Super Lawyer

Tag: UCL

  • “Start with substance before specialisation. If you master the fundamentals, then transferring those learnings and skills to a specialisation such as international arbitration becomes easy.” – Satjit Singh Chhabra, Senior Associate at Khaitan & Co.

    “Start with substance before specialisation. If you master the fundamentals, then transferring those learnings and skills to a specialisation such as international arbitration becomes easy.” – Satjit Singh Chhabra, Senior Associate at Khaitan & Co.

    This interview has been published by Anshi Mudgal and The SuperLawyer Team

    Having gained intensive experience and developed commendable expertise in dispute resolution, what initially inspired you to pursue law as a career? Could you share some insights from your law school journey that helped shape your path?

    When I was deciding what career to pursue, I knew that I wanted to do something that was stimulating and intellectually challenging – and law fit the bill perfectly. Growing up, my dinner table conversations often revolved around legal issues, thanks to my father being a lawyer himself. So early on, I got front-row tickets to watch him in action which undoubtedly influenced my decision to pursue law. His anecdotes and insights into the legal world were like  fascinating stories that gradually drew me into the profession.

    Law school was a whirlwind of case studies, moot court competitions, and sleepless nights. The mentorship I received was instrumental in shaping my career path. Academic learning apart, what helped me immensely was the chance to get an insight into all areas of law, whether through internships or moots, that finally helped me decide my calling. Participating in moot court competitions gave a taste of the adversarial nature of legal practice, while internships provided practical insights into the real-world workings of the legal profession. While you leave law school one day, it is the friends you make and the professors you meet along the way that stay, who I continue to learn from and consult from time to time.  

    Reflecting on my journey, I realize that every step—from those dinner table conversations to the academic pursuits—played a crucial role in my development as a lawyer. 

    What motivated you to pursue a Master’s in International Commercial Law at University College London? How do you believe your experience at UCL differed from other institutions offering similar programs, and in what ways has it broadened your perspective and enhanced your practice?

    I chose UCL for my Master’s because of a few things that really stood out to me. The biggest draw was the unique composition of their faculty. Unlike many institutions where professors are primarily theoretical scholars, UCL’s program was taught by professors who were actively practicing. This made a huge difference because everything we learned was based on real cases and situations they were dealing with, not just textbook theory. The insights I gained were immediately relevant to the challenges I would face in practice, giving me a significant advantage. 

    What I also loved about UCL was the flexibility to pick and choose courses that interested me. As someone just starting out, I was not sure exactly which area of law I wanted to focus on, so I took courses in arbitration, commercial law, and corporate finance. That mix turned out to be perfect—today, when I am reviewing financial documents for clients, I am able to quickly comprehend what I am looking at because of that corporate finance background. It helped me figure out that arbitration and commercial law were really my thing, and those subjects form the core of my practice today.

    The alumni network has been incredibly helpful too. UCL has a really strong presence in India and internationally, and I have found that UCL alumni are genuinely willing to help each other out. When I get a case that involves foreign law—I often reach out to UCL graduates practicing in those countries for advice. Plus, being in London was amazing because it’s basically the hub of international arbitration. I could attend industry events, see how things actually work, and meet people in the field while I was still studying. Those connections and that exposure to the real arbitration world have been invaluable.

    Looking back after six years of practice, choosing UCL was definitely one of my best decisions. The experience taught me to think beyond just Indian law and spot international issues that other lawyers might miss. I believe that my clients benefit from this broader perspective, especially when their businesses have cross-border elements. 

    You’ve worked alongside several prominent lawyers and leading law firms early in your career. Could you share some of the most formative or memorable experiences during that time, and how they laid the foundation for your current practice?

    I was incredibly fortunate to work with some of the most respected names in Indian law early in my career, and honestly, those experiences shaped everything about how I approach the profession today. Getting a chance to observe and work with stalwarts like Mr Sibal and Mr Jethmalani was inspiring beyond words. Each day was genuinely exciting—I don’t think there was a single day I came home without being amazed by how productive and intense their work was. Watching them up close taught me that there’s absolutely no replacement for hard work in this field, and the level of discipline it requires is something you can only truly appreciate when you see it in action.

    What struck me most was their work ethic and attention to detail. These weren’t just naturally gifted lawyers coasting on their reputation—they were putting in the hours, preparing meticulously, and constantly pushing themselves. That observation really drove home the point that success in law is not just about being smart or having good arguments; it’s about the relentless effort you put in behind the scenes. That lesson has stayed with me throughout my career, and I try to bring that same level of commitment to every case I handle.

    After that experience, I moved to a premier law firm in India, and that’s where I really learned the art of legal writing. My mentors there were incredibly particular about quality drafting—they taught me how to think through legal arguments systematically and then put them on paper in a way that was clear and compelling. I’ll be honest, at the time, the constant revisions and re-revisions of drafts often felt unnecessary and frankly exhausting and I remember thinking some of the feedback was nitpicking − but looking back now, I can see what a huge difference that process made in developing my drafting skills – a crucial skill as a lawyer.

    You’ve handled high-stakes arbitrations across diverse industries such as energy, chemicals, aviation, and mining. When it comes specifically to the energy sector, what are some unique legal or regulatory challenges you’ve encountered?

    The energy sector is one of the most challenging areas I work in because energy arbitrations can get incredibly technical and complex. As lawyers, we can’t just rely on legal knowledge—we really need to understand the commercial perspective, and of course, the science behind these projects to grasp the facts properly and apply the law correctly. I’ve spent hours trying to understand power generation technologies, transmission systems, and renewable energy processes because without that foundation, you’re essentially preparing your case in the dark.

    Another unique challenge is how many different laws and regulations intersect in energy disputes. You’re dealing with contract law, environmental regulations, power sector reforms, electricity acts, renewable energy policies, and often state-specific regulations all at once. The research becomes much more extensive because each regulatory framework can significantly impact your case strategy. What makes this even more complex is that the energy sector is extremely important for the government given their emission targets and climate goals, which means they’re constantly revising regulations and policies. This dynamic regulatory environment can be challenging, but it’s extremely important to stay abreast of these developments to properly represent your clients. When foreign clients are involved, you’re also navigating FDI regulations and FEMA compliance, which adds another layer of complexity.

    Energy arbitrations are also extremely document-heavy, with tons of technical documentation that can be overwhelming. What’s crucial is having strong communication with clients who can distil these technical points into simpler terms that we as lawyers can then convey effectively to a tribunal. 

    Being qualified to practice law in both India and the UK is a notable accomplishment. How has your dual qualification influenced your strategy and perspective in handling cross-border disputes?

    Having dual qualification in both India and the UK has been really helpful in my practice, especially when dealing with cross-border disputes. The biggest advantage is when I’m working on arbitrations that involve English law—I can understand English law concepts much more easily because of my UK qualification rather than having to rely entirely on expert opinions or academic research.

    When you’re dealing with English law governed contracts or English legal principles in international arbitrations, having that background makes a huge difference. I can read English case law and understand the nuances in a way that feels natural, rather than struggling to interpret concepts from an outside perspective. This helps me structure arguments better and anticipate how English law points might be argued by the other side.

    The dual qualification also helps when I’m coordinating with English solicitors or barristers on cases. There’s a common understanding of how things work, which makes collaboration smoother. I can communicate more effectively because I understand their legal framework and approach, and they don’t have to spend time explaining basic English law concepts to me.

    Overall, it’s made me more confident in handling international disputes where English law elements come up, which happens quite frequently in commercial arbitrations. Instead of feeling like I’m working in unfamiliar territory, I can approach these cases with the same comfort level I’d have with Indian law matters.

    Among the many significant matters you’ve handled, which case stands out as the most complex or strategically demanding, and how did you approach resolving it? 

    While confidentiality prevents me from discussing specific details – generally speaking, arbitration disputes can get quite complex when there are parallel proceedings in multiple jurisdictions. Each proceeding can have an impact on the other, with laws differing in each jurisdiction, and overall, often can be too much to track at the same time – that can be quite challenging. 

    I recently worked on an arbitration, followed by set aside proceedings before Singapore Courts and enforcement proceeding in the US, which was very interesting and complex. Earlier last year, I successfully represented a major oil and gas giant against its downstream purchaser relating to non-supply of gas – that led to a contentious Section 9 before the Delhi High Court. Then, some of the arbitrations I am working on are a bit technical, and they can be quite demanding but equally interesting.

    The way I approach these disputes is to adopt a methodical approach and distil complex issues into simple fragments, making it easier to understand. And then, I align the strategy overall to have a unified approach. There is no substitute to hard work – and the more time I spend on understanding the matter, and going through the material – the easier it becomes to strategize and form arguments. 

    What guidance would you offer to young lawyers aspiring to build a practice in international arbitration? What resources would you recommend to them to stay updated on the latest legal developments?

    Start with substance before specialisation. If you master the fundamentals, then transferring those learnings and skills to a specialisation such as international arbitration becomes easy. The glamour of international arbitration means nothing without a rock-solid foundation. My strategy has been simple, do all kinds of work that come your way early on – each experience teaches you something that will be useful later. 

    For staying current, I would suggest reading arbitration blogs, such as Global Arbitration Review and Kluwer International Law – they are goldmines for understanding trends and recent decisions. Attend webinars and events hosted by organisations like Young ITA, SIAC, ICC etc. 

    As an arbitration lawyer one needs to develop commercial awareness – understand your clients’ businesses. In my experience, the best arbitration lawyers are not just great with legal knowledge, they are strategic advisors who understand how legal outcomes can affect business objectives. To achieve this, read the newspaper. Every morning, read the newspaper, specifically the financial section. If you prefer digital means, get a subscription like Magzter that will get you access to most publications. 

    Looking ahead, how do you foresee the field of international arbitration evolving over the next five years, particularly in the context of emerging technologies like AI and shifting geopolitical dynamics?

    According to me, the next five years will likely see a significant evolution. AI will revolutionise document review and legal research but, in my view, will not replace the strategic thinking that disputes require. We are already seeing firms adopt AI models which has been a blessing for combing through volumes of data. While the existing AI models offer better support to corporate work, I am confident that models that are better suited for disputes will also come soon. I am also hopeful for more technological integration in arbitration – we have already seen virtual hearings being normalised – a trend that is making arbitration more accessible. The adoption of such dispute resolution platforms will make arbitration more accessible, allowing parties to resolve disputes remotely and reducing costs associated with travel. Additionally, the integration of robust cybersecurity measures and compliance with global data protection standards will become paramount as reliance on digital technologies increases. Arbitration rules and procedures will keep on evolving to accommodate these changes, with updated guidelines for digital evidence and flexible procedural frameworks.

