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  • First Person Accounts: Sandeep Somisetty on the Juris Doctor (JD) at UC Irvine, Columbia Law School

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

    In 2019, Sandeep Somisetty enrolled for the JD at UC Irvine, transferring to Columbia Law School a year later.
    Sandeep Somisetty, JD ’22 (Columbia Law School)

    Sandeep Somisetty has, undoubtedly, one of the most interesting profiles I have come across in the last few years.  An engineering graduate (Delhi University ’09), Sandeep went on to complete an MBA from XLRI (Class of ’11).

    Since then, he has worked in different capacities over the years, including a founder role at Catch42, a higher education consultancy. In 2019, Sandeep enrolled for the JD at UC Irvine, transferring to Columbia Law School a year later.

    In this FPA, he discusses his reasons for opting for the US JD, the application process itself, why he transferred to Columbia Law School, and a whole lot more. 

    Alright, let’s get to the most obvious one – why a US law degree? Did you also consider non-law degrees such as an MBA? And if so, why opt for law? 

    After completing my undergraduate and graduate studies in India, I was involved in closing a project finance agreement where I worked closely with American lawyers. And starting the year after that, I regularly worked with Indian lawyers in a series of regulatory lawsuits. The work required attention to detail and critical reasoning.

    I loved it!

    I am grateful to my bosses who allowed me to immerse myself in legal matters without an educational background in the law. At around the same time, my wife and I were considering moving abroad for a few years. I had heard good things about American legal education. Moreover, we have family in the US. Therefore, the decision to study law in the US appeared an easy one.

    I didn’t consider an MBA seriously as I already have one from XLRI. I did apply to a few business schools half-heartedly, though. But, I was pretty much set on studying the law.

    And once you had decided that it was to be the JD, how did you go about selecting where to apply, both in terms of countries as well as law schools themselves? 

    I considered Canada and the US because they offer the JD program, i.e., law as a graduate (or post-graduate as we say in India) program. I also worked with American lawyers and talked to US-educated Indian lawyers.

    I was convinced that the engaging style of the Socratic pedagogy, and the focus on practical clinical education in the US was what I wanted.

    In terms of the schools, I figured soon that most Tier-1 schools have comparable faculty and student body. Choosing law schools is, for the most part, a trade-off between costs and career opportunities (particularly for an international student like me to whom geography didn’t matter). Generally (but with several notable exceptions), the higher the school is ranked, the smaller your scholarship award is likely to be and the higher would be your career options.

    With a particular LSAT score—that’s what matters most for international JD applicants in the admissions process—you could receive admissions offers from many schools if you cast a wide net.

    I applied to about thirty-five schools because I received merit or need-based application fee waivers from most of them. And sure enough, I was admitted to about two dozen schools.

    Eventually, I had to decide between a top-ranked school that offered me a one-third tuition scholarship and a relatively lower-ranked (but tier 1 school) that offered me close to a full-ride.

    When it came to the application process, did you opt for the LSAT or the GRE? And how long do you think one should devote to prepping for these exams? Any suggestions on courses/programmes that prospective applicants can use? 

    I took both tests. The time you need to set aside for preparation depends on a variety of factors, most important being your score on the diagnostic practice LSAT that you take cold, and your learning trajectory that is reflected by the rate of increase of your LSAT practice test scores.

    I spent an average of 15-20 hours a week for about 16 weeks with a cold diagnostic score of close to a 160.

    LSAT was by far the hardest standardized test I have ever taken. But, I liked the challenge and enjoyed preparing for it. I took all the Practice Tests (previously administered LSAT exams) available at that time. I would strongly recommend doing all the Practice Tests and spending time identifying and working to improve on your weak areas as you review your answers.

    I used both the Power Score Bibles and the Manhattan Guides to lend me direction and help me understand a complex concept. The biggest piece of advice I would give is that the LSAT is most certainly a learnable exam and if you don’t get your target score, practice even harder the next time and retake.

    A couple of points on your LSAT can save you hundreds of thousands of dollars and/or help you get an admission offer from a much higher ranked school.

    In one of the cycles, Harvard Law School announced that going forward, they would accept the GRE in lieu of the LSAT. I was on their waitlist at that time. So, I prepared for the GRE for about a week and took it, just so the score could give me a potential bump while I waited.

    While I didn’t get in, I can say that GRE is much more straightforward than the LSAT. I suspect you would need either a perfect GRE score or very close to it to get into the top American law schools.

    Right or wrong, LSAT is still the gold standard for law school admissions.

    Apart from the qualifying exams, how did you go about preparing the other aspects of the application such as the personal statement? Also, how did you end up using your engineering background to explain the move to law? 

    For an international student, the Personal Statement (PS) is the second most important part of the application. I spent a ton of time perfecting it. I did many cycles of—introspect, come up with a storyline, write multiple drafts, abandon, repeat.

