Super Lawyer

Category: Higher Studies

  • Rukmini Das, Masters candidate, international dispute settlement, on studying in Switzerland, demanding curricula, and plans after masters

    Rukmini Das, Masters candidate, international dispute settlement, on studying in Switzerland, demanding curricula, and plans after masters

    rukmini-das2Rukmini Das graduated from NUJS, Kolkata, in 2011. Following that, she worked with PXV Law Partners as an associate for three months, before deciding to pursue her masters.  She is currently pursuing a masters in international dispute settlement, a degree which is jointly offered by the Geneva University Law School and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva.

    In this interview we speak to her about:

    • Studying in Switzerland as opposed to more conventional destinations abroad
    • Application procedure, scholarships and her curriculum
    • Her experience studying in Switzerland and plans thereafter

    What was your motivation behind doing LL.M.? 

    At the graduation level, we only touched upon all the main branches of law, learning only a little more when we took optional subjects. I decided during  my 5th year that I would pursue an LL.M., but was not yet sure when or where. However, following the herd mentality, I started working in a corporate law firm right after graduation. Halfway through the year, although I liked the work atmosphere, loved my colleagues and superiors, I realized that I cannot see myself doing this year after year. This was not my area of interest! Then I started applying for LL.M.

    How did you choose the university/ college? Where else did you apply? How should one go about choosing an university?

    I came across the course I am studying now, on the website of the International Law Students Association (ILSA), while preparing for the Jessup Moot in 5th year (ILSA organizes Jessup). This is not a particular university/college, it is a programme organized jointly by the Geneva University Law School and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva. I want to stress that I selected the course, not the school. This is very important for anyone deciding on an LL.M. [for example, Harvard is famous for its business law, and maybe some other kinds of law, but may not be the best for all branches of law. Don’t go to Harvard for the sake of Harvard, as long as your other option is among the better ones].
    The main reason for zeroing in on the course that I did? The faculty! Recruitment chances are also a consideration.
    I had also applied to Queen Mary’s arbitration programme (chose not to take it up) and Cambridge University (did not get a call).

    What are you studying now? Why did you decide to take this particular subject? Any interesting details about the course worth sharing?

    I am studying Masters in International Dispute Settlement (MIDS). I selected this for the course structure and content. It is one of a kind in the world (www.mids.ch). There are so many interesting things, I don’t know where to begin! Though the course focuses on private and public international dispute settlement (why I selected it in the first place), there are opportunities to take optional courses from the regular courses offered at the graduate institute and Geneva university law school, which means I can also take courses in substantive law subjects. There are also many intensive courses offered at MIDS, over two to three days, by the best in the profession. Tutorials are also an integral part of the curriculum, not to forget conferences, site visits to international institutions, etc. I could go on and on.

    How is your experience so far? Tell us about the faculty and facilities. Anything memorable that is stuck in your mind?

    The Course directors (professors of our main courses on dispute settlement), the staff all make us feel like part of a family, with regular cocktail events which give us an opportunity to talk about stuff outside class. The experience has been mind blowing! Everything is memorable. Especially memorable were the public international law tutorials because of our Tutor, who is now a professor at Geneva University, and I feel really bad for future MIDS students, who will not have the opportunity to be taught by him.
    Facilities are great, giving us access to two libraries (Geneva Uni and Graduate Institute) as well as facilities coming with them.

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

    My class has only 33 students, with one other Indian. There have been two Indians in every year of the programme, which commenced in 2008. The graduate institute has many Indian students, in economics, social sciences, development studies. I am not sure of Geneva University.

    rukmini-das3How is the recruitment/ placement situation for overseas students?

    All students are overseas in my class – not a single Swiss citizen. We get all the help possible from the career services of the graduate institute. We keep getting information on internship and job openings, via email. Career services is always there to help us with any questions we may have.

    How is the academic schedule? Is there a lot of academic work?

    Because of the immense flexibility in courses we can choose, in terms of optionals and intensives, and the conferences and institution visits we go for, hardly anybody has the same schedule as another. Schedules also vary from week to week. There is a LOT to read, a LOT. One week (the worst), we had to read about a 1000 pages. Except for that week, readings are in the vicinity of 500 pages, and are manageable if you manage your time well. Moreover, if you like the reading material, which you should, since you selected the courses, time should just fly. Classes are not just one-way lectures with note-taking, they are full of interesting discussions, made even more exciting with the presence of students from around 25 countries and teachers of such vast experience.

    What about accommodation?

    Depends on how much money you have. Of course, Geneva is among the most expensive cities in the world. Taking that into consideration, accommodation offered by MIDS administration is pretty good. Kitchens are provided, there is no concept of a “mess”. Cooking is ideal anyway – saves a lot of money!

    Tell us about your classmates – is there a predominantly international crowd? What is the general age group of students?

    I don’t have a single Swiss classmate. The students largely come from Europe, few from North and South America, and a decent number from Asia. I don’t have any classmates from Africa, but that is probably a coincidence this year. I have met quite a few at the Graduate Institute, part of other courses. Ages of my classmates ranges from 23 to 32 years. Many have come for their second LL.M., some have come here in the middle of their Ph.D.

    Do you get time for any extra-curricular activities?

    No. Partly because there’s too much to read, partly because a lot of the Geneva University activities requires a good knowledge of French!

    How does one go about scholarships? Does the institute offer any scholarship?

    MIDS offers a few scholarships every year (from an external sponsor). As far as I understand, they are merit-cum-need based. There are also scholarships offered by the Swiss government for Indian students, but the deadline generally expires before the MIDS offer letter arrives.

    What are your future plans? Going forward, how do you expect this experience to influence your career?