    The geopolitical shift is where the things get interesting. Geopolitical tensions, like the Russia-Ukraine conflict and shifting alliances, are fueling a rise in disputes—especially in energy, infrastructure, and sectors affected by sanctions. Now with tensions increasing in Middle East as well, it is possible that we see an increase in disputes in that area as well. With these developments,  the enforcement of arbitral awards may face new challenges as geopolitical tensions affect cooperation between jurisdictions. Specifically, investment arbitration will be impacted by changes in international trade agreements and policies. 

    With such a demanding professional life, how do you manage to maintain a work-life balance?

    The absolute game changer for me has been to have a well organised calendar and better planning. I block out time for everything – client calls, research etc. That helps me plan my day better and find time for things except just work. Start your day with a to-do list and plan your day accordingly.  Better planning = better control over your day. 

    Try your best to set realistic timelines with your seniors and your clients about response times – a concept that might seem shocking at first, but more often than not, if you make a reasonable request to your client / senior, they will likely understand.  

    To sustain this ‘life’, it’s important to find pockets of sanity throughout the day. Maybe it is a proper lunch, a quick walk, a session of pickleball or just an episode of ‘Friends’. Sooner or later, everyone realises that physical and mental health directly impacts your ability to serve your clients well, so always remember to take care of yourself. 

    Of course, the nature of the profession is that you will pulling all-nighters or eat out of a cardboard box some days, or perhaps weeks. But the idea is to try and disconnect when the work becomes manageable and then come back rested and focussed.   

    What keeps you motivated, and is there a personal philosophy or motto that has guided you through your journey?

    As cheesy as it might sound, I genuinely love what I do. Every dispute that I work on is like an intellectual challenge that teaches me something I didn’t already know. One week I am trying to figure out how electrical plants work and then the next I am knee deep in a mining dispute. The thrill of being intellectually tested in completely different ways keeps me on my toes – which is very exciting.

    What really drives me is ambition and the hunger to get better. The goal is to keep improving at what I do and constantly grow. Each case is an opportunity to push myself further than the last one, to understand something new, to develop a skill I didn’t have before. There’s something incredibly satisfying about looking back at cases from a year ago and realising how far ahead I have come and how my approach has improved. I am always trying to level up. 

    Get in touch with Satjit Singh Chhabra –

  • Gaurav Wahie, Associate Partner, Clasis Law, on being Partner, and Corporate Law

    Gaurav Wahie, Associate Partner, Clasis Law, on being Partner, and Corporate Law

    Gaurav Wahie graduated from National Law Institute University, Bhopal, in 2005. He then went on to pursue his Masters from University College London, specialising in International Finance. After successful stints with Fox & Mandal, Linklaters, Talwar Thakore & Associates, DSK Legal, Ashurst, and Indian Law Partners, he is currently Associate Partner at Clasis Law, India. Gaurav is also a dual qualified lawyer, enrolled as an advocate in India and registered as a non-practicing solicitor in England & Wales.

    In this interview we speak to him about:

    • His time at NLIU
    • Pursuing a Master’s degree in London
    • His experience in Corporate Law

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    I am an Associate Partner in the corporate team of Clasis Law, Delhi office. My primary area of focus is acquisitions and joint ventures (domestic and cross border).

     

    Can you briefly describe your experience as a law student at a prestigious institution like NLIU, Bhopal?

    I would describe my time at NLIU as exciting. However, given that I was part of the third batch and there was hardly any infrastructure, we did face some challenges.  Also, given that it was also my first time away from home, so that was a bit of a struggle in the initial few months.

    While life as a student was tough with three test weeks (which thankfully changed to one mid-term in the fourth year), project presentation and end term exams, NLIU turned out to be a great learning experience not only as a law student but also on a personal front. It taught me to be independent and I made some of my closest friends in those five years.

     

    What do you have to say about the difference between here and the University College, London- where you finished your Masters?

    The biggest difference was the faculty. At UCL, a lot of the teachers were current and retired partners of international law firms, which was not the case at NLIU. Another major difference was in the teaching style, which pushed one to be regular in class and up to date with the reading assignments as classes were more of a discussion session rather than a lecture.

     

    What are your areas of specification? 

    Initially, at Fox Mandal and TTA, my area of focus was capital markets. I developed interest in it during my days at UCL. However, with the 2008 crash and capital market work drying up, I started getting involved in acquisitions and joint ventures and to this day this is my area of focus.

     

    How significant is a Masters Degree?

    I would say it is a matter of personal preference and goals. A Master’s degree is not a must (particularly for firm or counsel practice), but it helps in several ways. Aside from the focus on academia, it is an opportunity to interact with and get to know people from various countries. I believe that it really broadens one’s outlook. However, for anyone considering LL.M, I would not recommend it immediately after your undergraduate degree. One must work for two to three years and then consider an LL.M. Working first helps in choosing correctly the area of specification and getting the best out of your coursework.

     

    What were the internships you engaged in during your student years?

    My internships were a mix of firms, corporate houses and chamber practice. Rather than stressing about getting an internship in a law firm, I would recommend that first and second year students should intern with litigators (at District Court and/or High Court). Only from the third year should one look out for internships in the corporate field. Also, it is very important that the last two or three internships are done at firms where one is keen to apply.

     

    How would you describe your initial experience?

    Baptism by fire. I still remember my first day in a law firm. I had barely settled in when a senior walked up to my desk (for what I assumed would be a courtesy introductory visit) and without saying much left a shareholders agreement on my desk with instructions to proof read the document and give my comments by end of the day. I have been lucky to get opportunities to work with great seniors (be it Fox Mandal, TTA, DSK/ILP) during my initial years who took keen interest in my development and growth as a lawyer.

     

    Do you have any words of advice for young interns which they may follow to obtain a positive impression in firms?

    Diligence and sincerity, these for me are the two most important aspects not only for interns but for anyone looking at a career in law. You must demonstrate an interest in learning and realise that as an intern it is upon you to make yourself visible to the lawyers.

     

    As a partner in Classis Law, how does a regular day at the firm go by?

    Absolutely not the way I used to imagine it would be while I was still an associate. It usually starts with taking stock of what needs to be done and then prioritising the deliverables. From there on it’s a mix of attending calls, reviewing documents, discussions with clients and team members and business development pitches.

     

    Keeping the corporate and law world aside, what are your hobbies?

    Netflix and travelling. I am a firm believer that travelling is a great learning experience – you get to know about different cultures and cuisines, and meet people you would not usually bump into.

     

    What would be your words of advice for our dear readers?

    Develop a keen interest in reading (absolutely necessary) and keep yourself abreast with the latest developments, not just in your area of practice as a lawyer but generally be aware of what is happening around you.

  • Abhishek Sudhir, Dean, IFIM Law College, on qualifying in law from the UK and on legal academics

    Abhishek Sudhir, Dean, IFIM Law College, on qualifying in law from the UK and on legal academics

    Abhishek Sudhir graduated from The University of Birmingham in 2008 and went on to pursue an LL.M at the University College of London. While there, he pursued Civil Litigation, Jurisprudence, Intellectual Property Law, and Company Law as a part of his general LL.M. His British legal education ended with a BPTC for procedural training in 2011 to appear before a Court in the English system.

    Having returned to India, he pursued academia and teaching at Jindal Global Law School as among the student’s favorite professor. Following his departure from the same, he was recruited as the Dean for IFIM Law College in Bangalore. He has also published on a wide variety of topics and was called upon to deposed before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice on the Judicial Appointments Bill.

    In his interview, he talks about;

    • What drove him to pursue the profession
    • His experience with a legal education in the UK
    • The differences between the two systems and the teaching styles
    • His journey as a law student, and subsequently as a barrister
    • The necessary traits and qualities required by legal professionals and law students today

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    Well, I’m 29 years old. I currently serve as Dean at IFIM Law College which is located in my hometown and India’s IT capital Bangalore. I hold three degrees in law, all from the United Kingdom. I am a Barrister from Gray’s Inn, London and I am also enrolled with the Karnataka State Bar Council as an Advocate. I am a freelance journalist and write most often for Scroll, an online news publication. I follow/support the Indian cricket team and Arsenal, two entities that have caused me a significant amount of pain and suffering over the years!

     

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    Tell us about your childhood and pre-college life. Was it your lifelong dream to be in the legal profession?

    I had a very unconventional childhood. I was raised by my maternal grandfather, who was and continues to be a source of immense support. I was obsessed with cricket and made it my life’s mission to play for India one day, quite an unrealistic dream that my grandfather supported by sending me to yearlong coaching camps for about 6-7 years. When I was about 14, I gave up on this ambition as I was nowhere close to making it and decided to “grow up”.

    Around this time I fell in love with “The Practice”, a popular American TV show that you could say was the “Suits” of my generation. The Practice, unlike Suits which has nothing to do with the law, delved into the intricacies of being a trial lawyer in the United States. The handling of the rules of evidence, the art of cross-examination and its depiction of criminal trials floored me. The cast was brilliant and they just looked so cool when they all walked the corridors of the courtroom in their fancy suits. It was the swagger associated with being a lawyer, at least in popular culture, which drew me to the profession.

     

    Your legal journey started in 2005 and that too from a foreign law school. Why did you choose a foreign law school over national law schools?

    The answer is very simple: I did not make it to any of the national law schools! Those days there was no CLAT, there were only five national law schools and you had to write individual entrance tests. I prepared for the exam with a friend of mine from school, but both of us were lackadaisical in our approach to the exams. The difference was that he was among the top 5 ranks in both the NLS Bangalore and NALSAR exams, while I was nowhere close to him.

    Not making it to one of the national law schools took its toll on me and I felt I had to prove that I belonged, that I was good enough, and not making it was just an aberration. I chose the University of Birmingham to do a 3-year LL.B for two principal reasons: first, they gave me a generous scholarship, and second, it was recognised by the Bar Council of India. So I started out in 2005 to redeem myself for the poor performance in the entrance tests, by leaving home at the age of 19 and starting afresh. It was a life-changing decision and it paid off handsomely.

     

    How is the curriculum of a foreign law school different from an Indian one?

    That’s a slightly tricky question to answer as there is no uniformity in curriculum design in Indian law schools. If I were to compare the approach to curriculum design at a State University with that adopted at an English law school, I would say there is quite a huge difference. For starters, English law schools do not teach any procedural subjects. They focus entirely on substantive law, as there are separate professional courses [Legal Practice Course (LPC) for those who want become solicitors and the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) for those who want to become barristers] that teach procedural law.

    Another stark difference is the emphasis on reading articles and papers written in academic journals as opposed to merely focusing on the sections in any given Act or chapters in a textbook. One further area of divergence is the minimal amount of time allocated to in-class teaching. In-class lectures are usually delivered to 100-150 students at a time. This is always followed up with tutorials where students, in groups of 10 to 15, are expected to engage with a hypothetical problem based on the in-class lecture. These tutorials are about an hour long and are usually conducted by PhD or post-doctoral students.

    There is no concept of rote learning at a foreign law school and the approach is very much centered on directed learning. The expectation is that the student will come prepared to class. That being said, no one (including the lecturers and tutors) cares if you do not do the required reading. The student is treated as a responsible adult and it is this ethos that is typified in the curriculum design.

     

    Tell us briefly about your law school experience.

    I attended three different law schools during my time in the U.K., but I would like to dwell on the three years I spent doing an LL.B at the University of Birmingham, which is one of England’s older centres of higher learning. The first year I was like a fish out of water as I was studying complex subjects like Jurisprudence and Land Law. In my first semester I was hauled up for plagiarism; I simply did not know what a citation was and I did not have the ability to construct an argument of my own. I remember getting 38 out of 100 in my very first research paper and failing European Union law by a couple of marks; those were trying times.

    In my first year I worked several part-time jobs, went out most nights and hardly ever went to class. I changed my lifestyle completely and this bore dividends as my results started to pick up in the second year. I went from getting an upper second (second class) to getting an upper first (first class) in all my subjects. This trend continued into my third year and I got a first (distinction) in every subject. I was awarded a distinction in the dissertation on Hindu Law that I wrote in my final year and this gave me immense satisfaction. I had come a long way from not knowing what plagiarism was.

    The credit for my transformation goes not to me or any professor, but to the structures in place at the University. England’s higher education system, central to which is the curriculum design, is geared to ensure that a diligent student succeeds and is given every possible opportunity to excel. It’s quite simple really: work hard or fall by the wayside.

     

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    Where did you pursue your LL.M from? What considerations should one keep in mind before deciding whether and where to do an LL.M?

    I had LL.M offers from the University of Warwick and University College London (UCL). At the time, Dr. Upendra Baxi was teaching at Warwick and this was a huge attraction. Nevertheless I chose UCL, primarily because it had a richer history and pedigree than Warwick, in addition to being located in the legal capital of the world, London. UCL also had a much bigger selection of subjects to choose from, with faculty from Oxford, King’s College and Cambridge teaching on the LL.M as visiting professors.

    The standard piece of advice people give LL.M aspirants is “make sure you are clear about which area you want to specialize in and chose the University that excels in your chosen area”. I disagree with this line of thought.

    If you have completed 5 years of legal study in India, then doing an LL.M from the U.K. or any foreign University is likely to be a completely new and alien experience. While I had three years in the U.K. before doing an LL.M, most students from India are thrown into the deep end within a few days of starting the LL.M. So it’s really important that you pick a University that has a track record of taking in Indian students and helping them acclimatize. Some Universities that come to mind are Warwick, King’s College, UCL, Cardiff, National University of Singapore, George Washington,  and NYU in the United States.

    Also, choose a General LL.M as it will give you the flexibility to study a wide array of subjects. Unless you’re from the top 5 NLU’s, it is unlikely that you have been exposed to Anglo-American teaching pedagogy and studying diverse subjects will give you much more exposure then studying four subjects dealing only with intellectual property or corporate law.

     

    After completing your education, you qualified as a Barrister-at-law. Tell us about the procedure and your experience.

    Becoming a Barrister was the fulfillment of a childhood fantasy. History was my favourite subject in school and I really enjoyed studying about the freedom movement. Some of the titans of India’s struggle for freedom, like Nehru, Gandhi, Jinnah and Sardar Patel were all Barristers. So I wanted to be one too! It seems quite silly now, but about a decade ago it was a real ambition of mine.

    In 2005, I decided to become a student-member of Gray’s Inn. Each aspiring Barrister must belong to an Inn, which is essentially his professional home and “dine” at the Inn 12 times. Historically, members of each Inn ate together, lived on the grounds of the Inn and, most importantly, worked together. I chose Gray’s as it is the smallest of the four Inns. Ambedkar, constitutional scholar K.T. Shah, former Chief Justice A.N. Ray and former Speaker of the Lok Sabha Somnath Chatterjee were all members of Gray’s Inn.

    In addition to becoming a member of the Inn, I enrolled in the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC), which is a rigorous diploma programme that one has to complete before being “called” to the Bar. The BPTC was a once in a lifetime experience, as I was trained for countless hours in advocacy, negotiation, client counseling, examination-in-chief and cross-examination of witnesses. In July 2011, a ceremony was held at the Hall in Gray’s Inn, where I was “published” Barrister. My name appeared in The Times the next day. It was really special.

     

    What kinds of cases were mainly seen in the courts of England and what was your main area of practice there? What, if any, are the differences between England and India’s judicial system?

    My first job in England saw me working for a firm that dealt with civil litigation. Most of the cases concerned personal injury, the proverbial “slip and fall” cases. I then moved on to work for pro bono organisations that helped individuals who had court hearings but did not have legal representation. I got to take part in proceedings before the Queen’s Bench (High Court) and the Court of Appeal. Finally, I represented clients before the Social Security and Employment Tribunals as a trainee Barrister.

    Believe it or not, the common man in India has far greater access to legal representation than people in England. Litigation costs are unbelievably high and lawyers lack the human touch. Individuals who do not have the resources generally don’t get their day in court and are at the mercy of the legal aid authority. That being said, once you do get your day in court in England, you are more or less guaranteed a timely outcome. The overhaul of the Civil Procedure Rules in England has ensured this, whereas we in India, with our archaic and broken Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, continue to move at a snail’s pace.

     

    After around 6-7 years you came back to India to pursue you a career in legal academia. Was it pre-planned or was there some other reason?

    Coming back to India was pre-planned. I always wanted to practice in India. In January 2012, I passed a set of qualifying exams conducted by the Bar Council of India for people like me who were Indian nationals with foreign law degrees. In June 2012, I was enrolled as an Advocate, but due to some health issues my career had to take a backseat for almost 2 years. In January 2014, I joined the Jindal Global Law School (JGLS) as a research associate and was promoted to assistant professor in three months. It turned out to be the most rewarding experience of my career thus far, with great highs and some lows.

     

    You have deposed before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice on the Judicial Appointments Bill. Tell us about your experience.

    Being given an opportunity to depose before the Committee restored my faith in Indian democracy. I wrote a 20 page memo to the Committee, with suggestions on how they could improve the functioning of the proposed National Judicial Appointments Commission. I appeared before the Committee and had the opportunity to interact with the likes of Ram Vilas Paswan, who I must say is one of the most articulate politicians I have come across. The Chairman of the Committee sought me out after the proceedings and complimented me on my performance. It’s an experience that I look back on very fondly.

     

    You have various publications in academic journals and news organizations. What skills should one develop to write good research papers and articles?

    The only way you can become a better writer is by writing continuously. If you think it, write about it. And make sure you get published. Only when you publish can you gauge what the wider world thinks of your writing, as feedback is invaluable. I write an email with the same amount of thought and effort that I put into writing an article for Scroll or The Hindu. Everything you write should pay homage to the printed word, which is a thing of beauty. Even when I use Whatsapp, I craft my messages carefully!

     

    You have recently been appointed Dean at IFIM Law College. Tell us about your plans for the law school going forward.

    I am trying to implement everything I learnt in the U.K. at IFIM Law College with the support and guidance of the founder Mr. Sanjay Padode and the Principal Dr. Venugopal. Two things distinguish IFIM Law College are our emphasis on mooting from the first year itself and obtaining internships for each one of our students. We have developed a vibrant mooting culture, and each of our students has taken part in domestic and international moots. We have been able to obtain internships for almost all of our students four weeks before the start of the internship cycle.

    All in all IFIM Law College will be a student-centric law school. If they don’t grow, we don’t grow. So we will do everything in our power to ensure that our students develop into holistic, employable and socially responsible legal professionals. Being given the opportunity to setup a law school from scratch is a rare privilege in itself, but being given such a chance at the age of 29 is a rarity. I want to repay the faith the management has shown in me by making IFIM a prime destination for legal education.

     

    You have handled both litigation and teaching. Which one is more challenging and interesting?

    Litigation, in India at least, is a game of chess, with its adjournments and stalling tactics. Teaching is outcome-oriented and your performance is measured by how your students perform academically. While in litigation you are often dealing with one or two judges at the most; as a teacher you are dealing with hundreds of students, with varied backgrounds and learning needs. As a teacher, you need to satisfy a lay audience of people in their teens to their early twenties, each with their own idiosyncrasies and moods. Throw in the thankless job of being the Principal, Dean or Director along with teaching responsibilities and litigation starts looking a little easier.

     

    What advice would you like to give to our readers?

    No advice. I would like to share my favourite quote with them: “You must go on, I can’t go on, I’ll go on.”- Samuel Beckett.

  • Naina Pachnanda, Junior to Additional Solicitor General, P. S. Patwalia, on work experience in litigation and LL.M application to UCL

    Naina Pachnanda, Junior to Additional Solicitor General, P. S. Patwalia, on work experience in litigation and LL.M application to UCL

    Naina Pachnanda graduated from NUJS in 2014. Her internship experiences with Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw, Mr.Sidharth Luthra and Luthra & Luthra Law Offices, were most instrumental in strengthening her interest in litigation. At present she is working with an Additional Solicitor General in Supreme Court of India, Mr. P. S. Patwalia. Her LL.M application to University College of London was duly accepted, but she chose to not go for it at the moment and instead garner more work experience.

    In this interview we talk about –

    • She graduated from WBNUJS and her internship experiences from various places in India.
    • Working as an Associate Editor of Indian Law Journal.
    • Declining an LL.M opportunity from University College of London.
    • Working with Mr. P.S. Patwalia, an Additional Solicitor General of Supreme Court of India.

     

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

    I completed my law from the National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS), Kolkata, (2009-2014). Having graduated only last year, I have the same aims and aspirations as all of you and I to strive to do better always and every time. Having developed an interest in litigation over the past five years, I am now practising under a Senior Advocate, Mr. P.S. Patwalia, who is currently an Additional Solicitor General in the Supreme Court of India.

     

    How would you describe your pre-college life as well as educational background? Do you have lawyers in your family who motivated you to pursue a career in law?

    Being an IPS Officer’s daughter, I had the opportunity to visit several cities and be educated in different schools during my childhood. I ultimately completed my schooling from Delhi Public School, R.K.Puram, where I had a very balanced student life, with the right proportion of studies and sports. During my childhood, I had the opportunity to represent my respective schools in squash, tennis, swimming and basketball. This apart I spent a great deal of my time playing the piano and gave examinations of the Associated Boards of the Royal School of Music, London.

    As far as my decision to choose law as a career is concerned, my father, who is a lawyer by profession, and used to practise as an advocate in the Punjab & Haryana High Court, and my brother, who is currently a practising advocate at the Supreme Court of India, have been my inspiration behind having chosen this profession.

     

    What inclined you towards the field of legal education? Do you reckon any specific incident that made you choose law as a career?

    My brother was a law student, at the Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), at the time when I decided to sit for the Common Law Admission Test. I was greatly enchanted by the moot court competitions and conferences that he would tell me about during his stay at law school. I was also inspired by discussions with my father who used to be a lawyer at one time. Being in the police, he used to discuss various issues regarding trials and investigations and the criminal justice system, which imbibed my interest in criminal law, from the time when I was in school.

     

    Tell us about your law school life, how instrumental was NUJS in shaping up your legal career? How well do you think your education at NUJS prepared you for real world practice of law?

    I owe the person I am today, entirely to NUJS. I went in as a young girl and five years hence I came out as a strong, independent and learned woman. Today when people ask me whether to choose between a national law school and a private institution for law, I always advise them to choose a national law school, because, if given an opportunity, being in a national law school has its own charm. The competition between the students is very motivating and inspires one to do better and work to one’s fullest capacity. The kind of hard work I put in at NUJS, be it in terms of preparing for exams, or even researching for projects and tutorials, has always taught me something different. Moreover, interactions with professors, some of whom have also been educated from the best universities in the world, and other legal luminaries who visited NUJS for guest lectures and workshops, also widened my horizon about legal education. Being at NUJS has not only groomed me to be more confident but has also instilled a sense of responsibility and perseverance in me.

     

    Tell us about your internships in law firms across India, at the High Court of Delhi and the Supreme Court. How would you recommend students to go about choosing their internships?

    My first internship was an NGO based internship, at the Human Rights Law Network (HRLN), under Mr. Colin Gonsalves. I got a chance here, to impart free legal advice to the poor and the underprivileged. This made me embark on the IDIA project (Increasing Diversity by Increasing Legal Access) as an active member, during my latter years at NUJS.

    Thereafter, I interned with Dua Associates, a premiere law firm in India, where I researched on issues relating to anti terrorism laws, due to my interest in the field of human rights that developed during my earlier internship at HRLN.

    Discussions with my father, over trials and investigations regarding the criminal justice system, increased my interest in criminal law. This interest developed further when I interned under Mr. Sidharth Luthra ( Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India), wherein I had the privilege of assisting him in the curative petition that was filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the famous Bhopal Gas Tragedy Case of 1984 which is, to date, regarded as the world’s worst industrial disaster. I not only received a feeling of self satisfaction when the judgment was declared in our favour, but there was also a sense of achievement of having been a part of the proceedings of such a landmark case.

    I also keenly observed the art of court craft by witnessing various trial court proceedings and the cross examination of some of the witnesses in the famous 2G Spectrum case, where there was allocation of 2G Spectrum by the Government to various telecom providers; during my internship with Luthra & Luthra Law Offices, another premiere law firm in India. My brief stint with Amarchand Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co., gave me an exposure to arbitration, where I assisted them in matters involving commercial arbitration. Subsequently, I interned with Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw of the Delhi High Court. This internship provided me with an invaluable insight into judicial decision-making, which enabled me to enhance my research and oratory skills which are essential for a litigating lawyer.

    In fact, my internship experiences with Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw, Mr.Sidharth Luthra and Luthra & Luthra Law Offices, were most instrumental in strengthening my interest in litigation.

    In my opinion, law students should utilise their internships to endure different areas of law, which will make them aware of the particular field of law they are interested in; and ultimately lead them to pursue their goals.

     

    naina-pachnanda-1

    You have presented papers at various law conferences and authored articles in several publications. Please share with our readers your experience.

    Right from my first year of law school, I assisted my brother Vikrant Pachnanda, in editing articles and interviewing various legal academicians and lawyers, for the India Law Journal (ILJ), a global law journal, which was started by him, while he was a second year law student at GNLU. This imbibed in me a sense of knowledge about article writing, which is essential for a student, in any field. It also taught me how to examine legal issues and how to edit the lengthiest and most complex legal articles. This further enhanced my skills of writing and editing papers for publication and presentation at various conferences. Editing, writing and presenting papers instilled a great amount of confidence in me and improved my research and public speaking skills, which are very important for any and every law student.

    My suggestion is that law students should make full and appropriate use of their time at law school, in terms of getting involved in writing articles for publication; essay writing competitions; paper presentations and other activities that will not only help them be proficient in their ability to research meticulously on various case laws and current legal issues, but also help them to be fluent and confident in speechmaking.

     

    Please tell us a bit about India Law Journal. What are the basic constituents of an issue? Which skills do you get to hone being an Associate Editor of such a journal?

    I am an Associate Editor of India Law Journal (ILJ) which is a global law journal (www.indialawjournal.com) and provides a forum for generating a cross current of ideas on emerging topical issues. India Law Journal features articles and interviews of several leading lawyers and academicians in the legal fraternity from different parts of the world and finds its place in several law libraries such as the Peace Palace Library at the International Court of Justice and the Indian Society of International Law. India Law Journal has also partnered with international organizations such as the American Bar Association, Kluwer Law International and Lexis Nexis, amongst others as a Media Partner in many international law conferences. Serving as an Associate Editor of India Law Journal has provided me with the opportunity to research on various current issues while editing articles, writing book reviews for the journal, analyzing legal issues and interviewing legal luminaries.

     

    naina-pachnanda-3

    Please share with us your work experience with Mr. Paramjit Patwalia. What are the skills you bank upon at work?

    I am very fortunate to be working under Mr. Paramjit Singh Patwalia. He is a very good senior to work under as he encourages his juniors to learn and perform to their fullest. He also guides us and instils in us, the desire to learn, improve and excel. The research and oratory skills that I gathered through my five years at NUJS including various internships, paper presentations and paper publications, have extensively helped me assist him in researching on various case laws and briefing him on several propositions of law.

     

    What do you think clicked in your favour for your application at UCL?

    (Naina had applied for admission to University College of London. She chose not to pursue her LL.M thereaftr even when her application was successfully accepted.)

    Apart from academics, I was involved in a lot of extra circular activities during law school, such as writing papers for publication, presenting papers at legal conferences; editing articles, book reviews and interviewing legal luminaries for the India Law Journal (ILJ).

    I was also involved in the IDIA project during law school, wherein I mentored Ms. Karthika Annamalai, through her first two years, in her academic work and overall well being. Furthermore, I represented NUJS in tennis at our sports festival, Invicta. Thus, I would say, this balance of academics and extracurricular activities during law school, coupled with my internships, worked in my favour, to secure admission at UCL.

    As far as applying for admission is concerned, in my opinion, it is important to first decide on the subjects that you wish to further delve into after law school and short list universities across the globe, in accordance with the same. Thereafter, it is essential to meticulously read all guidelines and information regarding the course modules that you wish to study, in the shortlisted universities, on their respective websites. After reading this thoroughly, write your statement of purpose on the basis of this information coupled with the particulars provided in your cv, i.e. your academic and non academic achievements. It is further imperative to maintain a good rapport with college professors, have insightful discussions with them and seek their help regarding the letters of recommendation. Getting all the documents from law school, as per the requirement of the universities is the next step. I admit, applying for LL.M, is a strenuous procedure, and requires a lot of patience and hard work but where there is a will, there is a way, and the ultimate result will be worth the time and effort put in.

     

    Do you have any plans to pursue higher education in the future? What are your future plans?

    It was always my desire to pursue higher studies, straight after law school. Therefore, I applied to a few universities in the United Kingdom and secured admission in University College London (UCL) for an LL.M for the academic year 2014 to 2015. Despite UCL being a highly reputed university, I decided to garner sufficient work experience before pursuing my LL.M degree in order to make the most of it in terms of being an enriching and intellectually stimulating experience. I am happy with my decision as I have not only gained a vast amount of knowledge and expertise, in the last couple of months but have also begun to grasp the understanding of the practical aspect of law, which is imperative for a litigating lawyer.

     

    Is there any message you would like to share with our readers?

    It is important to pinpoint the field of law that you are interested in. It could be corporate law, litigation or even academics or law and policy making. No matter which field you pursue, it is necessary to work hard since there is no substitute to hard work. One should also give back to society by helping the poor and needy by engaging in pro bono work.

     

  • Jagruti Dekavadiya, Managing Partner at Arun Oza & Associates on specialisation in Commercial Law from UCL

    Jagruti Dekavadiya, Managing Partner at Arun Oza & Associates on specialisation in Commercial Law from UCL

    Jagruti Dekavadiya is a graduate of the 2012 batch of Institute of Law, Nirma University B.A. LL.B. (Business Laws – Hons.). A lawyer with the qualification of LL.M. (International Commercial Laws) from University College London, (U.K.) and a Registered Trademark Attorney, Govt. of India, she is now the Managing Partner of Arun Oza & Associates.

    In this interview you will get to read what she has to say about:

    • Choosing law as a career option
    • Specialization in Commercial Law
    • Importance of Research and publications and other co curricular activities
    • Working as a Managing Partner at Arun Oza & Associates

     

    Please tell us what defines you.

    I am a very passionate human being. Routine bores me so to keep going, I need challenges. I graft wonders under pressure. I love challenges and it becomes an obsession to win, be it a boardroom game or on a playground. I believe in maximum output with limited time. Moreover, I like being at peace followed by hard work and complete fairness. I don’t like it I get favoured in anyway. I like to earn it myself than to get it inherited.

     

    What is it that motivated you to take study law?

    It is actually a very funny story. Till I completed my 12th (Science Stream – Biology Group), I always wondered as to why one chooses being a lawyer. Why would one fight cases and take mental stress dealing with others every day? But during that period, I came in contact with my mentor, guide and philosopher, Shree Arun D. Oza (Former Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor for High Court of Gujarat), who changed my perception about lawyers forever. He is the type of lawyer who fights for justice, always fighting for the cause of justice against oppression and victimisation.

    He is the only lawyer I have seen so far who will ask his filthy rich prospective client bluntly, “Did you do this?” and if the client says “Yes”, he is at fault. Mr. Oza won’t proceed further and will show him the real picture. So his honesty, integrity and power of truth inspired me to become a lawyer and then in the meanwhile, Nirma University launched their Institute of Law and Shree Oza filled out my form and told me on the day of the exam an hour before that you have to go and appear for entrance and so I did.

    My Rank was 81 (Only top 80 were to be selected.) and I got an interview call followed by an admission, and now, I hold the qualification of a B.A. LL.B. (Hons- Business Laws) with University Second Rank (with minor difference of 0.01 points) and I was also among the toppers in the Business Law Honours Subjects. I also hold an LL.M (International Commercial Laws) from University College London (UCL), UK and Registered Trademark Attorney, Govt. of India.

     

    You have specialized in Commercial law. What made you interested in the same?

    I am a Gujarati, therefore business oriented by birth! The intricacies of business, investment and calculation come natural to me. I always see the pros and cons of everything may it be on professional or personal front. Plus everything has a reason in whatever I do. So, the calculative nature and my interest in learning more about commercial law directed me to specialize in commercial law.

     

    jagruti-dekavadiya

    Do you say there is room for specialisation and research in Commercial Laws?

    Indeed, there is. Commercial Law is rather a discipline in itself. Very vast and diversified. It has an incredible scope from the academic and research point of view. The study of commerce and market, foreseeing the economic growth, and identifying the best practice to adapt or policy to formulate is the ongoing dynamic and intense area for academicians and researchers and the same is also related to the professionals up to a certain extent. I feel students who want to specialise in this, should think what they want to be – A professional or an academician and then should adapt themselves accordingly, as it’s interdependent and does not have straight jacket formula to follow.

     

    Most of your internships have been litigation internships. How helpful were they in increasing your skills and competence as a professional in the field of commercial law?

    My internships into litigation were not isolated from the commercial laws. During those internships, I have learnt the intense interdependent aspects of legislations like Income Tax, Carriage of Goods Act, Trade policies etc along with the Constitution of India. At various judicial forums, these internships have helped me learn the basics which every lawyer should know, along with the aspects of interpretations as far as commercial laws are concerned. Moreover, I believe any skill gained is always an advantage. So for me, it was like know the problems with poor contract drafting or policies resulting into litigation, so that I can be prepared to curb them before inception. Knowing what could be the prospective problem, equips you with solutions resulting into excellence and success.

     

    What do you think about students pursuing CS?

    I believe in adding brownie points to your CV but for the students who already want to specialise in Commercial Law, why do CS? It has more or less the same subjects and same contents. So, I would invest my time in attending workshop on corporate finance or investment or any related area.

     

    You did your masters from UCL, one of the most prestigious universities of the world in international commercial law. What do you think is the scope in this area?

    UCL is indeed the one of the most prestigious universities in the world and known for its course on International Commercial Law. It was indeed prestigious and an amazing experience to do my LL.M. in International Commercial Laws from there. There is a tremendous scope in this area. It widens your theoretical understanding along with the technical ‘know how’. Proficiency in International Commercial Law has the power to empower one to become a global citizen or a professional in its true sense.

     

    How do you assess your LL.M program? Was it an intensive academic and research oriented exercise or did it also help from a professional point of view?

    UCL has a very intense and comprehensive program for its LL.M. It is extremely well structured. It comprises of the academic and research aspects on the various topics and also has tutorials and workshops which empower students to have a complete holistic view than just focusing on academics. So, it was very intense from an academic and research point of view but it also offered various training programs and endowed me on the professional front too.

     

    You have done a lot of publications. How big a role did the same have to play in helping you get admission at Cambridge?

    Having publications on your name and authoring upon the burning topics always adds cherry to the cake. However, I would say that a prestigious University like UCL and Cambridge do note it. As it’s evident in my case, inspite of lacking post study experience, along with A+ Grades, it were my publications which helped me bag admission at Cambridge and UCL too. I believe in collecting options on my plate to choose and pick from later when needed.

     

    Along with having publications, what all activities did you indulge in as a law student, which helped you secure admission at Cambridge? Do research work and writing papers have a role in building you as a professional?

    I have been very active in co-curricular activities and I firmly believe that it surely played a role for me in getting an admission. I have successfully carried out responsibility in my post as the Chief Executive Editor of Nirma University Law Journal. One of the key achievements out of the list was to be selected as the Chief Coordinator to lead a batch for legal awareness camps at various villages, schools and Sabarmati Central Jail for five years. I have also been the founder and active member in the Moot Court Committee, Debate Committee, and Seminar & Publication research cell. You name any committee or any team; I have played an active role in it. I believe these responsibilities makes you a complete professional along with your academics and it surely distinguishes your profile and leads you on the top of everything. As it did to me, apart from getting admission it also helped me grab the PPO from a London based International Law Firm. (which I rejected, as I was clear of doing an LL.M. and then subsequently having my own law firm which I am doing successfully now.)

    I have presented more than fifteen papers and chaired sessions at various National and International Conferences at leading Universities in India including Bombay, Calcutta, Chandigarh, Indian Business Academy Bangalore, and Indian Society of International Law (ISIL) and as well as some outstanding seminars abroad including Los Angeles in 8th International Conference on New Dimensions of Humanities organized by University of California Los Angeles, USA in February 2010, Mauritius in ICER-2010 by University of Mauritius in September 2010, London in BSA Sociological Association Annual Conference at London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in April 2011.

    I have also taken active part in one National and two International Moots – Participated as a Researcher in Surana & Surana National Corporate Law Moot Court Competition 2008 and as a Speaker in 9thPhilip. C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition 2009 and a coach and chief researcher in International Maritime Law Arbitration Moot 2011, organized by Murdoch University, Australia in collaboration with National University of Singapore, National University of Singapore July 2011.

    I firmly believe being professional is not only about skill or knowledge. A professional needs to be equipped with the knowledge and also with a technical ‘know-how’ to face any situation ahead. Hence, I also had equal focus on my academics too. I have scored the highest in the University in Business Laws Honors subjects. I have also scored University Second position with the minor difference of 0.01 points. So, I believe in achieving excellence at every possible thing related to your area and it will be followed by the success never achieved by anyone before, may it be getting admission or a PPO for that matter.

     

    Along with Commercial law, your profile also shows that you have interest in Trademark and IPR? How closely are the two branches of law related?

    Commercial law is very vast and mammoth. Of course, it has interrelation with IP related issues too. In fact, while I was advising one of my corporate clients, he had issues with breaching contract of confidentiality resulting into the leakage of the trade secret. So, I had to take IP protections for this client. That’s how I actually ended up being qualified as Registered Trademark attorney.

     

    What are the other areas of study which you think that a law student wanting to excel as a professional in the field of commercial law should be proficient in?

    As I suggested earlier, based on the individual limb of commercial law, whatever area which interests the most to the student, he/she has to be equipped with the skills and knowledge needed. However, if you ask me to pin point them: Maritime Law, International Trade Law, Insurance, Merger & Acquisition and Corporate Finance are the essential areas of study, though each of them have an entire discipline in it.

     

    How was your first year after graduation? Do law schools in India prepare their students for their professional life?

    My first year was very exciting indeed. There were a lot of challenges to meet with. I doubt that law schools in India are completely adequate enough to prepare the students for their professional life since the curriculum in Indian Law schools is academic centered rather than practice oriented. A law student must enhance his CV with Publications, Paper presentations, Research and Moot Court presentations to compete with other candidates. I believe only academics or only extracurricular will not help. Make your CV that impressive that no one can ignore it.

     

    How did you get to work at Arun Oza & Associates? Please share with us your journey from your induction into the firm till date?

    Shree Arun Oza is a senior lawyer at the High Court of Gujarat and he served as an inspiration for me to shift to law from my Science background. I have been attending his office since 2007 from my first year of law and now, it’s my firm. I am managing it. My journey was quite tough and taunting as from day one it felt like I was talking responsibility. It was the real experience of being responsible for your act rather than a feeling of being an associate where you know there is always a senior to check. However, the journey was very interesting and to this day it continues to be. I have new challenges and new aspects to explore.

     

    What is a normal workday like at Arun Oza & Associates? Being the Managing Partner at AOA, what are your responsibilities?

    I head the Corporate and Commercial Department, including Arbitration and Intellectual Property Rights. I also head litigation along with Mr. Oza. My day starts with urgent admissions and other matters on board and ends with meetings and drafting for my commercial clients, especially companies whom I am currently advising on its International affairs too. So, my duties aren’t fixed. It’s kind of like being an entrepreneur and being the head at the same time. I also have to manage associates directly and run for final hearings at Court too. But, it’s very much happening.

     

    Do you take interns at AOA? What do you look for in a typical cover letter and CV? How can interns manage to get positive feedback in the limited time they have?

    Of course, I do take interns at AOA. Matter of fact, I am currently having three interns directly under me. One from JGLS and other two are from NLUs. I am really picky about their cover letter. I believe, because they are applying for experience, I don’t expect their CV to be full of achievements but I read the cover letter carefully. The way they draft cover letter depicts the confidence level and clarity as to why they want to intern under me or AOA. Once, I approve the cover letter, my office writes back for interview either online or offline and then if they are selected, they directly report to me. I provide them feedback on each and everything. The interns under me aren’t pampered. They get the first hand experience of everything I do. It may range from cracking negotiations with corporate clients to appearing at different final hearing stage in Courts. I give them files to read and also give them the responsibility to assist me inside the Court being on the front desk alongside myself.

     

    Is there any other tip you would like to give to our budding professionals?

    Strive to learn and stay hungry for knowledge. Take it as a challenge and believe that you can do it. Hard work is important but in this age if you also want to succeed what’s more important, is focused smart work. Know your priorities and act accordingly. No doubt, Law is a lucrative profession but learn to be fair and give back to the society as well.

  • Manveen Singh, Research Associate, JGLS, on pursuing a PhD in Patents, and a career in academia

    Manveen Singh, Research Associate, JGLS, on pursuing a PhD in Patents, and a career in academia

    Manveen Singh graduated from UILS, Panjab University, Chandigarh, in 2012. He then went on to pursue his Masters from UCL in Intellectual Property Law. He is currently working as a Research Associate at Jindal Global Law School, Sonepat . He enjoys teaching and plans to pursue a PhD in Patent Law (Intellectual Property) this fall.With six international participations, nine internships, five research papers, one book chapter, sixteen national conferences, he was an extremely hard working, consistent and brilliant law student.

    In this interview we speak to him about:

    • Studying abroad
    • The legal education regime in India
    • Pursuing a future in academia

    Tell us something about yourself.

    Well, I am someone who is very honest, emotional and passionate about everything I do. I am a firm believer of destiny and I also believe that if you have your heart set out on achieving something there is absolutely nothing that can hold you back.
    What truly unwinds me is football. Manchester United is well, the love of my life. Besides that I love travelling, reading and listening to music. One thing that has always given me peace is photography.

     

    When and how did you decide to pursue law?

    Before joining law, I was basically a science student. However, my shifting from science stream to humanities was purely co-incidental with my father’s taking up a prestigious assignment as the founder Vice-Chancellor of one of the reputed National Law Schools of the country. Though my father never wanted me to study directly under his supervision and stewardship, lest it could affect my independence and academic blossoming, his constant hammerings for my understanding of the basic concepts of law and for an in-depth study and critical analysis of some of the legal doctrines nevertheless inculcated in me the strong and never ending desire for taking up legal studies as a means to embrace the ever challenging and exciting career in the field of law, the decision that I feel proud of having taken when I sit back and reflect pensively

     

    Tell us something from your days at UILS!

    I have very fond memories from my time at UILS and Panjab University. My graduation from such a reputed university, rather the best Indian university in the world (as we may call it now, based on the latest rankings) and my five year long and close association with some of the most committed and dedicated teachers showing paternalistic interests in me inculcated in me the never ending quest for more and more knowledge. I was always an active participant in all the legal as well as other academic events that took place at UILS and the University and not to forget, good in studies too.

    Besides that, college life gave me friends, friendships and more that shall stay with me for the rest of my life.

     

    What made you pursue your LL.M in the UK?

    I always wanted to go abroad for my post-graduation; the only dilemma being whether to go straight after law school or work for a year or two and then go. It was not until I entered into the final year of my undergraduate degree that I made up my mind and applied to all the top universities in the UK. My parents and teachers were unanimous in their advice to the effect of my going in for my masters straightaway.

    For me it was always going to be the UK over the US. Also, my father did his PhD. from the UK so there was always that connection and motivation towards handpicking UK over other countries.
    I applied to a number of UK universities including University College London, King’s College London, London School of Economics, Queen Mary University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) as well as University of Oxford. I got through to all of them with the exception of Oxford. I had my heart set on UCL and as destiny would have it, UCL it was.

     

    How should one zero in on the law schools? Should consideration be paid to living expenses in that particular place?

    There are multiple factors that you need to take into consideration while zeroing in on the right law school. Ranking, of course plays its part but besides that you have to be sure of the area you wish to specialize in, whether that university offers you that specialization and lastly, the concerned faculty. As far as the living expenses are concerned, when you pick a country there is not too much difference in terms of the living expenses within the different cities. On that front you would rather adhere to the overall profile of a university and then come to the advantages of being in a particular city.

     

    Tell us about the course structure and specialization of Master of Laws at University College London?

    Well, UCL offers you the chance to specialize in a whole lot of areas of law. I personally, have always been very fascinated by Intellectual Property Laws so one of the reasons behind my choosing UCL for specializing in IPR was the fact that the Faculty of Laws at UCL has arguably the best IP faculty in the UK.

     

    How diversified was your batch at UCL?

    Well, my batch at UCL was one of the most diverse ones out there. The quest for learning bringing together all these people from different parts of the world to brainstorm and share their ideas and expertise in the various fields.

    Most of them are now back in their own countries plying their trade while some of them stayed back in the UK as they were hired by some of the Magic Circle law firms. Some even made it to the UN.

     

    Do you think that nowadays, some students do an LL.M because it seems the “right thing to do” and not because they know what they want to study or why they want to?

    Well, to be honest, I don’t really subscribe to that view of it being the “right thing to do” or not. At the end of the day, it’s a matter of choice whether or not one wants to go in for his/her masters. If you’re up for it, just go for it. There’s no looking back.

    I would like to add a quote here, “If you force yourself to go outside, something wonderful always happens”.

     

    What do most foreign universities look for among candidates?

    Most foreign universities require a well drafted SOP and a couple of LORs besides good grades.

     

    What is the key ingredient of a well written SOP?

    A well written SOP is one which truly reflects your thoughts and intentions behind pursuing a master’s degree and how it is going to be beneficial for your career interests. You can, of course make it personal but the language must be formal. One thing that is highly appreciated by foreign universities is community work. Surely, that has got to be one of the key ingredients of an SOP.

    An honest tip to those making their SOPs would be to be as honest as possible and not cook up things or achievements. That’s the most common mistake people tend to make which has more chances of landing one in trouble than not.

     

    Do you think that having your recommendation letters written from distant acquaintances with influential position may backfire against you while making your application?

    Essentially, every foreign university requires two academic LORs, preferably from the professors who have taught you during your undergraduate degree. In addition to that any other LOR is considered as a supplementary document and the role it would tend to play in the success of one’s application is very subjective and depends from university to university. So there is not too much you can do with the standard established protocol.

     

    How do you think one should go about their chances of securing a scholarship for an LL.M program?

    Securing a scholarship at a foreign university is one of the first and foremost things that every Indian student tends to look at and with the cut-throat competition out there, it has become more of an uphill task in recent times. Good grades coupled with practical internships and community work is the key to securing a scholarship for an LL.M. program.
    UCL has quite a few categories of scholarships available to students all over the world. If we talk about the scholarships for Indian students at UCL, there are two awards; one being the Master of Rolls Scholarship for Commonwealth Students (one award for a student from the commonwealth nations) and the Chief Justice Scholarship. I was a proud recipient of the former for my LL.M. studies at UCL.

     

    What are the criteria for an LL.M graduate to enter the teaching profession in India?

    The minimum basic requirement for entering into academia is a master’s degree. Most of the universities require you to be NET qualified while at the same time there are some that allow you clear it while in service.

     

    How are you going ahead with the PhD application procedures?

    Yes, I wish to start off with my Ph.D. as soon as possible and shall put forward my candidature at various universities as soon as the applications open this fall.

     

    Describe your teaching style.

    I would say it comes to me naturally since it runs in the genes. My father is an academician and so was my grandmother. Now that I look back and try to find the inspiration behind my joining academia, I would have to give a major chunk of the credit to my friends since I taught a few of them during my university days and they would always encourage me by  telling me how good I was at it.
    One thing I still can’t forget is the fact that I taught a friend of mine and he outscored me in one of the semesters. I think that did it for me.

    Well, I am someone who tries to give his 100% in every lecture while at the same time try to get the best out of the students. Not every student is the same so my endeavor always is to reach out to every student and make them comfortable with the subject that I’m teaching.

    I try to use as much of practical and real life examples as possible besides the conventional theoretical methodology in order to make every lecture as interesting as possible. Although I give my students PowerPoint slides for every lecture but while teaching I want them to listen to what is being taught for I think that is the only way for them to master the concepts.

     

    What do you like best about teaching at JGLS?

    There are a couple of things that I like about JGLS. Firstly, I feel that the academic freedom you possess as a teacher and more so as a young faculty member is something that is very important. JGLS gives you that freedom and so much so that the only way you can repay it is by doing full justice to your job. That is something I cherish day in and day out.

    Secondly, it’s the students. They just get the best out of you as a teacher. Every day is like a new challenge for me. There are so many things that you as a layman would not be inspired to read or write on but the ideas that flow from classroom teaching are unparalleled. If the students are smart and intellectual, it will inevitably push you to give your best as a teacher and I think that is one thing I like the most about the students at JGLS. The sense of satisfaction that you derive out of standing in front of 60 students and delivering a good lecture is absolutely priceless

    I have been teaching for close to ten months now; all of those at JGLS.

     

    Which subject(s) do you teach?

    I have only taught a couple of subjects as yet; Labour Law being one of them. I am mostly interested in commercial and criminal law subjects. The one subject that interests me the most is of course, Intellectual Property Law (IPR) since that is the only subject that keeps me connected with science while at the same time being a commercial law subject. I shall be teaching Law of Evidence next semester and I am already looking forward to it.

     

    After your experience abroad, why do you think LL.M in India is a little less sought after?

    I think it flows from the fact that the two systems are quite different. Firstly, the biggest reason for students preferring to go abroad for LL.M. was in India being a 2-year degree. Secondly, the overall structure, the breaking down of the modules, the style of teaching and the tutorial system are so different from that in India that it is quite difficult to compare the two.

     

    Do you think legal education in the country needs an overhaul?

    I don’t think there are any drastic changes that need to be made in the existing system but something that can surely be done is to change the conventional orthodox system of legal education and adopt a more practical approach or rather strike a fine balance between the two and enable the students in competing with their contemporaries from around the world.

    Do you opine that law schools have become largely expensive?

    Yes, I do think some of the new law schools are relatively expensive as compared to the traditional universities but at the same time, I strongly believe that the kind of exposure and the opportunities that one would get at some of these privately funded or national law schools is incomparable to that being offered by the traditional universities.

     

    What would be your message to our readers?

    For those of you who are really keen to pursue an LL.M from abroad, remember what I earlier wrote: ‘If you force yourself to go outside, something wonderful will always happen.’ It’s a new and different exposure to behold. I wish all the very best to others in their endeavours.

  • Funmi Oyeneyin on LL.M from UCL, work at Ernst & Young and at Adam & Partners

    Funmi Oyeneyin on LL.M from UCL, work at Ernst & Young and at Adam & Partners

    funmi-o-2Funmi Oyeneyin graduated with an LL.B from King’s College and thereafter pursued an LL.M in International Law from University College, London. She came across the opportunity to intern at the UN.

    Funmi worked as a corporate tax adviser at Ernst & Young and  is currently working at Adam & Partners.

    Read more about her career choices while working at different international firms.

     

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

    I grew up in Scotland with Nigerian parents, having dual nationality from birth. Suffice to say internationalism also plays a key role in my work, the focus of which is international commercial law. I also have an academic interest in Public International Law, specifically WTO and investment treaties.

     

    Amongst the various career options, what motivated you to choose law?

    At the age of 16 I participated in a mock trial of Tom Robinson (To Kill a Mocking Bird). The seed of legal aspiration was sown. I relish the academic challenge of the law and the process of analysis to reach evidence based conclusions.

    Moreover, the law plays a pivotal role in society. For me, to have the knowledge so as to have a real impact in people’s lives and in turn shape societal norms, hopefully for the better, is important.

     

    You pursued your undergraduate (LL.B.) degree from King’s College. What was the application procedure? Are there any entrance tests?

    I applied through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) application process. UCAS is the British admission service for students applying to university, through which students can apply to five universities.

    “In my day” there were no entrance exam requirements for an LL.B at Kings. I believe all applicants must now sit for the National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT)

     

    What prompted you to choose KCL for an LL.B. degree? Were there any other Universities in mind while applying at KCL?

    I focused my L.LB application on the top tier law schools as per the published ranking, applying to Cambridge, Durham, King’s College London (KCL), Edinburgh, and Glasgow. I was fortunate that all, barring Cambridge, accepted my application.