    More than anything else, drafting the PS helped me reflect upon my past, present, and my plans for the future. I tried to meaningfully tie them all together and weave a coherent narrative that was both true and made sense to the admission committee member who was reading it.

    Since I went for an MBA immediately after my undergrad, my PS explained how law school would be a seamless transition for me given my pre-law experience at the convergence of engineering, business, and the law.

    Law school personal statements generally don’t have a specific prompt. You are given a blank slate to write your story. And that’s amazing. Because once you sit down to reflect on your goals, you stop pigeonholing yourself as a restrictive label—an engineer, an MBA, a husband, a person of color, etc.—and this liberation enables you to determine and articulate the real reason behind your decision to pursue a legal education.

    Did you apply for/receive financial aid? 

    In almost all law schools, you are automatically considered for financial aid. I received a cumulative financial aid (spread over three years of law school) of more than $1 million. And that figure is solely a function of the number of schools I applied to.

    The wider the net you cast, the more schools you will get into and the more scholarship you will be awarded.

    You had initially enrolled at the UC Irvine before switching to Columbia – why the switch? And how did you go about making this move? 

    I completed my first year of law school at UCI Law. They were generous enough to award me a close to full-tuition scholarship. Studying at UCI was a fabulous experience. I loved everyone at UCI Law—my classmates, my professors, and the administration. And I thoroughly enjoyed the one year in Irvine.

    I transferred to Columbia because of the greater opportunities (especially in challenging times like these), and the name brand.

    It was one of the hardest decisions of my life.

    I had to give up on my scholarship and pay full tuition for two years at Columbia. I wrote down the pros and cons of the options based on discussions with practicing attorneys and assigned them weights by consulting my loved ones.

    But at the end of the day, I went with my gut. It was a personal call my family and I took.

    Lastly, given your work experience with Catch42 and otherwise, do you foresee JD courses increasing in popularity as post-graduate courses for Indians? 

    I sincerely hope so. There’s no reason why we have a ton of Indians pursuing an MBA, but not the JD, in the US. If you are looking for an intellectual challenge, nothing beats a JD. My colleagues at UCI Law and Columbia are some of the smartest people I know. I am grateful for the opportunity to be surrounded by them.

    I know India is flooded with smart, curious, and ambitious young people. They are simply not aware of the JD program. They would know the Clintons went to Yale Law, the Obamas went to Harvard Law, and the Roosevelts went to Columbia Law.

    But a vast majority of them would not know what degree these luminaries planned to earn when they enrolled. There is no denying that the JD program has its drawbacks for international students. And prospective students need to make a choice mindful of all the pros and cons.

    But they can do that only if the JD program is marketed well enough internationally.

    Leveraging my experience in the world of admissions consulting, I tried to make the UCI Law administration aware of the benefits of going international, whenever I got a chance. I plan to continue doing that at Columbia Law.

    We, at Catch42, are trying to ensure prospective graduate students understand their options and make the right career choices. A critical part of our mission is to spread awareness about the JD program in India.

    I recently spoke with a senior partner at India’s largest law firm. He said there are only two Columbia Law JDs in India, including him. I am hopeful there will be many more in the next decade or so.

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  • The Amicus Interviews: Shreya Jain on International Commercial Arbitration, the HLS LL.M.

    The Amicus Interviews are meant for broader discussions on legal education, and the legal profession at the global level. Along with the legal research and law schools, these interviews are meant to bring across a slightly “macro” perspective on things.

    Shreya Jain is a 2014 graduate of NLSIU, Bangalore who went on to complete an LL.M. from Harvard Law School  in 2017. After the LL.M., Shreya worked at Cooley LLP as an International Arbitration Consultant for just over a year, and currently focuses on international commercial and investment treaty arbitration at SAM.

    In this interview, I get Shreya to discuss some of the more practical aspects of a career in international commercial arbitration, the utility of an LL.M. in her own professional growth, what Indian law schools ought to do, and a whole lot more.

    (Edited excerpts)

    Shreya Jain is a 2014 graduate of NLSIU, Bangalore who went on to complete an LL.M. from Harvard Law School in 2017.
    Shreya Jain

    I know this is a terribly open ended question, but why do you think commercial arbitration is such a popular career aspiration for today’s law students?

    I think there are a few reasons for this. A lot of students are interested in dispute resolution through law school – a lot of credit for this goes to the strong mooting, ADR culture etc. in law schools.

    However, litigation isn’t every body’s cup of tea. One, on a systemic level, it can be quite frustrating to wait for years for a case to end. Often, the real fight in courts happens at the ad-interim stage or interim injunction stage. Getting to experience the full life cycle of a case—from the start till the final hearing can span a decade if not more. Unlike this, arbitrations move much faster.

    This applies for domestic arbitrations too, but more so for international arbitrations which can finish in 1.5 – 2.5 years. This of course depends on the complexity of issues, number of arbitrators, etc. but that only makes an impact of a few months either way. This makes it more attractive to clients and practitioners. We see arbitration clauses being adopted in a majority of contracts.

    At a practitioner level, I think it’s very attractive to be able to see a case end to end, even at a junior level. You’re fully committed to the case during this period, there is active strategizing that goes on at an every day level, and there is lots to learn.

    Two, not everybody can afford to do litigation in counsel practice. A lot of international arbitrations happen end to end in law firms (including oral advocacy) – like at my firm (SAM). This makes it a more financially secure career option for students.

    Three, I think international arbitration in particular has a bit of glamour associated with it. You work with different countries’ laws, there’s a fair bit of international travel for hearings, etc., and you get to observe and learn from foreign practitioners during hearings who’re involved as opposing counsel/tribunal members.

    And in your case, what got you interested in this particular field? 

    I think all these factors played a part. I had done dispute resolution in India (including some commercial arbitrations) during my stint at CAM, Mumbai. That piqued my interest in this field further.

    Further, I always had a keen interest in public international law and decided to pursue an LL.M. to build that further. A common way to practice international law is through international arbitrations (particularly investment treaty arbitrations) – that’s how I ventured into this field when I started working in New York. I did a good mix of both investment and commercial cases in New York, and continue to do that in my current practice at SAM, Mumbai.

    Now that you have had some experience as an arbitration practitioner, how do you think law students can better utilise their time if they are looking for a career in arbitration? 

    I think the most important skill to develop as an arbitration practitioner (especially if you’re keen on international arbitrations) is excellent written advocacy skills. Unlike domestic litigation and arbitrations, international arbitration primarily focuses on written advocacy.

    I think some avenues students could pursue to develop this skill are mooting and academic writing. This carries a lot of weight on the resume when applying for LL.M.s, boutique arbitration practices etc.

    For instance, both the firms I’ve worked in (Cooley and my team at SAM) insist on writing samples before hiring for the international arbitration team. I think mooting in particular also helps develop argumentation and critical thinking skills—which are very important for practitioners. This only improves with practice, so it is better to start early.

    I think the most important skill to develop as an arbitration practitioner (especially if you’re keen on international arbitrations) is excellent written advocacy skills.

    You spent two years in India, focusing on corporate litigation and arbitration, and then a year in the US with a greater focus on arbitration – what are some of the more obvious differences in India and US-based arbitrations? I ask this from the point of view of a practitioner. 

    In the US, I didn’t do any US-based arbitrations as there were other domestic teams which specialized in those. My focus was international arbitrations, particularly investment treaty cases.

    These were truly ‘international’ in a sense – we worked against counsels from different countries such as UK, Turkey, France, etc. The arbitrations were conducted under the aegis of different institutional rules such as ICSID, ICC, UNCITRAL etc. and seated in different jurisdictions (e.g. Washington DC, Paris, London, Geneva etc.).

    So, I didn’t have an ‘American’ arbitration experience. In that sense, my work in India today is quite similar since I focus on international arbitrations here as well.

    This differs significantly from domestic arbitrations in India. The latter is still heavily oriented to the litigation style. The cases progress at a slower pace, they are most often led by counsel and adjudged by tribunals comprising retired judges, and there is still a lot more focus on oral advocacy.

    Even the written advocacy is akin to how one drafts pleadings in litigations (as opposed to international arbitrations, where the writing is more crisp and moot court-style). As these are ad-hoc arbitrations, they are often not run as professionally as international arbitrations, which are often managed by institutions such as SIAC, ICC, LCIA, etc and follow a strict schedule.

    So, as a practitioner in international arbitrations, one needs to be very good at written advocacy and constantly engaged with the case.

    In between these two phases, you enrolled for and completed a master’s at Harvard Law School. Again, how do you think the LL.M. better equipped you as an arbitration practitioner? What were the skills honed during this time or practice-specific knowledge gained during the master’s?

    The LL.M. was a terrific learning experience – both in terms of course work and outside it. In terms of arbitration specifically, I was able to build upon my expertise in dispute resolution through courses such as International Commercial Arbitration, International Investment Law (for which I cross registered at Fletcher), and International Trade Law, and through my thesis.

    As a Submissions Editor of Harvard International Law Journal and member of Harvard International Arbitration Law Students Association, I got first hand insights into contemporary debates and cutting edge legal scholarship in international arbitration, and had the opportunity to network with leading arbitration practitioners.

    I also had a great experience at the Harvard Mediation Program, where I trained and certified as a mediator in Boston courts. This gave me hands-on experience in problem-solving techniques, conflict management and thinking on the feet.

    But even besides arbitration, the LL.M. opens a whole new level of learning opportunities.

    I greatly enjoyed the inter-disciplinary course curriculum and the chance to cross register for courses in other Harvard schools and Fletcher. I consciously chose half my courses in other areas of law that I was interested in (constitutional law, LGBT rights etc.) which HLS specializes in. That experience was extremely rewarding.

    I greatly enjoyed the inter-disciplinary course curriculum and the chance to cross register for courses in other Harvard schools and Fletcher.

    Not to put you in a spot here, but what was your reading of the employment opportunities in the US for a foreign trained lawyer looking for a footing in the US arbitration practice? How does a US LL.M. help here? 

    Happy to answer this.

    As I noted above, I worked in international arbitration as opposed to US arbitration. I think a lot of people go to the LL.M. with the expectation of landing jobs abroad. This is a big reality check – which colleges caution you about as they give you the letter of admission.

    I think a lot of people go to the LL.M. with the expectation of landing jobs abroad. This is a big reality check – which colleges caution you about as they give you the letter of admission.

    It is extremely difficult to get jobs abroad—particularly in the US, and more so in international arbitration. This is not only because of systemic issues such as visa restrictions, but also because there’s tremendous demand for jobs in international arbitration and language skills (such as Spanish, French, Portuguese) where Indians have a disadvantage.

    I suspect this is much harder now with the pandemic and recession.

    But despite these odds, if you want to break in this field, an LL.M. from a top Ivy League is a must. Aside from learning from top professors, it adds a lot of brand value – which is the first filter law firms abroad apply when recruiting. You also get vast networking opportunities and have access to a very strong alumni network.

    Coming back to India, how do you think the country can encourage one, institutional arbitration and two, when it comes to Indian law schools, encourage the growth of Indian arbitration? 

    I think encouraging institutional arbitration requires concerted effort at a systemic level. In Singapore for instance, the SIAC was given impetus by the government and private players alike. India has seen multiple institutions being set up over the years, but none has fully taken off (although MCIA seems very promising).  

    It would help to identify one flagship institution that India cohesively pushes as a whole – in terms of advertising, government impetus, etc. It will also need to be managed professionally and firmly, without succumbing to external pressures on things like quality and standards.

    On the second question – I think law schools are doing some things very well, like co-curricular activities like moots, ADR competitions, etc. But I think there’s a need to focus on the basics. Teaching the arbitration courses well and in-depth (instead of clubbing them in one arbitration or ADR course) is very important. When I was in NLS, we just had one course on ADR—and arbitration was barely touched upon.

    I think the situation has improved now and there are a host of offerings as seminar courses etc, but teaching the course well is the best way to build an arbitration Bar. It is also important to encourage academic research on arbitration.

    We see law schools having centres on IPR, constitutional law, environmental law—but there is a dearth of cutting edge research happening on commercial laws.

    Lastly, are there any myths or misconceptions related to arbitral practice that you would wish to highlight? I ask this again, from the perspective of an Indian law student interested in joining this field.

    Haha – yes, the ‘glamourous’ image. While it sounds like arbitration lawyers are globe-trotting attending hearings and conferences, that’s most often not the full image. Hearings are extremely difficult periods, you barely get any sleep, you’re basically living on adrenaline.

    There’s no time to enjoy the city you’re in; even after the hearing, you often get no break as you need to start working on post-hearing briefs immediately.

    But on the flipside, hearings are also the most rewarding periods. It marks the conclusion of months or years of concerted effort and to argue a case before an engaged and well-prepared tribunal is an amazing experience.

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  • First Person Accounts: Maitreyee Kulkarni on the LL.M. at Institute for Law & Finance

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

    Maitreyee Kulkarni graduated with an LL.M. from the Institute for Law and Finance in 2018 and is currently working as a legal counsel at Daimler AG in Stuttgart. In this FPA, the ILS (LLB ’17) graduate discusses why she opted for the Institute for Law & Finance, the utility of the CS course while working as a lawyer, and a whole lot more.

    Maitreyee Kulkarni graduated with an LL.M. from the Institute for Law and Finance in 2018 and is currently working as a legal counsel at Daimler AG in Stuttgart. In this FPA, the ILS (LLB '17) graduate discusses why she opted for the Institute for Law & Finance, the utility of the CS course while working as a lawyer, and a whole lot more. 
    Maitreyee Kulkarni

    How did you go about finding employment after the LL.M.? Any advice for Indian law graduates who are also looking to work in Germany?

    Post gaining work experience in India as an Associate with a CS firm and a Fintech company, I intended to develop myself further as a global professional.

    When I crystallised my decision to pursue LL.M., my aim was to combine educational experience abroad with work exposure in a foreign jurisdiction.

    Fortunately, I was able to achieve this through the LL.M. Internship at PwC Legal, Frankfurt and am currently working in a multicultural and multilingual environment dealing with diverse legal systems across the globe as a Legal Counsel at the Mercedes headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany.

    A few months prior to the commencement of the course, I began doing the requisite homework with regard to understanding the sectors that would be open to absorption of foreign lawyers. The German legal market is not an easy nut to crack given the civil law background of the country coupled with the language barrier, therefore targeted applications are quintessential.

    My work experience back in India definitely helped me in bagging the roles I had at PwC Legal, Frankfurt as well as my current role. I would definitely suggest gaining work experience back home in the field one is interested in before venturing out into a foreign market. This is a value addition, not only in terms of procuring a job but also gives the applicant an edge in understanding the course curriculum.

    Additionally, I would suggest reaching out to the alumni working in their target areas of interest, understand their journey and learn from their experiences/ mistakes. This should form a good groundwork for designing an action plan for oneself. Networking during LLM events and attending job fairs would definitely help in this direction.

    Another pointer would be to look at the ways one could qualify the bar exam in the intended country to be better absorbed in the working environment. For instance, me and a lot of my classmates are planning to take the QLTS to qualify as a UK Solicitor for better mobility in the future.

    Last but not the least, proficiency in German language is definitely an asset.

    Coming to the LL.M., what were some of the expectations you had from the course? And what made you select the IL&F?

    There were multiple factors which made me choose ILF over Universities in UK and US. Apart from Frankfurt being the financial hub in Europe, the most important and differentiating factor of the ILF LL.M. course was that the curriculum built in 2 months of mandatory internship.

    This acted as a stepping stone into the job market which coincided with my goal. The economical factor had a role to play in terms of more value for money that I perceived.

    Also, since I had majored in Finance during my undergrad & the course provided an excellent array of subjects intersecting with law and finance, it fit into my criteria perfectly.

    Any advice on how to go about the LL.M. application itself?

    First and foremost, would suggest giving yourself enough time for chalking out the university shortlisting process and understanding application requirements. Application cycles vary from country to country and so do application requirements.

    For instance, applications to the US entail an entire LSAC Accreditation process and multiple essays which might take longer than an application to be made in Europe. LLM Guide is a helpful tool in this regard.

    Keep the application original, especially the statement of purpose should spell out your own story and how your journey has led you towards the choice of pursuing LL.M. from a particular university.

    Also, regarding letters of recommendation, a diverse mix of educational and professional referees who are able to highlight and reflect upon your capabilities as a student & professional from multiple facets definitely helps. I had taken LORs from my University Professors, Partners/Managers I was reporting to and a colleague I worked with for a 360-degree review.

    Looking back, what were some of the highlights of the course? Anything that you found to be particularly useful and unique to the IL&F LL.M.?

    Looking back, more than the course content, the pragmatic approach of course delivery through case studies, intellectually stimulating discussions with lawyers from over 20 countries, understanding intricacies of foreign law and the courage it takes to move outside one’s comfort zone are things that I will cherish the most.

    I have been raised in multiple countries and have always loved the cultural exchanges that happen through these moves. The unique feature of ILF is definitely their niche in Financial law courses, excellent faculty, deep rooted connections in the industry coupled with their support to find internships which allows students to apply their learnings in classroom to the real world & venture out professionally.

    Not quite connected to the LL.M., but did you find the CS course, and your undergraduate BCom degree help you in your professional career?

    Definitely yes! As rightly mentioned, Law was not the first degree I embarked upon, I majored in Accounting & Finance for BCom(Hons) and was drawn towards governance aspects of business.

    Thereafter, started working with a listed Company in Bangalore as a CS trainee wherein I was able to apply my knowledge of finance, corporate restructuring & securities law in the corporate domain.

    Post completion of my CS qualification and to gain a more holistic picture of the legal framework in the country, I pursued the 3-year course from ILS Law college Pune. I observed there was a lacuna between the teaching methodology imparted at Indian Universities and the practical nuances of law could be best learnt by combining it with professional engagements and hence I worked throughout my LLB journey.

    The combination of these degrees and work experiences have certainly added value to my journey at ILF as I was well equipped to look at the bigger picture in addition to connecting dots between finance, law and corporate governance.

    The course content of CS is specialised in financial and corporate law which formed a strong foundation & helped me grasp & appreciate the international implications in a much better way. Also, since I had a business & legal background, I was offered more flexibility in terms of designing my course credits for LLM.

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

    Personally, it was an enriching experience for me. Though I do not believe there is a straight jacket formula, would suggest following a studied approach regarding the course & the country. Research and analyse, reach out to the alumni to decide whether the course and country coincide with your own goals.

    At the end of the day the Masters abroad will be what you make out of it.

