Over the past few years, it has become clear that more and more Indian law graduates are looking to move jurisdictions or, at the very least, gain dual qualifications. Thus far, the US and the UK have been traditional favourites in this regard, but both, Australia and Canada are slowly catching up.
To better assist such lawyers, we try and bring first hand accounts of those who have made, or are in the process of making, the move. In this edition, we interview Meghna Agarwal, a 2013 graduate of NLIU Bhopal who is looking to enrol at the Law Society of Ontario. As the first step towards this, Meghna has successfully gained a qualification from the National Committee of Accreditation, a process that she talks about in greater detail below.
Meghna Agarwal
Alright let’s start from the start – as an India-qualified lawyer, what made you look at obtaining Bar qualification in Canada?
Since my college days, I always dreamt of being licensed to practice in more than one jurisdiction. Canada is one of the fastest-growing economies and has immense opportunities for new immigrants, especially contract professionals.
In Canada, diversity and inclusion are norms and not privileges. It is a wonderful multicultural eco-system with strong values where everyone is respected. I knew that a chance to work there would help me thrive in my personal and professional life. So finally, when I decided to pursue my bucket list, Canada was the obvious choice.
Did you ever consider studying in Canada as a means to this goal?
Like every international trained lawyer, I had two options either to appear for National Committee on Accreditation (“NCA”) examinations or take up a master’s course in Canada. Although pursuing a masters is a great way to become a part of the Canadian Legal Community, I opted for the NCA instead. These are self-paced exams which help in building a foundation for the Canadian Law.
The NCA is an equally rewarding path as all candidates need to undergo mandatory articleship (unless granted a waiver) before their call to the Bar, this helps in gaining practical insight into the Canadian Law.
How did you go about preparing for the NCAs? Any advice in terms of timelines to keep in mind and/or preparation materials?
I initiated my NCA process and after my assessment, I was asked to demonstrate my competence in five core subjects i.e. Foundations of Canadian Law, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Administrative Law, and Professional Responsibility. These areas of the law have a particular development in the Canadian jurisdiction, and are thus mandatory for all students.
The competence may be showcased in one of three ways:
Through the NCA’s examinations;
By taking courses in these subjects in a Canadian Law school; or
A combination of (1) and (2).
I opted for the first. I purchased a few recommended books, texts, and notes. Being a working mom, it took me almost a month to prepare for each exam. I cleared all my papers in the first attempt.
The NCA Process and Timelines
First of all, one needs to complete an individual assessment from NCA. The assessment is completed within 1-2 months, depending on their workload and the date on which they receive the student transcripts from the university.
Once the assessment is complete, NCA allots subjects for exams or in-classroom training. The subjects are allotted based on the candidate’s grades and jurisdiction.
The exams take place four times a year i.e. January, May, August, and October. Mandatory subjects can be challenged in all quarters, however, optional subjects are offered bi-annually. Each subject has to be qualified separately. The subjects can be attempted in any order. All exams can be attempted in one sitting or bifurcated in 2-3 sittings as per the candidate’s convenience. There is almost a two-month registration deadline for each quarter.
However, the exams can be canceled up to 24 hours in advance for a nominal cancellation fee. The exams are conducted in Canada as well as in New Delhi, India. It is a three hours open book exam. Writing structured answers in IRAC form (Issue, Rule, Application Conclusion), flagging the material, solving sample papers, carefully reading the question paper and sticking time allotted to each question is essential to clear each subject.
In your experience, how difficult are these exams? Does prior knowledge of common law jurisdictions help?
The NCAs are open book examinations but it doesn’t mean they are easy. It is a qualifying exam- you either pass or fail the subject (marks are not provided unless you fail). The minimum passing criterion is 50%. In the event of failure, a detailed failure report with marks is provided to the candidate.
Exam questions are structured to assess the conceptual clarity and reasoning of the candidates. Until you are well-versed with the entire syllabus locating answers becomes extremely challenging.
Having prior knowledge of common law does help. Since India and Canada are both common law jurisdictions, they have a similar legal foundation. However, some legal concepts are very unique to Canada.
How are you going about preparing for the Ontario Bar exams? Any advice for prospective applicants?
Once you qualify the NCAs, you can become a member of the Law Society of Ontario (“LSO”). You may appear for the LSO bar exam, complete your articleship requirement (complete 10-month articleship/opt for Ryerson University’s LPP program/apply for article waiver), or do them simultaneously.
To clear the Ontario Bar, one needs to pass both Solicitor and Barrister examinations. The exams can be taken in one sitting or can be divided into two sittings. LSO provides exhaustive material for the exams. The barrister exam is divided into sections that cover the civil procedure, criminal procedure, family law, and public law, while the solicitor exam covers real estate, estate planning, and business law.
I would advise everyone appearing for NCA to study for their professional responsibility paper seriously as the Solicitor and Barrister exams have a plethora of questions relating to ethics and professional responsibility.
For further queries and information, I can be reached at meghnaagarwal06@gmail.com or on Linkedin.
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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.
Adrija Mishra (LLM ’20, NUS)
Adrija Mishra is a 2015 graduate of National Law University Odisha who recently completed an LL.M. from the National University of Singapore. In this FPA, Adrija shares some of the reasons for choosing NUS for the master’s, advice on the LL.M. application itself, and a whole lot more.
You worked for four years before enrolling for the LL.M. – did you ever consider enrolling right after your graduation?
I believe that studying law and practicing it are two very different experiences. During my undergraduate course, I was inclined towards Intellectual Property Rights, however, once I started practicing, I figured out that I was more passionate towards civil and commercial litigation and arbitrations.
So even though I had always planned to do a master’s course, I wanted to be really sure about the area on which I wanted to focus on during the course, which is a reason why I did not enrol right after my graduation.
I don’t think there is any hard and fast rule as to when one should pursue their master’s program. I had a lot of batch mates who did not have any experience and had just completed their undergraduation and were quite good. Enrolling for the LL.M. after gaining some experience was entirely a personal choice of mine and it did work out well for me, since I was able to benefit as much as I wanted from the course.
How did you go about selecting just where to apply? And why narrow down on NUS?
My first step was to decide what were the subjects that I wanted to study and based on that I had to shortlist the universities. Since I was interested in studying subjects related to dispute resolution and I wanted to return back to practicing in India, I basically focused on universities which were based within the common law jurisdictions.
I wanted to use this opportunity entirely as a learning experience. So, I did apply to universities in different countries, but my focus had always been on universities in U.K. and Singapore.
To be honest, I did take in a lot of factors before narrowing down on NUS. Firstly, NUS was ranked better than the other universities from which I had an offer.
Secondly, I did a bit of research with respect to the kind of exposure which I was getting. I wanted some sort of work-related exposure and the legal procedures in Singapore are somewhat similar to what we have in India, which was again a crucial factor.
Thirdly, I really liked the evaluation scheme and the course structure of NUS. In each semester, there was a pool of around 80 modules from which I was free to choose modules which I was interested in.
Fourthly, Singapore did appear as a financially viable option. Fifthly, in all honesty the geographical proximity was also a big factor which helped me decide on NUS.
What were some of the expectations you had from the LL.M. itself?
I had done quite a bit of research about NUS and had spoken to the alumni who had given me a pretty fair picture, because of which I was quite sure that I would have a good academic environment. The education which I had received prior to this course was more of a non-Socratic approach, where we are required to prepare projects, attend vivas, study and appear in exams.
For my LL.M., I wanted to have more of an experiential sort of learning, which is why I chose modules which would challenge my skills as a lawyer. I was more focused on the strengthening my core procedural skills. Quite fortunately, NUS has a lot of practicing lawyers and arbitrators who teach some of these courses.
Any advice on how to approach the personal statement requirement?
Once I had shortlisted the universities, my next set of research was entirely on how to draft the personal statement. Based on my experience, I can say that a personal statement is an applicant’s story which they tell to the world and nobody can tell it better than them.
Every person’s personal statement would be very different, so one can clearly read as many samples as they want, but at the end of the day only you know how to tell your story in the best way possible. Statements are very important especially for students applying for Master’s because a lot of these universities do not conduct interviews for these courses as they do for undergraduate courses, so it is the only way for them to know who you are and it is your only opportunity to make a lasting impression.
So, statements should be as honest and crisp as possible and should reflect your passion and interest in the course.
Also, one needs to first shortlist the universities, before they even start working on the statements. It is pretty evident that some universities call for a personal statement while some look for a statement of purpose. Every university clearly mentions what they are looking forward to read in a statement. So, it is very important that one does complete research about the university before preparing a statement. More importantly, one must prepare separate statements for different universities.
In the past couple of months, I have helped applicants with their statements, and I feel that a lot of times, applicants explain how the particular course would help them in their career but they do not focus on how they would be benefitting the university. It is a race with some extremely qualified applicants, so if one wishes to stand out then they should explain why they should be given preference and how they would be benefitting the university during their studies.
Also, what I have learnt is that we tend to decorate our statements with fancy quotes. It is not at all essential to decorate your statement, but if you still want to, then you must use quotes which compliment your statement.
Did you apply for/receive financial aid?
I did apply for financial aid but unfortunately, I did not receive one and I had to look out for other options for funding my studies. I think one major mistake that I did, which applicants must avoid, is that I focused all my energy on one particular scholarship and did not invest much on other options. There are a lot of scholarship opportunities available which one can explore before applying to these universities.
As an LL.M. candidate, how useful was your past work experience?
As I said earlier, having past work experience is not a strict requirement for LL.M., however, for me it did turn out to be quite helpful. It created a huge foundation on the basis of which I selected the modules. It helped me narrow down on what I was expecting from my LL.M and how to go about it.
Course wise, it did help a lot in understanding the concepts as I was able to relate it with the experiences which I had. Since my focus was entirely on the procedural aspects of law, my work experience helped me in understanding what I had been doing and how I could change it. This entire course was more of a journey of self-evaluation.
Looking back, were your expectations from the LL.M. met?
Yes, indeed. Though a major part of my second semester was affected because of the COVID-19 situation, irrespective of that I believe that my expectations were met to a great extent. I think I had quite a fruitful first semester to compensate for the same. I do regret not being able to benefit from certain modules, which I would have, had situation been little different.
Nevertheless, I did have a great learning experience. Besides the same, I also did get a great opportunity to network and meet with like-minded individuals who are doing great in their respective spheres. To be able to interact and learn from such renowned academicians and professionals was indeed a dream come true.
As I mentioned earlier, I was expecting to have more of an experiential learning from this course. I had the opportunity to learning basic procedures like recording of evidences, what kind of questions should be asked, how to present arguments and drafting legal documents.
We had to brainstorm through multiple hypothetical situations and were given individual feedback with respect to the documents drafted and the arguments that we presented. So indeed it was an enriching experience.
Lastly, any advice for the Indian law grad who is considering a master’s abroad?
A master’s abroad is a huge investment, but at the same time it is a very good investment. So one should be very sure of what they are expecting from the program and then shortlist the universities accordingly.
My one advice to the law graduates who are considering a master’s abroad is that they should not restrict themselves to only few universities based on their self-evaluation. A lot of times, we have the tendency to not apply to leading universities, fearing that we might not get selected or that we are not qualified enough. You never know what aspect of your application might impress a university.
So, when applying for LL.M., I would suggest that applicants should be limitless and grab as many opportunities as are available.
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The Admission Interviews, are meant to provide insights into LLM admissions right from the law school itself. The idea behind this series is to provide that little bit of extra information that may not be available on the law school’s website.
In this edition, I speak with Trent Anderson, the Associate Dean of External Affairs at St. John’s University School of Law.
(Edited excerpts)
Trent Anderson, St. John’s University School of Law
Alright, let’s get the most obvious one out of the way – how has St. John’s School of Law adapted to the changed circumstances? And what do you think is likely to happen in the fall semester?
The law school switched from in-person instruction to 100% synchronous online instruction within 48 hours in March. That model continues for the summer, but we are planning a return to in-person instruction in August in a hybrid, simulcast model where all classes that are in-person will also be broadcast so that students or faculty who need to self-isolate may do so and maintain instructional continuity.
In addition, we’ve spent the summer training faculty on best practices for online and hybrid instruction to guarantee students the best educational experience.
Law Schools in the United States must comply with both national rules set by the American Bar Association and state-level rules, in our case set by the Court of Appeals in New York. Both regulatory bodies have extended a waiver through the fall semester to their rules that legal education must be primarily delivered in-person.
But, as of now, that waiver does not apply to our spring semester and thus we anticipate returning to in-person instruction at that time.
Also, how have you personally had to change the way you work? Any surprising learnings made along the way?
With everyone working remotely, often from home, the traditional start and end to each work day has blurred. I am working much longer hours, later into the night, and on weekends. There is limited opportunity to travel and socialize outside the home, so many people, like me, are attending online events.
During a regular summer, the pace of work at a law school slows.
This summer, however, as alumni, faculty, and students are all working remotely, people are looking for virtual opportunities to socialize, to learn, and for professional growth and networking, Thus, we are often hosting 3-4 events per week for our community.
We’re busier now with events than when school was in session!
The abrupt switch from in-person to online learning left many people who are not comfortable with technology feeling overwhelmed. A fortunate silver lining in this disruption is the necessity for people to figure things out and try new ideas. People are acting as their own desktop support services and more willing to try new technology.
“A fortunate silver lining in this disruption is the necessity for people to figure things out and try new ideas. People are acting as their own desktop support services and more willing to try new technology.”
This openness to new things and willingness to experiment are beginning to influence the ways in which professors design lessons and interact with students, which is leading to more effective and efficient instruction.
When it comes to the LL.M., what do you think are some of the more valuable aspects of the program? I ask this specifically from the point of view of the international lawyer.
St. John’s University School of Law provides three primary advantages for international lawyers. The first advantage is preparation for the New York bar examination. We have unrivalled bar support and integrate specialized classes, tutorials, and practice in our bar-track LL.M. programs.
The second advantage is an opportunity for practical training doing legal work both while in school (Curricular Practical Training) and for up to a year on a student visa after a student graduates (Optional Practical Training).
The third advantage for international lawyers is the network they will build at St. John’s Law. LL.M. students don’t just study and network with other LL.M.s, but are integrated into the law school community taking classes with J.D students and networking with alumni (over 8,000 of whom work in the New York area).
St. John’s Law is a truly global law school, in no small part because of the diverse legal talent that has joined our community and the many contributions that our international students have made in our classes, our student organizations, and our alumni family.
So, we are looking for “right-fit” student who can benefit from our program strengths in advancing their careers and who will be valuable, diverse contributors to our community and strong global ambassadors as alumni.
You have had a very interesting prior to St. John’s as well – one of the things that stand out for me is the fact that your JD helped you in areas as diverse as technology and publishing – any real world examples that you can share in this regard?
Fortune 500 companies are littered with MBAs in entry level and mid-level management positions and J.D.s tend to be clustered in legal departments. So, I found that having a J.D. on the business side was a huge advantage.
I was given the benefit of the doubt by C-suite executives in such things as negotiating deals, developing products for new markets, and writing MOUs and contracts. This meant I could be more nimble and productive in my work.
It also increased the variety of work I got to do (from technology to publishing to education to entertainment) which was intellectually engaging and motivating. I believe a law degree is one of the best, if not the best, ways to prepare for the business world because it trains you to think and write.
“I believe a law degree is one of the best, if not the best, ways to prepare for the business world because is trains you to think and write.”
Given your background with Kaplan and Cablevision, any predictions on the future of learning at the post-graduate level? How do you foresee law schools changing the way they function going forward?
I started delivering online courses in the mid-1990’s (Kaplan test preparation courses for the LSAT, GRE, GMAT, and SAT) by digitizing VHS recordings and pairing them with PDFs of the material being covered.
It was cutting edge at the time, but a poor substitute for in-person instruction.
Over the years, the technology and the understanding of how to effectively teach with it have dramatically improved. However, even the best online instruction can’t match the effectiveness of an in-person classroom where the teachers and students can see and react and interact with one another.
And, as much learning happens outside the classroom in a law school as in. Informal student study groups are essential to really understand what is being taught in the classroom.
“As much learning happens outside the classroom in a law school as in. Informal student study groups are essential to really understand what is being taught in the classroom.”
There are also certain skills a lawyer needs like client interviewing, negotiation, deposition preparation, and clinical work that can’t be done well, or sometimes at all, remotely.
So, I believe that law schools, including St. John’s will continue to use technology robustly when appropriate for background materials, integration of multimedia to facilitate different modalities of learning, and checks for comprehension, but that ultimately law school should always have an in-person component.
The move to simultaneous in-person and online synchronous instruction does mean that students will never again get a “snow day” because class is cancelled for inclement weather—instruction will just be online that day!
Lastly, any words for the Indian law graduate who may be considering applying to St. John’s Law?
Welcome! If St. John’s seems like a fit for you to help you advance your career, please contact us to set up a time to talk with us!
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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.
Tanya Tawakleyis currently pursuing the Juris Doctor degree at the University of Ottawa, a course she will complete in 2022. A graduate of Amity Law School in Delhi (’17), Tanya clerked in the Delhi High Court before for two years before enrolling for a J.D.
In this FPA, Tanya talks about the reasons for applying for a J.D. as opposed to the more popular LL.M., the LL.M. application process itself, and a whole lot more.
Let’s get right to it – why the Juris Doctor?
I was certain that I wanted to practice in Canada and decided that pursuing a Juris Doctor (JD) would be the logical step forward. The most important point of consideration for me were the employment opportunities after graduation.
Many people in India opt for the traditional LLM route but I realized that a degree that is geared more towards academia did not align with my goal of practicing abroad. The legal job market in Canada is small and the mid to big sized law firms are limited to a few cities. The market is not saturated, however it is not easy to land a job, as it is fairly competitive.
Through my research on the two programs, I gauged that employers prefer JD applicants over LL.M. applicants – not necessarily because the JD applicant is “better”, but because the program is more familiar to them. They have gone through the same foundational program and trust that a JD is trained to do the kind of work that would be expected from a summer student/employee. Further, students enrolled in a JD can participate in the structured recruitment process; I believe the LLM program does not have that option which creates a barrier at the point of entry.
“Through my research on the two programs, I gauged that employers prefer JD applicants over LL.M. applicants – not necessarily because the JD applicant is “better”, but because the program is more familiar to them.”
Most universities, at least in the province of Ontario, have several networking events, mentorship opportunities, career related workshops, etc. throughout the year that help JD students connect with people in the industry. These opportunities are invaluable, and for a student coming from a foreign country, even more so.
The program also offers a lot of flexibility in terms of course selection and allows students to mould their degree based on their own interests. Lastly, the three-year duration gives you enough time to build friendships, interact with people from different backgrounds, and develop professional relationships.
And once you had decided that it was going to be a JD, how did you go about selecting just where to apply?
There are only about 20 law schools in Canada. I targeted the ones in Ontario because I want to work here. Once I zeroed down on the geographic location, I researched all the law schools in the province by extensively going through their course offerings, rankings, admission requirements, work done by the professors, and recruitment statistics.
Every school’s website gives detailed information about all these aspects.
Another important factor for me was understanding the student experience. I signed up for online forums run by law students in Canada to gather information through the discussions, polls, and comparisons on various topics ranging from the cultures at different law schools to course recommendations. After considering all these factors, I narrowed down on a few law schools in Ontario.
University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law (uOttawa) made it to my list because it offers a wide array of courses and has highly regarded professors in their respective fields of expertise. Another attractive feature was that Ottawa is home to some of the best law firms in the country. For domestic students, it also provides for some fantastic opportunities to work with the government. The campus is a 15-minute walk to the Parliament, the Supreme Court of Canada, and other courts and tribunals. In my first week at uOttawa, I met the Chief Justice of Canada and toured the Supreme Court of Canada! I also observed court proceedings at the Ontario Court of Justice for an assignment.
Studying in one province does not prevent you from pursuing opportunities outside that province, but the proximity of the school to the market you are aiming for makes life a little bit easier. I also have family here in Ontario. Having a support system helped me with the initial transition and now, with COVID-19 and online classes, it is nice to be close to family.
“Having a support system helped me with the initial transition and now, with COVID-19 and online classes, it is nice to be close to family.”
How early did you begin the application process? How much time would you advise for LSAT prep?
The seed was planted in my brain in 2016, when I was in the fourth year of law school in India. At that time, I feared the unknown – a JD is still pretty unheard of in India and I did not know anyone who had travelled down this path.
To add to this were the costs in terms of time and money, the stress of going through with another law degree (still gives me jitters), and the psychological impact of starting afresh, just when I was going to be fully ready to be part of the workforce in India.
I think once you are sure that you want to do this, you should start as early as possible.
The application has several components – the LSAT score, personal statements, optional statements (on diversity, life experiences, work experiences, etc.), grades from undergrad, an autobiographical sketch, and reference letters – all of which takes time to pull together. Some schools present you with a case scenario and ask you to argue for either side. While all schools conduct a holistic assessment of applications, I believe that for an international applicant, the LSAT score is one of the most important components. I say this because the standardized test is the only common denominator which is a part of all the applications.
I do not think I am equipped to advise on exactly how much time one should put in for LSAT prep. The amount of prep time depends on the test taker’s goal score, their strong and weak areas, and other commitments that they might have (university exams, long work hours, childcare, etc.).
However, I strongly recommend doing two things before starting LSAT prep – first, check the competitive scores for the law schools you want to apply for; and second, take a timed diagnostic/sample test without any preparation. Doing this will reveal where you are as compared to where you want to be, in order to be a competitive applicant and determine your time for adequate preparation. Getting some prep material, taking timed sample tests, and putting in some extra hours for the sections that you struggle with are some things that you can do to improve your score.
In India, the LSAT takes place around 3 times in a year and I suggest taking the test 4-6 months prior to the application deadline; this gives you a chance to improve if you wish to take the exam again. However, unlike some other entrance exams, you do not have the option to submit only your best score. All your scores will be part of your file, even though most schools consider only the best score.
Did you apply for/receive financial aid?
Yes, I did receive a small bursary. Universities offer bursaries which are need-based financial assistance. Some bursaries are granted automatically if you meet a certain criterion. For example, there are universities that grant a bursary to all first-year international students.
Some universities provide the option to apply for financial aid by submitting supporting documents at the beginning of an academic year. The university then assesses the applicant and grants financial aid accordingly. Unfortunately, scholarship options are limited for international students.
The details of financial aid available are given in detail on each university’s website, and one can always reach out to the universities to enquire further.
What was life as an L1 at Ottawa Law? What have been some of the more challenging aspects of the course?
It has been a roller-coaster ride. The first few months were tough; I was not only adjusting to a different pedagogy but also to a new environment (and -30 degree Celsius, but that shock came a few months later). The JD program is very demanding and requires you to work towards your grades from day one. Assignments are designed to prepare you for the real-world and exams are analysis heavy. They push you to think creatively instead of merely regurgitating what is taught in class.
I had to completely recalibrate the way I approached my classes, readings, assignments, and exams. All my exams were open-book, typed, and application based – things I did not experience through my education in India. It took some time to adapt to this format but eventually, I started valuing the process.
The university did a good job of keeping schedules fully packed. When I was not attending classes, I was attending workshops, doing readings, preparing for a moot or a negotiation, and so on. Apart from academics, there was a lot going on within and outside the campus in terms of cultural activities, societies, and events. The students at uOttawa’s Faculty of Law were very helpful, the professors were approachable, and overall, the law school had a collegial vibe.
Looking back, I think despite the challenges (or maybe because of them), the past year has been the most enriching year of my life. I learned a lot and have grown as a person, both personally and professionally.
What is your reading of the employment opportunities available to the international law graduate?
The process of finding employment for internationally qualified lawyers is comparatively tougher, though definitely not impossible. A lot also depends on the area you wish to practice in – if you are aiming for a niche area and have the credentials to match it, you will have better chances of securing a job.
Moreover, lawyers with a few years of work experience in their home country in a specific field have a slight advantage in finding employment over lawyers who are fresh out of college.
However, to be eligible to apply for positions, internationally qualified lawyers are required to go through the licensing process. This involves taking equivalency exams, the barrister and solicitor exams, and completing the articling/law practice program requirement. If you decide to pursue a master’s degree, you will still need to go through this process to be able to work as a lawyer.
Due to COVID-19, the last few months have gone by differently than anyone had anticipated; it is difficult to predict what is going to happen in the next few months. The employment opportunities this summer did take a hit but on the bright side, I feel like things are slowly getting back on track with people and workplaces adapting to the changes.
Lastly, any advice for the Indian law grad who is considering studying abroad, the Canadian JD in particular?
It is an experience that I would recommend.
Living in a new country, absorbing a new culture, meeting people from diverse backgrounds, and being away from your family and friends will make you step outside your comfort zone and contribute to your overall development. At the same time, you should know that the learning curve is steep, and things take time to work out – so be patient and be prepared to hustle!
A JD is the first degree in law in Canada. However, do not view a JD as a “repeat” or a “waste” of the Indian law degree. As I have already mentioned, it is a completely different experience and will make you a better fit for the Canadian job market. A JD requires you to have a bachelor’s degree, so your Indian law education also counts for that.
You will benefit from the common law education that you receive in India – the distinct comparative perspectives that you could bring would quite possibly stand peerless. The law related experience will only enhance your resume and not take anything away from it. In my first year, my background in law helped me immensely while I was adjusting to an entirely new modus operandi of teaching and learning.
However, if you want to get into academia, specialize in a specific area of law, or generally get some experience abroad, then a JD might not be the degree you want to pursue. It is important to have a clear vision of what you want out of your degree abroad. Once you know that, spend time considering your options and the associated investment in terms of money and time.
Do your own research, talk to people, and do not let yourself get bogged down by the process. I think having some work experience before applying to foreign universities enables you to approach your studies with a different lens and can add value to your experience abroad.
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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.
Aashna Chawla
Aashna Chawla is an incoming LL.M. candidate at Harvard Law School, choosing to defer her admission to 2022 instead of this year. A 2018 graduate of Amity Law School, Aashna has been clerking at the Supreme Court of India since she graduated.
In this FPA, she discusses her reasons for applying to Harvard Law School, the finer aspects of the LL.M. application itself, and a whole lot more.
(Edited excerpts)
Let’s start at the start – when did you begin planning for a foreign LLM? What are some of your expectations from the LLM?
To do justice to this question, let’s start with a little about who I am. I’m a girl who loves intellectual adventures! I love libraries and can read books for days on end. Some might even call me a geek, but don’t get we wrong, like every other student out there, I don’t like reading my curriculum.
It’s the things they don’t teach us in law school that fascinate me the most.
To my delight, I decided to choose a profession (i.e. law) which at some point of time might require you to learn anything – from how one suffers different gunshot wounds, to even the science behind constructing a rollercoaster – in order to defend their client.
It was this inherent curiosity which instilled in me the idea of pursuing an LL.M. from a foreign law school. The difference in teaching styles and variety of subjects offered in LL.M. courses at foreign universities is what motivated me to continue my academic endeavours outside India.
Since then, the sheer thought of a LL.M. from one of the best law schools in the world was nothing short of magical. The chance to study at an internationally renowned university brought a sparkle in my eyes, and was a great motivation for me to work hard in law school, chisel my imperfections and be a better version of myself.
At Harvard Law School, I want to fulfil exactly those dreams. I look forward to studying at the largest library in the world, experiencing a campus full of students from various jurisdictions, and having intellectually stimulating discussions that make you question the very basics of your understandings.
Mostly, I look forward to learning from the scholarship of the best professors in the world. I would like to focus my studies on arbitration and constitutional law since they have been my primary concentrations, and would like to gain in depth knowledge of the theoretical underpinnings of the doctrines pertaining to these two subjects.
Since studying at Harvard has always been a dream, consider me no less than a child who visits Disneyland for the first time in their life! The excitement of having the Harvard experience seems unparalleled, and I look forward to going back to academics.
How did you go about selecting just where to apply? What were some of the more useful resources for research?
The decision of where to apply is one of the most crucial choices one needs to make. It becomes more important since it’s a choice you make before you even start narrowing the specifics of your application, and yet the choice you need to stick to till the very end of your application process.
My choices were clear from the very beginning, I had made a list of six U.S. universities which I wanted to apply to: Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, NYU, Cornell and Berkeley. However, this choice is personal to your area of specialization, and your end goal. For instance, students who want to become academicians might rank Yale as their top priority, others interested in Tax will prioritize the International Taxation program at NYU.
It all depends on what you want from an LL.M., and the field you want to study.
The best resources to help you make that decision is the website of the concerned university. Make a list of 10-12 universities that you would like to study at and visit their website – check their curriculum, the degree requirements, the campus, etc.
“It is also extremely helpful speaking to alumni from the colleges you wish to apply to. In my case, this was my primary source of information.”
In case you can, it is also extremely helpful speaking to alumni from the colleges you wish to apply to. In my case, this was my primary source of information. Luckily, I knew at least one person who had attended the law schools I was applying to. This gave me a first person account of what the law school experience is like, and was extremely helpful in guiding me through the application procedure.
Any advice on how to approach LLM applications in general? How early to begin, things to keep in mind etc?
A few tips I would like to share would be :
Don’t apply to all the law schools you know of. Select your top 5 or 6 and focus on those applications.
Begin your applications on time and don’t leave anything, including proof-reading, to your last day. The stress of a deadline might get to you and can affect the quality of your application. Try finishing your SOP well in time so that you can read and re-read it to make those last minute changes.
The first thing one should start on (and finish) is your TOEFL/IELTS and the documents required by LSAC. Although it might be the easiest part of your application (intellectually), it is time consuming and should be completed way before you start writing your SOP (ideally this step should be completed by July/August of the year of application).
Keep your CV as concise as possible. It should be well rounded and balanced. Leave the details and specifics of your work experience for your SOP.
Try writing a fresh SOP for every law school. While it seems like a mammoth task, it is achievable. I understand that you might have the same achievements to write about, however, your SOP should not and cannot be a one size fits all piece of writing. Different law schools look for different things. Go through each law school’s class profile for the past years, speak to a few alumni and see where you fit in. For each law school, emphasize on the achievements that make you fit in a particular spot in their class profile, and just touch upon the rest. The idea of a different SOP means you focus on different achievements and catalogue details of different experiences for different law schools, depending on what they are looking for.
Take the advise of a third person. Some of my the people I know used the guidance of an LL.M. counsellor, instead I choose to call my friends and get after their life to proof read my SOP and give me their suggestions. Thankfully, I had some great friends who tirelessly helped me through the application process, and would stay up with me entire nights to help me draft properly. They would read and re-read and re-read my SOP to check the flow and consistency. I would not have been able to make it without all their efforts, and I cannot stress enough on the importance of having a third person read your SOP. It gives you great insight into articulation and you can test if the point you want to make is coming out clearly. So keep all your friends close during this time!
Lastly, and most importantly, keep calm! LL.M. applications can be stressful for many people. I remember panicking and feeling like I’m going around in circles while drafting the different SOP’s for my applications.
If you find yourself in the same position, relax and take a day off the applications – do something that makes you happy. It’ll give your mind some rest and you might start with a fresh perspective after a much needed break.
When it comes to the HLS application in particular, how did you approach the essay questions? Any thoughts on what worked in your favour?
The essay question is something you need to devote time and thought towards. When you’re applying to Harvard, I’d suggest you keep double the time just for your Harvard application compared to other law schools as it’s an application which requires an essay on a current legal issue in your country with your proposed solution, in addition to a regular SOP about yourself and why you want to do an LL.M.
My approach to the essay question was to write about a legal issue I truly believe in, and one that I had extensively researched on. Given the fact that I had a full-time job during my application period, and did not take a break to prepare my application, having my research and reading in place was a huge relief!
The fact that I chose a topic I was passionate about, and had worked on and read about for months together worked in my favour as the basis for my essay and my thought formulation was clear. All I had to focus on during the time of my application was the articulation of my thoughts.
I’d suggest choosing a topic related to a matter/issue you worked on not too long before the time of your application. If you have extensively worked on an important matter in your chosen field, it might be a good idea to take that as your starting point and develop an issue around it.
This is one aspect of the Harvard application where I feel they judge how well you understand the situation in your own country. Therefore, reading about and having a holistic perspective of the issue and its impact on various sectors of the country is key.
At the same time, your issue must be something unique and contemporary, not something which has been written about time and again.
Also keep in mind that the solution to the issue you address is the key factor in your essay which you should take time to develop and not take lightly – this is where the application of mind counts. While choosing your issue is important, the solution you offer must be unique and well thought of – it is critical to your application.
Lastly, any advice for the Indian law graduate who is considering a master’s abroad?
For all the prospective LL.M. applicants out there, I’d suggest :
Firstly, choose what you do wisely, and balance your CV. While working hard and getting good grades does matter, it is not the be all and end all of applications to top law schools. In the five years you spend in law school, set yourself apart from the rest. Try your hand at everything. Do a little bit of all the activities your law school offers (and of course, it goes without saying, try your best at winning a few), but don’t over-do any one thing. You might enjoy it, but it comes across as one dimensional.
Secondly, by the time you apply for your LL.M., you should have something concrete on your CV which demonstrates your interest. The first thing they will look for is what you did if you were interested in a particular field of law. How did you take your interest in that field further post your graduation? What action/work signifies your interest in the field? The answers to all these questions should come out of the work and activities you exhibit in your CV.
Thirdly, as a law student, try your hand at something different. Intern with a company, see what its like to be in-house counsel, also try a ministry under the Central Govt. or the NITI Aayog internship program. While you’re in law school, don’t be too focused on any one type of internship. This is your time to experiment and decide what you actually what to do. So divide your time equally amongst the various internship options you have. Also, if you have the time, try interning for more than a month, maybe 2 or 3 months. Stability shows that you learnt more at a particular place.
Lastly, technically, HLS does not require work experience before you apply. However, work experience is always preferred and personally, I would highly recommend it. You need to experience the workings of an office as well as a court before you do your masters. It also helps gain clarity on what you really want to do, and the subjects you really want to study.
Further, work experience will help you grow – intellectually, which in my opinion, is extremely important. Your intellectual growth will help you grasp an LL.M. better.
Another important factor which comes with experience is maturity. In law school, it might seem that one is good at writing, however, there’s always room for growth, and your growth can be seen from the way you draft.
Sometimes, I see my own writing from last year and get surprised as to how immature I was in framing an issue in a certain way. The same goes for my SOP, of which I had countless versions with a new one almost every day. And yet, if I glance at it today (a few months after my application), I still have things I want to edit!
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