    Initially, Durham was my first choice. However, on attending the open day for King’s, I literally changed my mind that same day. Perhaps it was its proximity to the Royal Courts of Justice or the grand Maughan Library, but ultimately it was a gut feeling. One would expect a more logical answer from a lawyer but it really was that simple. A decision I have never regretted.

     

    You had started your professional career with Ernst & Young as a Corporate Tax Advisor. What was the application procedure? What did your work profile consist of?

    Application Procedure

    It was a three stage application process.

    Stage 1: an online application. A minimum 2.1 degree was required to qualify to complete the online application.

    Stage 2: A telephonic interview.

    Stage 3: An assessment day at EY’s office in More London. It consisted of a group exercise, an interview with HR, and a final interview with a partner.

    Work profile

    At Ernst & Young, I trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant, qualifying into International Tax Services (ITS) where I advised UK and foreign multinationals on tax efficient structuring and solutions. My work profile was both finance based, in that I collated and analysed financial information, and legal such as substantial research into complex UK tax law, ECJ judgments and International Treaties.

     

    Why did you choose to go for an LL.M. in International Law? Was it a job requirement in any manner?

    The LL.M was not a job requirement. International law has always fascinated me, having studied Public International Law at King’s, and then subsequent experience in the application of international tax treaties at EY. I decided to undertake an LL.M in international law to further engage this interest and progress my career to involve a broad international remit.

     

    How did you decide on University College London? Did you consider any other colleges?

    Once again I focused on the reputation of the law school and international law departments. Wanting to remain in London, I considered LSE, King’s, and UCL. I decided on UCL due to the available courses and the tutor Philippe Sands, a world-renowned international lawyer.

    As a King’s alumni, defecting to the “godless institution on Gower Street” was difficult. However, UCL’s current worldwide ranking has gone some way to help ease the shame of my betrayal to King’s.

     

    How does one prepare to get admission in University College London? Does the admission procedure involve several levels?

    The admission process for UCL’s LL.M programme was straightforward. It was done via an application form and required a minimum 2.1 LLB degree to qualify to apply.

    I spent a fair amount of time on my personal statement so as to convey my genuine interest in the subject. Outside academic aptitude an interest in the subject matter is important for a postgraduate degree.

     

    What are the top 3 things you kept in mind while selecting a university for LL.M.?

    The reputation of the law school and faculty.

    Availability of subjects in line with areas of interest, international law.

    Purpose of the LL.M – purely academic or to enhance employment opportunities.

     

    Education in the U.K. must have been very expensive. What are the scholarships available?

    The Scottish Loan authority provides student loans for university. Similarly banks can provide student loans for Bar School. Furthermore scholarships are available through the Inns of Courts.

     

    You had interned at the U.N. for about 3 months. How has your experience been? What did you take away from such an internship?

    It was a fantastic experience. Given my longstanding interest in international law, working at the international organization gave me unprecedented access to see how international laws and rules are applied in practice.

    My take away was that the purpose of the UN, in facilitating international cooperation in an increasingly interconnected world, remains fundamental even if it may suffer from bureaucracy inherent to civil service.

    Additionally, I worked with interns from all over the world and the obvious similarity between us all stemmed from a comparable social economic background. Showing that access to opportunity plays a greater role than race or culture.

     

    Would you say that the work environment at Adam & Partners Investment Advisors LLC was significantly different than Ernst & Young?

    EY is large organization and required an element of regimented hierarchy so as to function efficiently. Furthermore, it allowed for specialism in one area at an early stage.

    On the other hand, Adam & Partners, as a smaller organisation, allows for more autonomy and flexibility. The area of work is wider ranging.

    I received fantastic training at EY however I am personally better suited to the flexibility and autonomy of working with clients such as Adam &Partners.

     

    Would you say your LL.M. from UCL helped in being successful at Adam & Partners?

    In general, legal training helps to develop the ability to absorb a lot of information, analyse it and come to a conclusion. It also develops effective communication skills. These skills are helpful for any position.

    Further, friends made at UCL, a lot of whom were lawyers from other countries, have become a useful network.

     

    Having been part of a multi-cultural set-up with international clientele, did you face any cultural challenges? How did you address them?

    From birth, having dual nationality, I have been comfortable in a multi-cultural environment but acknowledge that there are inevitable cultural tensions. However, in a professional environment I have found that any such hostility tends not to be openly aggressive. The main issue I encounter is that of lowered expectation, not based on my qualifications but rather preconceptions.

    To address this, it has been important for me to remain confident in my ability and remain appropriate at all time. Furthermore, positive and consistent achievement tends to negate any such assumption.

     

    Since you are now on the other side of the table, can you give us the ‘recruiters’ point of view’, as to what they look for in a potential hire?

    Intellectual aptitude is a must. The law is academically challenging and the ability to analyse and interpret it is fundamental.

    That being said, soft skills such as good judgment, tenacity, and emotional intelligence are equally important.

    Work experience is also valuable. Be it legal internships, or simply a part time job at a coffee shop – something that demonstrates an ability to interact successfully with others in a work environment.

     

    What would be your parting message to our readers who are mainly law students and young lawyers?

    Get the grade. Rightly or wrongly, one of the most objective ways employers judge intellectual aptitudes is academic grades. Every aspect of your journey into the law has a minimum academic requirement.

    Undertake a legal internship/paralegal, even if it is unpaid. It will do two things. First, demonstrate your ability to apply legal knowledge to real life situations. Second, it will allow you decide if you actually enjoy working as a lawyer. Often the practice of law is different from academic study.

    Be flexible. The current employment environment is rather difficult for law graduates, with limited traineeships being offered. In order to best navigate this do not be discouraged by rejections, instead make a list of why the law and what you want from a career in law. Be willing to be creative to access and develop the skills needed.

    Finally, be positive and good luck.

  • Vini Singh, Advocate, on being a Company Secretary, studying in London, and taking the Judicial Services

    Vini Singh, Advocate, on being a Company Secretary, studying in London, and taking the Judicial Services

    Vini Singh graduated from HNLU, Raipur, in 2012. She then went on to pursue her Masters from UCL. During her time as an undergraduate she has interned in the Chambers of Mr. P.S. Koshy, Multiple Action Research Group – MARG, been a Judicial Clerk to Justice S.K. Sinha, High Court of Chhattisgarh, interned at Chambers of Mr. Shanti Bhushan, Sr. Advocate, Supreme Court of India, Chambers of Mr. K.T.S. Tulsi, Sr. Advocate, Supreme Court of India, Chambers of Mr. K.K. Venugopal, AZB & Partners, and AMSS. She is also a Company Secretary. 

    In this interview we speak to her about:

    • Getting an LL.M. from UC, London
    • Being a Company Secretary
    • Taking the Chattisgarh Judicial Exam

    Tell us about your life before college.

    I did most of my schooling from Indore except for the final three years which I completed in Raipur since my family had moved here. I was a science student and very keen on becoming a doctor like my father. After I finished my schooling, I took a year off to prepare for pre-medical exams and appeared for many of them at the end of that year. Never in my dreams had I thought of choosing law as a career, but a few of my friends convinced me that I should have a back up plan and there was no harm in giving an entrance exam. So I filled up the entrance exam form for HNLU and appeared for the exam with just two weeks preparation. To my surprise, more than 50% of the question paper contained exactly what I had studied, and not only did I clear the exams, I secured 4th rank as well.

    Meanwhile, I was also offered a seat in a medical college, but since their sessions start late, I decided to give HNLU a go. I attended classes for almost a month and it would be wrong to say that I chose law; I would rather say that law chose me.

     

    How will you describe your college life?

    My college life was a lot of fun. I had a great group of friends, we studied together, went on a lot of trips, celebrated birthdays and festivals, occasionally played badminton etc. Apart from academics, I participated in a few activities and competitions organised by various committees, helped organise conferences as a part of legal and social services committee and worked for the library and academic committee.

     

    vini-singh2How would you say a student can go about studying and having distinction in a few subjects?

    (Vini has bagged gold medals in Constitutional Law, Economics and Political Science. These are invariably some of the most lengthiest and difficult papers.)

    I am someone who has never adopted a certain strategy to tackle coursework or a gain a certain percentage of marks. I would say that I was able to do well academically only because I really wanted to learn. If I found something worth a read I went for it, irrespective of the fact whether it was prescribed material or not, which is why I ended up reading a lot of additional stuff such as Plato’s allegory of the cave or Dworkin’s Law’s Empire. All this additional reading eventually helped me a bag outstanding grades and those gold medals.

     

    How was your experience interning with SC lawyers?

    (Vini has worked as an intern for two great SC lawyers – Mr. Shanthi Bhushan and Mr. KTS Tulsi.)

    It was great working with such eminent SC lawyers, both internships gave me an opportunity to closely observe the pros and cons of litigation as a career choice. Mr. Bhushan is very approachable; one can discuss anything with him right down from movies to politics to any complicated legal question. My internship with Mr. Tulsi was even better because I got to work on not only criminal cases but also on arbitration matters and I also learned a lot from his team. I was placed with Mr. Bhushan by our Internship Coordination Committee, so I just had to send my resume to him for securing the internship. I applied to Mr. Tulsi’s office personally by approaching one of his juniors and requesting him to give me an internship opportunity.

     

    What did your work at AZB & Partners entail?

    Working with AZB Partners was a really good experience. I got work on a variety of matters since they do not assign interns to a particular team. So, if my morning began with say a research on FEMA, my night ended with verifying documents for an arbitration matter. However, as I was really interested in Competition law, I took initiative and more often than not sought work from that team. They were filing the then recently introduced Form I of the Combination Regulations at that time and I learnt a lot while working with them.

     

    What inspired you to pursue an LL.M?

    The academic experience was one my major reasons for pursuing an LLM, besides that I really wanted to challenge myself, that is why I decided to go for higher studies.

    I had to write a letter of purpose as a part of my LLM application explaining why I wished to pursue an LLM and what my expectations were. I believe that my application successfully convinced them that I was a deserving candidate, which is why I was given a seat in the programme. I think that it is really important convey a genuine interest in pursuing further studies to get selected in any LLM programme.

    While selecting a college to pursue my LLM, I considered the courses offered, the faculty and the total cost of my education. I chose UCL because they offered good courses in the areas I wanted to study.

     

    Why did you choose to go for UCL?

    As I mentioned earlier, my prime consideration for choosing UCL was the courses I wished to take, apart from that the reputation of the university was also a major factor. I did consider other colleges in UK such as Kings, LSE and Queen Mary, but I did not consider Indian colleges because I wanted to experience life abroad and I did not wish to spend two years pursuing a masters.

     

    Tell us about the accommodation, financial requirements and campus life at UCL?

    UCL is located in Central London and has very good accommodation facilities for the students including facilities offered by the University of London. However, if someone does not wish to stay in university accommodation one can always get a flat share in areas nearby the university at decent rates. Campus life at UCL is fantastic, there are several activities and plays that are always going on, there are a lot of places to eat, drink, hang around, karaoke, kickbox etc. The university has also got its own gym facility for people who are conscious about their fitness. I did find a lot of people from the Indian fraternity and we also had an Indian society that held many events, cricket match screenings whenever India played and celebrated various festivals such as Navratri and Diwali.

    Apart from the tuition that has recently increased and the accommodation costs that come around to 150 to 250 GBP per week, one can easily enjoy London at 500 GBP per month, plus it is not very difficult to find and manage a part time job, so it is not very costly. Plus UCL automatically considers you for many scholarships including a scholarship offered by the Chief justice of India.

     

    Tell us about the academic pressure and the faculty at UCL.

    The academic environment at UCL is very different from our law schools. There the classroom is a place for discussion and not the place to learn basics. If a student is not up to date with his/her readings, it will be very difficult for them to get anything out from the class and they may even have to face embarrassment.

    The reading list is huge, if one does not follow a proper schedule, it can be almost impossible to deal with the course load at the end, so even though I was not very regular in my studies here, I had to force myself to change this habit and only then did I manage to cover my course material.

    Faculty at UCL is very cooperative and they are usually available to clear any doubts and discuss issues in person as well as online by mail or by UCL’s electronic platform moodle.

     

    How is the recruitment/ placement for overseas students?

    The placement scene for overseas students is not very good at present. I would not deny that the tag of a prestigious university does open doors but if you are already qualified in your country, and you do not have many years of experience with you, it is very difficult to get a job. Plus you would also have to clear QLTS at your own expense since your law degree is considered as non law in the UK.

    It is comparatively easier to secure a training contract, if you have not yet qualified in your own country, however, you still need to write an exceptional application and clear six or seven rounds of assessment to get through.

     

    What do foreign universities look for in applicants?

    Excellent academics is definitely a must, however foreign universities do look for other qualities in their candidates such as any contributions to their society by volunteering etc, organisational skills, publications and sometimes achievements that distinguish you such as maybe your exceptional capability in a dance form.

     

    Tell us about the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Award for Best Performance in International Arbitration that you received.

    As a part of my LLM programme, I undertook a course on International Arbitration. This course is recognised by the CIArb, therefore they give an award for excelling in the course in association with the Faculty of Law. I was given this award for securing a distinction and I suppose the highest marks in the course.

     

    What were your subjects in LL.M. and what made you choose them?

    I decided to choose my subjects based on my interest rather than any commercial advantage. I studied a mix of commercial and public law subjects so while on the one hand I took up International Arbitration, Cross Border M&A and Comparative US Antitrust v. EU Competition Law, I also took courses like Comparative Constitutional law and Principles of media Regulation. My dissertation focused again on International Arbitration, since I find that area interesting.

    I am currently litigating; however I do plan to get some experience in the areas I have specialised in.

     

    How was the Summer School at London School of Economics?

    Summer School at LSE was fantastic and very hectic at the same time. I studied EU Competition Law there and the course really helped me lot in my undergraduate Competition law course and also during my post-graduation. However, I would only recommend such a course to someone who is already a bit familiar with the basics and ready to burn the midnight oil for those two months. I was visiting London for the first time hence I was more interested in sightseeing, but still, I did attend all classes, if not tutorials and got a lot out of it.

     

    How has the Company Secretary course helped you as a lawyer?

    The Company Secretary course has been very helpful thus far. My concepts of corporate law, taxation law, securities and finance are a lot more clear since I undertook the course. Also I think that a little bit of company accounts and management studies can do no harm to a lawyer. So, I would definitely recommend this course, if not much, you do get another degree with just a little bit more effort that you are already putting in for law school.

     

    How was your experience writing the Judicial Services Examination in Chhattisgarh?

    I recently gave Judicial Services Examinations in my state. I did not have to prepare much as I had already studied all the core subjects in depth for the bar examination. So for my preparation, I revised all the key concepts again and studied local acts prescribed in the syllabus.

    The exams however turned out to be a huge disappointment as there were hardly any questions in the exam paper that required application of any legal concept. Most of the questions were regarding the dates on which a certain Act or amendment came into force, the number of sections or chapters in a certain Act, or the chapter no. of IPC or Evidence Act that contained so and so provisions. So unfortunately my preparation strategy was not very helpful. However, after having a look at question papers of other states, I can say that it is important that your concepts are clear in order to succeed in such a competitive exam.

     

    What would be your message to our readers who aspire to go for an LL.M. abroad?

    Dear friends, all I would say is please do not chase grades, aspire for knowledge instead, be curious to learn, the grades and success would automatically follow.

  • Alipak Banerjee, Masters candidate, University College of London, on being from the maiden batch of his college, his high-profile internships and plans for the future

    Alipak Banerjee, Masters candidate, University College of London, on being from the maiden batch of his college, his high-profile internships and plans for the future

    Alipak Banerjee had graduated from KIIT, Bhubaneswar, in 2012. During his years as an undergraduate he has interned at the Rural Entitlement and Litigation Kendra, Kerala, Aarohi Bhalla and Sujata Kurdukar, Solicitor and Advocate on Record, Supreme Court of India, Dua Associates, London Court of International Arbitration, Amarchand Mangaldas, among others. He then went on to pursue his masters from University College of London, with a focus on Cross Border Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate Insolvency, International Trade Laws, and International Arbitration. 

    In this interview he speaks to us about:

    • Being part of the first batch of his college
    • Securing a series of high profile internships
    • Studying in London, his curriculum and plans thereafter

     

    You’ve probably been asked this before, but why law?

    Law was more like an option rather than a choice. But I fell in love with the subject and when I look back I am glad that I decided on law.

     

    If you had to describe your college life in one word, what would it be?

    I have learnt a lot from the founding faculty members at law school. Being a member of the first batch was never easy as I had to start from scratch. I must tell you that not having any precedent was my potential opportunity as I got the chance to shape the law school. I presented papers in conferences, wrote articles, represented universities in moots (including Jessups, VIS Vienna), and I had about eight good internships when I left my college. In general college life was fun. It is home away from home. I had an amazing moot team and I continue to be best friends with my team members.

     

    Do you think being from a non- national law school caused you any problem?

    There are two aspects: is it an issue and how you decide to deal with it.

    Yes, it is an issue as it affects your peer group, quality of faculty and possibly your self-esteem. Being in a NLU is akin to the USA immigration presumption – deemed to be an immigrant unless you proven contrariwise. On the other hand, non-NLU students are deemed to be average, unless proven otherwise. However, how you deal with the issue is your choice. It is a challenging experience to put your best, but I quite enjoyed it. If you know your subject, it’s great to face challenges. I did the same and my university, and my friends and family supported me.

     

    You have interned with all leading firms. Can you tell us about the experience?

    (Alipak has interned with the likes of Mangaldas and Amarchand and the London Court of Arbitration, to name a few.)

    I am afraid getting a good internship is not easy. You have to start your hunt early. If you have a four week internship – first three weeks you should work really hard and in the final week you should make arrangements for your next internship. If you don’t know people talk to the associates in the present firm you are interning, they will have friends in other firms and if they have liked your work – they will help you.

    A librarian at a lesser known firm helped me get an internship with a top tier firm in Delhi. You have to make the best use of resources available. There isn’t any point writing reminder mails to the HR – the response is not going to be different. Instead, pick two partners and read the articles they have published. Mail them asking them about their views or opinions about something from their field. Demonstrate your curiosity for their subject, from a purely academic standpoint. And with time you can always request them for an internship.

    In the year 2010, I interned at LCIA, London and with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, London. At LCIA, at that time, they didn’t have any provision for interns. I was an unpaid intern for one month. The process has changed now. They have a six months paid internship programme. They have two intakes now. Please check their website for more details. Also, FF offers great opportunities in their Paris office in IAG group (international arbitration group). Typically, the internships are for six months.

     

    What was it like working as Research Analyst for RSG?

    (RSG is the research partner to the Financial Times for the Innovative Lawyers reports. RSG’s research findings feature in various international press)

    I was aware of RSG`s India rankings since my law school days. I was delighted to participate as a researcher in the RSG 2013 India report. I have spent some time at their London office during my winter vacation. Initially I was sceptical as I thought it was not my forte (as the research didn’t involve legal skills). However, I was convinced that at the end of the research I would have a renewed perspective about the market which would ultimately help me to decide on a suitable law firm for employment.

    I interviewed 60 legal purchasers (typically General Counsel). I now understand the market expectations – turnaround time, the quality of work, expert opinion, issues regarding billing so on and so forth. As a budding lawyer, I will be selling my services to my clients. Hence, if I know about their requirements it would help me in medium to long term to cater to my clients.

     

    Congratulations on doing your Masters from University College of London. How did that happen?

    I was keen on pursuing masters after completion of undergraduate study. At UCL, I studied international trade law, international arbitration, financial restructuring, liquidation and consequences and mergers and acquisition. I was taught by the best in the field. Prof. Ian Fletcher taught me the paper on liquidation and subsequently, I am writing my dissertation under his supervision. Regarding financial restructuring, Mr. Andrew Wilkinson taught us the course – he is the European Director at Goldman Sachs for financial restructuring. I think this is the greatest advantage of a London college over Cambridge/Oxford – if you have to study papers in the commercial domain, any city university (especially UCL) will give you practical insights as the teaching is done by practitioners. And I was not surprised when UCL was ranked ahead of Cambridge and Oxford by Guardian this year.

    I got a bit of funding from TATA. My research experience with RSG, Prof. Hunter and also Lord Lawrence Collins (British Judge and former judge of Supreme Court of United Kingdom) has helped me procure partial concessions.

     

    Tell us something about your life as an LL.M student.

    I must tell you about Goodenough College. It is a residential college located in central London. It attracts 800 masters and Ph.D students from more than 100 countries spread across different streams. I had a lovely time being a part of the college community and I have made good friends with people from different walks of life.

     

    Currently you are research assistant to Prof. Martin Hunter. How is a typical day at work like?

    It is more like a research experience. I am assisting him in revising the 6th edition of Redfern and Hunter, which is due next year. I have also assisted him in his teaching assignments, case work. I am also co-authoring an article with him.

     

    What are your future plans?

    I am returning to India in September. I will be joining a Tier-I firm in Mumbai in October.

     

    Any message for young or aspiring lawyers?

    Work hard. Be sociable. Be marketable. Believe in your abilities.