     

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  • First Person Accounts: Shanu Jain on the Geneva LL.M. in International Dispute Settlement (MIDS)

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

    Shanu Jain is a 2016 graduate of Symbiosis Law School,  Pune who enrolled for the Geneva LL.M. in International Dispute Settlement (MIDS) course (Class of ’20).  In this FPA, Shanu shares a few thoughts on the importance of work experience, the MIDS application process itself, and a whole lot more.

    Shanu Jain is a 2016 graduate of Symbiosis Law School,  Pune who enrolled for the Geneva LL.M. in International Dispute Settlement(MIDS) course (Class of '20).  In this FPA, Shanu shares a few thoughts on the importance of work experience, the MIDS application process itself, and a whole lot more. 
    Shanu Jain

     

    Were you contemplating an LL.M. right after your undergrad? Or was the plan to gain some work experience first and then apply? 

    I was very clear about the fact that the practical exposure in the field is a sine qua non before deciding upon pursuing an LLM, especially from abroad. It is true, and I have seen examples in the profession, where people were excited to practice in a specific branch of law during the undergraduate years.

    However, they did not enjoy it when they started practising and eventually moved to different departments.

    I was always clear-headed about the fact that an LLM degree, although it is an asset, is a liability too. It is a considerable investment not only in terms of money and time but also an opportunity cost, and the experience that one could have gained had they not taken a break from their professional life to pursue an LLM.

    Apart from the MIDS course, what were the other programmes/schools that you applied to? 

    I did not apply to any other courses. MIDS was my only choice. I found MIDS to be the only course which could cater to the academic and professional goals that I sought to achieve by pursuing an LLM. It also fit well into my budget.

    Any advice on how to go about the application process?

    It is necessary to start with the process at least five months in advance. When it comes to the application process, there are several considerations one should keep in mind. These five months should not include the time you need to decide the program and be dedicated solely to the application process. I have elaborated on some requirements which could be helpful:

    • Statement of Purpose/ Motivation Letter (SOP): Think about basics. Convince yourself about: (1) Why do you wish to pursue a course? (2) What value would it add to your persona? (3) Which program caters the best to your requirements (either professional or academic)? (4) Have you been exposed enough to a particular subject that you wish to pursue an LLM course in that field?

      I firmly believe, if one can convince oneself on these four basic questions, they would already have enough material to write an effective SOP. It is imperative to have your SOP reviewed multiple times. You can share it with your friends, professors and employers and seek their opinions and modify the SOP accordingly. It is also a Ninja Technique, to not seek advice from too many people on your SOP, as too many cooks spoil the broth. The approach I followed was, I prepared the first draft by answering the four questions I listed above. I substantiated my answers with as much evidence as possible. I shared my draft only with two of my friends and modified the draft as per their suggestions.

      I believe that there are three golden rules for drafting the best SOPs: (1) be honest to yourself; (2) provide as much evidence as possible to what you claim; and (3) use persuasive and straightforward language.

    • Program Application/Specific Requirements: Almost every program has specific requirements. It is essential to know such conditions in the very beginning of the application process to avoid last-minute hassles. For example, MIDS till 2018-2019 required students seeking MIDS managed scholarships to provide a letter of motivation written in French. It would be complicated to comply if you get to know about such a requirement on the last day of application.Carefully read the information manual, application forms and other guidelines. Prepare your documents and timelines accordingly.

      Some programs have a specific requirement for providing test scores of English eligibility tests such as TOEFL. It is essential to know about such requirements as soon as possible.

    • Recommendation Letters (LOR): Majority of the programs allow submission of up to three LORs of specific word limit. Hence, it is crucial to speak to the people in advance who could write LORs for you. LORs should display your recommender’s assessment of your performance when you were associated with them. It is also important to seek recommendations only from the people who have relevant experience in the courses you would like to pursue during your LLM. Such people could come from diverse backgrounds, including practice, judiciary or academia.

    As a MIDS candidate, what have been some of the most challenging aspects of the course? 

    The most challenging aspect being a MIDS student, which most of my colleagues would testify to, is to cope with the vast course work requirement in a year worth of time.

    MIDS is divided into three streams of courses. These are (1) General Course; (2) Optional Courses; and (3) Intensive Courses. For completing the LLM, one needs to pass two mandatory general courses, two optional courses and at least eight out of fifteen intensive courses.

    MIDS invites world-renowned practitioners and academicians who teach intensive courses. Hence, very few people restrict themselves to eight courses, and the majority of the students attend all the intensive courses. Similar is the case with optional courses. Although the requirement is to complete only two optional courses, the majority of the student complete at least four, again because of the stellar faculties who teach these courses.

    Other than passing these minimum number of courses, one also needs to produce and present at least two research papers during the year and write an LLM thesis.

    Further, each student needs to mandatorily attend: (1) MIDS workshops (which are another lucrative aspect of the program); (2) a Swiss domestic arbitration conference; and (3) an international arbitration conference.

    All these activities, in combination, make the program very hectic and hence allocating equal time to learn and enjoy these activities is the most challenging aspect of MIDS.

    Looking back, how useful was it to have gained some work experience before enrolling for the course? Would you suggest prospective applicants to also have some PQE before applying? 

    Having prior work experience has its advantages and disadvantages.

    The advantage is, after working in the field, you would be able to focus on the subjects during the course, which would help you in your practice when you would again enter the profession.

    The disadvantage is that, after practising, one becomes very selective about what he/she wants to gain from the course and reluctant towards the theoretical and purely academic (if the goal is not to become an academician) subjects, which may have an impact on overall grades.

    Another point to consider is the size of investment one makes into an LLM course. Hence, pursuing an LLM from a trial and error perspective without having practised is not wise.

    I would strongly recommend prospective applicants who wish to pursue LLM in the courses relating to dispute resolution/settlement to at least gain two years of experience, which must include some exposure to the trial-court advocacy.

    How did you go about applying for internships whilst a MIDS candidate? 

    The mantra I ended up following was, “Apply at as many places as possible”, as my goal was to have some international exposure where I could implement what I learned at the MIDS under the guidance of international attorneys.

    Hence, I sent applications across several jurisdictions, which included Europe, Asia (Hong and Singapore) and the Middle East (UAE and Bahrain). I was inclined to seek opportunities with law firms, but I applied to arbitration institutions and UN organisations as well.

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

    Think wisely and be honest to yourself. One should not pursue an LLM from the perspective of exploring a new field but to master in a stream. It is still not a massive investment in terms of money but a year or two counts. Considering in advance a more extended education plan (such as PhD) is viable in case someone is interested in academics.

     

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  • The Amicus Interviews: Heather Katharine Allansdottir, Bifrost University

    The Amicus Interviews are meant for broader discussions on legal education, and the legal profession at the global level. Along with the legal research and law schools, these interviews are meant to bring across a slightly “macro” perspective on things.

    One of the first things that struck me about Heather Katharine Allansdottir was the sheer diversity of her career. She has learnt (and taught) at universities all around the world, and is currently at the Department of Law and Sciences in Bifrost University, Iceland.

    In this interview, we talk about a host of things including the DPhil experience at Oxford University, comparative constitutional law, academic careers, and a whole lot more.

    Heather Katharine Allansdottir is currently at the Department of Law and Sciences in Bifrost University, Iceland.
    Heather Katharine Allansdottir, Bifrost University.

    You have had such an incredibly diverse career so far! What got you to Bifrost University, and how has the teaching experience been? 

    Thanks for such an interesting question! I came to Bifröst University for two reasons – I am fascinated by the Icelandic constitution, and I wanted to develop my knowledge of innovative teaching methods, and Bifröst is a pioneer of various online teaching methods (in the last six months since Covid hit, Bifröst has been advising other universities as the world shifts to online learning).

    I’ve had a great time teaching here, I supervised a BA thesis by a very bright young student on Brexit which made the newspapers  so that was a great moment of pride for me as a teacher.

    In general I’ve spent the year trying to develop my understanding of Icelandic culture and society. The constitution here is so fascinating. One of my colleagues was involved in the processes over the last decade to write a new constitution, and I am very interested in the idea of how to make constitutions as inclusive as possible.

    Sticking with the diversity element, could you share some of the ways in which you planned out your education choices? More specifically, what have been some of the expectations you had from the different courses that you pursued?  

    I’ve made choices, both as a student and then as a researcher, to go to places that will change me and help me to grow.

    I’ve received criticism for some of the choices I’ve made – for instance, going to Moscow to teach human rights was a bit of a high-wire act as it was at the height of tensions between the west and Russia, or going back to my ‘other’ home-land of Australia to learn about Australian law in 2018 was quite complex on both a personal and political level, in terms of my ‘positionality’ and my identity  – but I always want to develop and grow, to learn a new language, a new system of law and a new way of thinking.

    With comparative constitutional law it is important to understand the socio-legal dimension of constitutions and that is only possible through learning the language and culture.

    I am particularly interested in the DPhil at Oxford – why Oxford, and once you had decided that you wanted to pursue a doctorate, how did you go about selecting your supervisor?  

    I was very lucky with my supervisor, Professor Denis Galligan, as he is one of the world experts on constitutions – how they are written, what they should contain, how they interact with the broader society – and he was very supportive of my project right from the start.

    I decided I wanted to pursue a doctorate whilst I was a Masters student in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the topic of the 1995 Dayton Agreement was the topic of discussion in every café and lecture and party alike.

    My year in Bosnia is what developed my interest in how constitutions affect citizens and how important it is for these texts to reflect the needs of the people themselves, as opposed to the very top-down, neo-colonial, un-transparent process of the 1995 Dayton agreement.

    I wrote to Professor Galligan as I was leaving Bosnia and he was very receptive to my emerging interest in constitutions – this was in late 2010, and two months later the Arab revolutions happened so I made those constitutions my focus.

    He was very supportive of my perhaps sometimes quite adventurous (or youthfully foolish!) decisions to go and interview people involved in these constitution-drafting processes.

    Looking back, what were some of the most challenging aspects of completing the DPhil? What were the things that you wish you had known, if any, before you started the DPhil?

    An Oxford DPhil, and any doctorate, is a challenging endeavour in any circumstances, so some general advice applies (not that I think I am particularly in a position of wisdom! I am still learning and growing like everyone), whilst each experience is also unique.

    For instance, it is important to be flexible, to know that things will change, and knowing what you ‘don’t know’ – trying to make a mark on a page whilst knowing there is still so much you do not know is sort of the apprenticeship of doctoral-level work, transforming from someone who consumes knowledge to someone who produces knowledge.

    My DPhil experience, however, cannot be unentangled from the specific challenges and experiences that I faced throughout it – in my case, the twists and turns of the Egyptian revolution from 2011-2014.

    I learned a lot and also made a lot of mistakes in the dilemma of ‘who are you in what moment’ – academicians are also humans. I felt human attachment and loyalties and commitments to the young Egyptians involved in their struggle for justice – so that tight-rope walk of who you are as a person and who you are as a researcher became, at some points, very painful for me.

    I had to make moral choices I never thought I would have to face.

    Even my time in Bosnia, where I had been studying things like transitional justice and reconciliation, was little preparation for what I witnessed and experienced in Egypt during the revolution, the calculations you have to make as both an academic and as a person.

    I wish I had known, when I began my DPhil in 2011, how to hold all this complexity at once, all the different people who you have to be at once, in order to try to pin down a moment, such as the ‘constitutional moment’ of 2011-2014, and also hold the complexity of the inner world of others – but at the same time, it is never possible to fully compartmentalise one’s life, and it only causes pain to try.

    One piece of advice I would give prospective doctoral students of any discipline is to have a very clear idea of what you want to enact but also be aware and prepared for the fact that this will change, and also maintain a good relationship with your supervisor, which requires communication and flexibility, like any dance of human relations, it requires both of you to develop a good dynamic.

    Research and writing are extremely valuable skills  – how do you think law schools in particular can encourage and build these skills? 

    They are certainly extremely valuable skills!

    I think law schools are particularly good at teaching you to wield your mind like a scalpel, how to parse a text with the precision of a scientist, how to build and deconstruct an argument.

    I actually came to law quite late as my first degree was in History, and I think that law changed how my mind works – I read a text differently now to how I would read when I was a student of the humanities (not that I don’t think the humanities are also valuable, but law gives you specific understandings of concepts of intent, cause-and-effect, and a way to comb through the messiness of human relations).

    So, I think law schools work well at encouraging clear thinking, and this is developed through encouraging writing – for students to write enough until they gain the skills to really make a very clear and robust case.

    Conversely, I think it would be great if law schools placed more emphasis on both legal history and legal philosophy – these are often ‘elective’ courses in law school, but understanding how law developed, and the ideas behind law – what law is, what justice is – are invaluable parts of a law student’s education.

    So, I would encourage law students to take courses in legal history and legal philosophy!

    Lastly, as someone who has taught around the world, what are some of the most rewarding aspects of an academic career?  

    Academia is so immensely rewarding that sometimes I feel guilty, like I tricked my way into the best job in the world!

    You get to spend your days reading about interesting things, coming up with interesting ideas, and sharing and discussing them with other people curious about the world – it’s just wonderful!

    It is really an honour to be let into this world.

    Many academics, especially with the pressures they face under the rubrics of academia in the marketplace, lose joy in their work with all the emphasis on metrics and output, so I find the way to maintain the joy of academia is through teaching.

    I think teaching is an integral part to being an academic, not “something you have to get out of the way to get on with your own research” – the teaching relationship, of sharing and imparting and developing and debating ideas – is a really unique and valuable dynamic.

    That is probably the experience I’m most grateful for from my experiences at Oxford. My undergraduate tutor Professor Daniel Butt, who taught me when I was a little eighteen year old brat, was the first person who really spoke to me like my ideas were of interest and mattered and could shape the external world if I developed and applied them. I have always been so grateful to him, and I use him as a model in my own teaching with my students now.

    There is nothing more rewarding than feeling that you have imparted some knowledge to someone younger and at an earlier stage of their academic development, who will then go on to change that idea further and pass it on to others!

    It makes you feel like you are part of a really noble and valuable line – of us all developing and growing and trying to more fully understand this strange, wonderful world.

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