    My future plans are related to public international law. No further comments on that! Too early to say anything concrete. The MIDS is perfect for the faculty there, the opportunities one gets for contact-building, the variety of job opportunities in a single city! I strongly recommend it.

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  • Deepak Raju, Masters in Law, Cambridge University, on the curriculum, scholarships and plans thereafter

    Deepak Raju, Masters in Law, Cambridge University, on the curriculum, scholarships and plans thereafter

    Deepak Raju graduated from WBNUJS, Kolkata in 2011. During his time in NUJS, Deepak has won the University Gold Medals in Administrative Law, Property Law and Corporate Law. He went on to work with Amarchand & Mangaldas for a period of ten months where he gained experience in the financial regulatory practice of the firm. Subsequently he was engaged with Clarus Associates for a period of five months where he worked on various aspects of international law including international trade law, international investment law, international environmental law, etc.

    In this interview we speak to him about:

    • Bagging the Shared Commonwealth Scholarship to pursue his masters in Cambridge
    • His curriculum in Cambridge and the university’s academic diversity
    • Deciding on his area of specialization

     

    Tell us about your experience at Cambridge. How would you say is it different from an Indian university?

    The experience has been wonderful for many reasons. First of all, having done my undergraduate education from NUJS, this is my first brush with a university in the traditional sense, which offers a variety of disciplines. One day I find myself listening to an art historian talk about the evolution of the printing press and the next day, it is a cancer researcher trying to make me understand what he is doing. The collegiate system in Cambridge allows students and researchers from different disciplines and backgrounds to exchange ideas and engage in the craziest discussions cutting across a large variety of topics.

    The faculty of law is amazing. The highlight of the experience is Professor James Crawford who was the International Law Commission’s Special Rapporteur on State Responsibility and an agent before the ICJ in a large number of cases. He has also been nominated by Australia for a position as a judge in the ICJ commencing in 2014. He teaches two of my subjects and listening to his background stories and in depth analysis of ICJ cases is a highly enriching experience. Every Friday, the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law hosts a lunchtime lecture on international law. Apart from the free sandwiches (if you ever attend one, go for the prawn sandwiches), the lectures feature some of the greatest names in international law – Sir Elihu Lauterpacht, Professor Malcolm Shaw, Professor Marcelo Kohen, etc. Most professors in the faculty are the leading authorities in their disciplines and some are great practitioners too.

    In addition to all this, Cambridge is a beautiful town that looks like a scene from Harry Potter. There are ancient castles and a vibrant young crowd everywhere. As I type this, I am sitting on Charles Darwin’s ancestral property (Darwin College), and the beautiful river Cam flows outside my window. Newton’s apple tree is rumoured to be in the botanical garden. Oliver Cromwell’s head is supposed to be buried in one of the colleges. King’s college boasts of 31 Nobel prizes and Darwin (my college) of 31 single malts… So Cambridge is not all about studies, it is a lot of fun.

    To top it all, I saw Stephen Hawking!

     

    You went to Cambridge on a scholarship. Can you tell our readers about available student aids and the procedure it entails?

    The major scholarships that Indian students coming to Cambridge can apply for are those offered by the Cambridge Commonwealth and Overseas Trusts and the Cambridge Gates Scholarship. The applications for these scholarships are made through the same online application system as the one for admission. Each scholarship has a different set of requirements and some have an earlier deadline for application. Hence, it is very important to check the details relating to each scholarship. There are also some smaller bursaries and awards that various colleges in Cambridge offer.

    In addition to these scholarships offered by Cambridge there are some India specific scholarships that applicants to Cambridge are eligible for. These include Inlaks and Chevening. The Indian government also gets to nominate a few students to the British government for the Commonwealth Scholarship. This process is administered by the Ministry of HRD and a notification comes out on the ministry website. But I have some reservations about the selection process for this nomination.

     

    Students can often be indecisive about the courses they want to take for their masters. How did you make this decision?

    An LL.M. is a very challenging intellectual exercise. It is also an expensive affair unless one has a full scholarship or a very rich parent. Given this, I would personally not embark on the journey unless I knew what areas I was interested in. I have always been interested in public international law. So, the choice of subjects was not difficult for me.

    Once one has a broad understanding as to what area(s) of law (s)/he wants to pursue, the selection of specific courses can be done once the classes start. Cambridge holds introductory talks on all the subjects and allows students to attend classes in any number of subjects they want before they finalise the list of subjects.

     

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    What are your future plans after finishing your LL.M.?

    I am planning to consult Didi’s (Mamata Banerjee) astrologer who has reportedly been appointed to the executive committee of my alma mater (WBNUJS, Kolkata). On a serious note, I am not yet sure about what I will do immediately after the LL.M. The long term goal is a career that combines the practice of international law with academic research and teaching.

     

    What would be your advice for the students planning to pursue higher studies?

    There is no ‘one size fits all’ way to get into a reputed university or get a scholarship. At the LL.M. program here, we have an ex-cop, at least two ex-bartenders and a 50 something old ex senior associate at a reputed international law firm. They look for a diverse set of interesting and promising people. I feel the most important part of the application process is your personal essays where you describe why you want to do a specific program. It is important to highlight your interest/experience in your selected field and how the LL.M. will contribute to your future plans. The scholarships may also need you to demonstrate some social commitment. Write these essays well ahead of the deadline and have them reviewed by a few friends with excellent drafting skills.

    As I mentioned earlier, an LL.M. is a challenging and expensive affair. So, do not apply unless you are ready for it. I would personally discourage those who take a loan for an LL.M. since the job markets are bleak and the amounts involved are large.