Amicus Partners

First Person Accounts (FPA’s) are meant to provide a first-hand account of law graduates who have pursued, or are pursuing, a post-graduate course (an LLM or otherwise) from different universities across the world.

Yashaanki Kora recently completed an LLM from Penn Carey Law at the University of Pennsylvania, and has also passed the New York Bar Exam. In this FPA, she shares her reasons for choosing Penn Carey (Penn Law), the LLM experience itself, and the things to consider before enrolling for an LLM abroad. 

Congratulations on the NY Bar Exam – was dual qualifications one of the primary attractions of the US LLM? 

Thank you.

While becoming dual-qualified was not my primary motivation for pursuing an American LLM, I saw qualifying for the bar as a natural next-step in my career and legal education.

It is an opportunity that I can build upon in the future if I choose to do so.

That said, taking the New York Bar was a unique experience, and I am glad I took up the challenge. I look forward to seeing how this achievement enhances my skills and opens up new avenue moving forward.

Once you had decided to pursue an LLM, how did you start shortlisting the schools to apply to? Why narrow down on Penn? 

After graduating from GNLU and working at one of the best law firms in the country, I was certain that I wanted my next chapter to be in an exceptional institution. I began by getting a sense of the best institutions for a master of laws, from there it was a mix of speaking to alums, attending informational sessions and an element of luck.

I was drawn to Penn for several compelling reasons. Beyond meeting essential criteria such as high-quality education, an interdisciplinary environment, and a diverse range of courses, Penn offers a vibrant and close-knit community of peers owing to its comparatively smaller batch size.

Its location on the East Coast provides easy access to both New York and Washington D.C., while the cost of living is more reasonable compared to other major cities.

The surrounding universities also contribute to a youthful and academic atmosphere. Moreover, the faculty and alumni network are some of the best in the world, further enhancing the overall experience at Penn.

And at that point of your career (nearly 3 years of PQE), what made you decide that this was a good time to pursue higher studies? Was this something that you wanted to do as an undergrad as well? 

I have always appreciated an international education, feeling that my academic journey would be incomplete without it. With three years of work experience under my belt, I gained valuable insights into my strengths and preferences, as well as a clearer understanding of my areas of interest. This foundation enabled me to make the most of my master’s program.

Early days, but how has the Penn LLM experience been? What were some of the more interesting or challenging aspects of the course? Were you able to cross-register at different schools? 

The LLM experience has been truly wonderful—challenging and pleasantly surprising in its many offerings. I can confidently say that I have gained a great deal from it.

Everything was interesting.

As much as one reads and researches about it, it is entirely different to experience it first-hand. Things that struck me were, the emphasis on a rounded education encompassing elements of networking, personal branding and original scholarship; and the strong encouragement of philanthropic and entrepreneurial ventures. The American system when juxtaposed with the Indian society and culture contextualized global dynamics and systems.

A few of the challenging aspects of the LLM experience were the information asymmetry in various areas, the pace and novelty of the entire experience, and the urgency to pack as many experiences as possible into those 11 short months.

LLM students could cross-register for one class with any other school within the University, and several batchmates benefitted from this allowance, including myself. I took up a seminar course at the Kleinman Centre for Energy Policy.

 

How useful was your work experience whilst in the classroom? Would you recommend gaining some work ex before applying for a US LLM?

My work experience was immensely beneficial in the classroom. Having seen the interaction between law and business added significant depth to my theoretical knowledge. This informed my course selections, leading me to consciously choose experiential and case-study-based classes. Resultantly, I continued exercising my reading, drafting, and communication muscles while honing them further throughout the program.

I would highly recommend gaining working before applying for an LLM, more so in the US, though it is beneficial in any context. Working helps to better understand the practice of law, as well as your own interests and strengths. It not only enhances one’s knowledge but also adds credibility when applying for the LLM and subsequent positions after completing the LLM. 

Another aspect to consider is discerning whether an LLM is the best investment for one’s career, many law grads eventually branch out, and may find more value in an MBA, MPA, or a different education.

Between me and you, did you like the city of Philadelphia? Any particularly fond memories to share? 

I enjoyed the city thoroughly. It was the perfect size; it lacks the frenzy of New York but is well-connected and wholesome otherwise. I particularly enjoyed Penn’s campus, libraries and extra-curriculars, experiencing all the four seasons (the snow, fall, summer, cherry blossoms etc.), and being among such multi-cultural individuals.

The list is endless, but these smaller pleasures stood out!   

How early did you begin Bar prep? What would you say is a good timeline to have if one is sitting for the July round of exams? Does Penn Law offer any sort of Bar prep assistance to LLM candidates? 

Bar prep courses typically begin around mid-May, with most candidates seriously starting their preparation at the beginning of June. In my experience, Indian students tend to perform well on the exam due to our strong educational training back home, again if you have worked for a few years, your legal reasoning skills tend to come to your aid.

I recommend dedicating at least June and July to preparation, including taking regular and numerous practice exams to familiarize yourself with the subject matter and testing format. While Penn does not offer specific bar prep assistance, students can utilize the infrastructural facilities during this preparation period. This comes in handy during group study sessions, which help keep the morale up!  

Lastly, any advice for the Indian law grad who is considering a master’s abroad?

Like anything else, pursuing an LLM has its pros and cons. It is important to approach the program with open eyes and a clear understanding of your motivations, expectations, and the time and financial investment involved. 

My few pieces of advice are – (1) gain work experience, I have already espoused its many benefits above; (2) this experience offers asymmetric returns on investment; meaning while it may be tempting to focus solely on potential salary increases or opportunities abroad, there are several tangible and intangible value additions, and it may be reductive to ignore these; and (3) inform yourself to the best of your abilities!