lawyers’ chambers, governmental and non- governmental organisations), which later allowed me to make an informed career choice.

    Most law students have an apprehension that one can’t get a good internship without having good contacts or knowing someone who can recommend you. Well honestly, I also thought so till the time I was proved wrong. Having a good network of relevant people is always a plus point in this profession.

    However, that does not mean that you cannot secure a good internship without the same.In my opinion, the key to securing a good internship is to apply well in advance and have a cover letter that allows the employer to judge your skills within a period of 30-40 seconds. Most employers get numerous applications every day. Therefore, the cover letter and resume of an applicant should be very concise and well drafted.

    Every internship that I did, not only helped me in honing my skills but also allowed me to decide what kind of lawyer I want to be. Internships teach us time management, team work, work ethics and give us a chance to put our classroom knowledge into practice. In short, internships give law students an insight into the real practice of law. Therefore, I would strongly recommend that law students should take all their internships very seriously.

     

    What was your motivation behind pursuing LL.M.?

    Everyone in my family is a post-graduate and I did not want to be the least literate one. I always wanted to get the knowledge, skills, academic resources and exposure that a world class university offers. Therefore, it was always there at the topmost position of my priority list. The only requirement was to get through one of the leading institutions of the world, which I was fortunate enough to get.

     

    ankit-yadav1How should one go about choosing a university?

    The hard task is for the law students to decide what area of law they want to specialize in. Once that is done, the process becomes relatively easier. Law schools ranking are available online and law students are good at doing online research. One needs to find the best uinversities in their chosen area of specialization. Location of the law school also plays an important role in determining what kind of exposure it would be able to offer to a prospective student. Therefore, a law student should take this into consideration before choosing a university.

     

    Please tell our readers about the application procedure and other requirements for an LL.M. at NYU.

    The application procedure for an LL.M at NYU is almost the same as other Universities of US and UK. All the applicants are required to submit a statement of purpose, writing samples and letters of recommendation along with the application form. All the information is available on the official website of NYU.

     

    Does NYU provide students with scholarships?

    Yes, like most leading universities, NYU also offers merit-based scholarships to prospective students. Also, apart from the scholarships offered by law schools, a number of charitable organisations offer merit-based scholarships to students who have secured or are hopeful of securing admissions in well recognized law schools abroad.

     

    Was there a lot of academic work?

    Yes, the work load becomes overwhelming at the beginning, but one gets used to the system after a while. Reading or writing assignments are allotted for every class and one has to go prepared to be able to understand the discussions properly.

     

    Please tell us about your experience working with Prof. Jose E. Alvarez and also Prof. Eda Katharine Tinto as Research Assistant.

    The work I did during my research assistantships was very enriching not just because of its academic value but also because of the amount of experience and knowledge I gained while working with the people who are widely recognized for their contribution to the American and international society.

     

    How has the experience of being Judge at the international rounds of Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition been?

    It was truly a wonderful experience, being at the other side of the podium at the most prestigious moot court competition of the world, sharing the dais with and getting to interact with some of the well known faces of international law and just being a part of the entire process.

    The primary qualities that every judge looks for is a strong understanding of the basic concepts of international law and a proper appreciation of the facts provided in the Compromis. Once these are present, then eloquence, demeanour, poise, innovative arguments and persuasive skills are the qualities that bring out the difference between a winning team and the rest.

     

    If I want to write an awesome memo, what are the relevant skills and how should I go about learning them?

    An awesome memo would be the culmination of an awesome research into an awesomely drafted document. When I grade a memorial, I look for good amount of research and its proper application in the facts provided. Every word that is mentioned in a Compromis/problem statement should be presumed to be relevant while drafting a memorial.

    The language used should be formal and simple and must be as concise as possible. These are the skills that can only be acquired with practice. Therefore, it is imperative to have a first draft prepared well before the submission deadline and then keep refining it.

    In my opinion, MUNs, debates and moot courts are a great way of developing advocacy skills (research, drafting and oratory skills among other things). Unlike regular academic coursework, these activities involve the thrill of getting immediate results for all the labour you put in them. They are also a great way of boosting up the confidence of a law student and to learn something which may not be  a part of your academic coursework.

     

    Was your typical workday during your internships in India any different from your workday abroad?

    Not very different. Nowadays, most employers in India have also become more respectful towards their employees. They have started recognizing a proper work-life balance is necessary for employees to be able to perform up to their potential. I am hopeful that it will keep getting better from here on.

     

    What are your future plans?

    My future plans are to be a successful litigator. In the next five years, I want to be a well recognized name in this field.

     

    Lastly, what would be your message to a law student who wants to excel as a lawyer?

    Believe in yourself! If you are determined to be successful, no one can stop you. All you need is to stay focused and motivated. The legal profession needs to transform to keep pace with the changing society and our generation will bring about that change.

    “I have, let’s say, sixty years to live. Most of that time will be spent working. I’ve chosen the work I want to do. If I find no joy in it, then I’m only condemning myself to sixty years of torture. And I can find the joy only if I do my work in the best way possible to me. But the best is a matter of standards—and I set my own standards. I inherit nothing. I stand at the end of no tradition. I may, perhaps, stand at the beginning of one.”

    – Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead.