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  • Why I think recommendation letters are (a bit of) a sham

    Why I think recommendation letters are (a bit of) a sham

    Let me, like any lawyer, add a few disclaimers. First of all, my observations are based on the majority of my experiences with LL.M. applications to non-Indian law schools. There have been some notable exceptions where the words below would not be applicable.

    Second, I do understand the role that recommendation letters play in the admission process. After all, any graduate admissions office would like a third-party perspective on prospective applicants; some much needed assistance in the evaluation process. There is only so much that can be said through a personal statement or an essay.

    Third, I am well aware that recommendation letters have always been an important part of the admissions process and that education, much like the legal profession, relies heavily on traditional practices.

    Yet, I also believe that it is high time that we start questioning the utility of recommendation letters. Or at least initiate an honest conversation about them. And I say this for multiple reasons.

    For one, I think they are often taken far too lightly. You have recommenders who would much rather leave the “recommending” part out of this process; the applicant is the one who drafts, the recommender merely signs.

    In all fairness, I can understand the reasons behind this.

    Writing these letters can be a laborious and often thankless task. Very often, recommenders are given with barely enough time to think, reflect and draft the letter. And law school faculty, at least in India, are often so overburdened with administrative and non-academic work that they have little time or inclination to pen those thousand odd words that may (or may not) play a role in an applicant’s future.

    The easy way out is to merely append one’s signature. After all, this will keep everyone happy, correct?

    Probably.

    Two, I also think that the very purpose of recommendations is misunderstood. For example, applicants, especially those in their final year of study, often seek recommendations on the basis of short (4-6 week) internships where there is little, if any, opportunity to assess the applicant.

    Such recommendations are sought out purely for “letterhead value” such as those from senior academics, judges, and practitioners who may not, and often do not, have the faintest idea about the applicant’s capabilities. I personally think this is a terrible idea, unless of course the internship was an exceptional experience with personal mentoring.

    Of course, what I think is irrelevant; what is relevant is how these letters are perceived by the graduate admissions team.

    I suspect that foreign law schools are well aware of these practices, and have their own in-built mechanisms to review and filter the recommendations. Some, like King’s College London, have done away with this requirement completely. And I would not be surprised if others follow suit. After all reviewing recommendations must be quite an intensive use of human resources. Resources which may be better utilised elsewhere.

    Having said that, I don’t think doing away with these letters is the ideal solution. Like I stated in the disclaimer section of this piece, recommendation letters can hold immense value in the assessment process.

    But, for that to happen the letters, and the process behind them, must be far more honest.

    So, perhaps one way to achieve this would be to assist the applicant and the recommender in understanding the purpose and content of these letters. Some universities, in fact, do have guides for recommenders but these are exceptions.

    Instead, institutional connections may be more effective, whereby graduate admissions students are able to directly reach out to prospective applicants as well as prospective recommenders. This could, and should, potentially lead to collaborations of all sorts, be it faculty exchange or joint research.

    A third way could be to have dedicated resources on higher education outside the country, even if this would result in competition to the Indian law school’s own post-graduate offerings.

    To sum things up, as the Indian Law Graduate’s (ILG’s) ambitions turn global, and as more and more ILGs opt for a master’s abroad, there needs to be a more vigorous examination of the application process. And whatever the findings of this examination may be, they have to be addressed with some degree of honesty.

    Or so I hope.

    (Image source: Annatsach [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons)

  • #Repost: Mohak Rana on the IP LLM at the Franklin Pierce School of Law, University of New Hampshire

    Mohak Rana is currently an LLM candidate at the Franklin Pierce School of Law, University of New Hampshire.
    Mohak Rana, Franklin Pierce School of Law

    Mohak Rana is currently an LLM candidate at the Franklin Pierce School of Law, University of New Hampshire.

    In this interview, which was first published on  Lawctopus here, he talks about choosing where to apply for a specialised IP LLM, his experiences at UNH thus far, and what prospective LLM applicants ought to keep in mind.

    How did you go about selecting where to apply for an LLM? What were some of the schools you had shortlisted?

    It was a big decision to make which included many factors like reputation, ranking, finances, cost of living etc. First of all, I decided my personal goals, and what I was looking from my LLM.

    I realized that instead of aiming for the Ivy League schools, I should focus on my course specific colleges and started researching  online. I checked LLM-Guide which told me about various options I had, and also about top 10 IP-LLM courses from different colleges around the world.

    “I realized that instead of aiming for the Ivy League schools, I should focus on my course specific colleges and started researching  online. “

    After this, I started making an excel sheet for comparison of these schools in terms of different factors which mattered to me. Finally,  I made a list of eight schools where I wanted to apply which were ideal in ranking and costs. These were:

    • Turin School of Development
    •  Franklin Pierce School of Law
    • Hong Kong University
    • Maastricht University
    • Queensland University
    • Ankara University
    • Jagiellonian University
    •  Queen Mary University of London

    Any advice on how to go about the admission process itself in terms of time management, writing SoPs etc? Did you use the experience of building OurIP in your personal statement?

    I was very afraid initially. There was so much information and advice from different people that it just confused me. First of all, write your own SoP and do not follow any template. An SoP is a story about yourself and your goals.

    In your absence, that is the piece of paper which will tell your story to the person making decision about your application. So, do not worry about an SoP and write it honestly. Get it checked by your peers or your faculty so that you know it meets its objective and also for grammatical errors.

    After you have decided your goal, needs and have shortlisted your colleges, you can start with the following basic requirements:

    • Gather your documents like Degree, Transcripts, Passport etc. You can do this even before you start researching about colleges as it might help you save some time during actual application time. (Make sure you have everything ready when you are applying)
    • Try to get a good recommendation letters from faculty and from professional contacts you have worked with. (Make sure they talk about your traits and your achievements, and the people you decide to take recommendations should ideally be from the field you are planning to do your LLM in)
    • TOEFL exam (Try to get a 100 as most of colleges require minimum 100)
    • If you have been taught your bachelor course in English then a letter from your college stating the same (Very handy in case you don’t want to spend on TOEFL exam and your shortlisted college provides an exemption on the basis of previous education being done in English medium)
    • Apply as soon as the application process starts for that particular colleges (In most cases September is the month when admission process starts)
    • Time management is very important so make sure you have everything ready before September if you are aiming for good scholarship as most of the colleges do admissions on rolling basis with a limited scholarship fund which tends to go to people applying in first round.(In general practice not necessarily)

    Yes, I did talk about OurIP in my statement and how I  plan to use it in future. I talked about how my LLM degree is supposed to help me in building OurIP.

    What got you to narrow down on the LLM offered by UNH in particular?

    The Franklin Pierce School of Law at UNH is one of the few schools which has been consistently doing good in rankings, not to mention its huge IP alumni base in India and abroad (eg. VP and Chief Patent Counsel of Microsoft is a UNH alum). It is a known name in the IP field and offers very good scholarship options. The law school is something you will always be proud to be associated with because of its worldwide recognition among IP professionals.

    “The law school is something you will always be proud to be associated with because of its worldwide recognition among IP professionals.”

    One major factor was low cost of living in Concord compared to some other big names in expensive cities like California, New York, Singapore, Hong-Kong etc. Overall, a very generous scholarship combined with the low cost of living made it the best cost effective option I had. The school’s IP library and resources, experienced faculty, Top 5 ranking in IP, and proximity to major cities like Boston and NY made me decide to leave every other option I had in my list.

    Did you apply for/receive financial aid?

    I did mention in my SOP that I would like to be considered for any scholarship opportunity I might get. To my surprise, I got very generous offers from different schools. In the end I chose UNH because apart from the usual merit scholarship, I also got an additional $5,000 scholarship from Royzz & Co. law firm.

    Early days, but how has the LLM experience been thus far?

    It has been a wonderful experience so far. The subject courses covers a wide range of topics. The pedagogy used is very focused and involves active involvement of students in the form of various class activities.

    The faculty and administration make sure to help with any issue such as health, language barrier, home sickness or anything else which might hamper your learning experience. Regular events by various clubs involving both recreational and academic events helps you to enjoy law school life.

    We are also getting an exclusive opportunity to be taught by industry professionals e.g Patent licensing class is taught by a Partner in big IP law firm, while IP strategies class will be taught in Silicon valley in the office of Microsoft by Vice President and Chief Patent Counsel of Microsoft.

    On top of this regular invitations for community engagement programs, lecture series by legal experts, open discussion platforms have been delightful. In short it is not a degree but an experience of a lifetime.

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

    Getting your financials straight is a major advice I would like to give. It is not easy and certainly not cheap to pursue a degree abroad. I strongly advise against taking a huge loan and then pursue your degree outside India in the hopes that you will get a job here and will be able to payback your loans. I have seen plenty examples where people got crushed under their loan burden.

    “I strongly advise against taking a huge loan and then pursue your degree outside India in the hopes that you will get a job here and will be able to payback your loans. “

    If you can afford it due to your parents backing you up or you  having you own savings coupled with good scholarship then only think about doing a LLM from abroad or else it is not worth it. Also, it is very difficult to get a job on the basis of your L.L.M. so keep that in mind.

    Lastly, if you think that you can subsume some of the living cost by working part time, be aware that for your first year (basically your whole LLM period) you can only do those part time jobs which are on campus and which are not federally funded. In short there are very less opportunities to earn money in the US in particular.

  • First Person Accounts: Sreedevi Jayachandran on the ICAL LLM, Stockholm University

    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.

    Sreedevi Jayachandran is a 2019 graduate of the International Commercial Arbitration Law LLM a
    Sreedevi Jayachandran

    Sreedevi Jayachandran is a 2019 graduate of the International Commercial Arbitration Law LLM at Stockholm University. In this FPA, the Kerala University law graduate (’16) shares her reasons for opting for the ICAL programme, the ICAL experience itself, and how to go about the application process.

    (Edited excerpts)

    Were you ever planning to enrol for a master’s right after your undergrad? Or was the plan to always work for a bit and then apply?

    I had no plans of pursuing my Masters right after undergrad as I was still making up my mind as to which area of law I wanted to specialize and build a career. I worked for about two years as an in-house legal counsel for a business consultancy firm in Dubai before deciding to do my Masters.

    I suppose the internships I did during my undergrad along with working in a field where we were posed with in-house and client disputes gave me a clarity as to choose Arbitration as an area of interest.

    What were some of the schools you shortlisted? And what got you to narrow down on the ICAL programme?

    I had three main options narrowed down while considering doing my Masters which were ICAL (Stockholm University), MIDS (Geneva) and NUS. The ICAL programme has its reputation in the arbitration world which was one of the main reason to consider the program.

    The location just added to its charm.

    The cost of program was also considerably less for the reputation it held and that definitely contributed to finalizing on ICAL. The entire program was structured to give both theoretical and practical experience to its students which was a very attractive feature of the program.

    “The entire program was structured to give both theoretical and practical experience to its students which was a very attractive feature.”

    Any advice on how to go about the application process itself? More specifically, the personal statement and letters of recommendation?

    This is one of the questions I receive from many who wish to apply to the ICAL program. In all its honesty, the application process is quite straightforward and is applied through a unified platform for all the Universities in Sweden.

    With regards to the personal statement, definitely give a thought as to why you want to do the Masters. I think the key is to do your research and understand why you want to specialize in the field, be it arbitration or any other area. Once you have that clarity, personal statements becomes a way you express your ideas. Do not overthink and make it complicated.

    Keep it simple and just convey your thoughts.

    I provided one recommendation from my professor and another from my employer. They were kind enough to recommend me to the program.

    Did you apply for/receive financial aid?

    I neither received any financial aid nor applied for one. I think the options were also quite limited if I remember correctly.

    When it came to the LLM itself, how useful was your prior work experience? And what were some of the highlights of the programme?

    Since I’ve had very limited experience in the field itself, I went with a clean mind with no pre conceptions and that worked to my benefit as I was able to absorb everything I could get out of the program.

    However, I had some knowledge about the arbitration law in Dubai which helped me to contribute during lectures and learn more about other jurisdictions.

    What was your reading of the employment opportunities that the ICAL programme offers to international graduates?

    To be completely honest, it depends on where you want to work. I could see a significant rise in employment opportunities in India and I could see that recognition was given to the ICAL title in Dubai as well.

    However, I would say it would be unreal to expect employment opportunity to escalate only because you have a Masters especially since it is very common to find people with masters degree these days. It is definitely a great start to get a better understanding of the field and also to network with people who has left a mark in the field. Opportunities will follow with the experience.

    “It is definitely a great start to get a better understanding of the field and also to network with people who has left a mark in the field.”

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

    My only advice is to choose wisely what you want to specialize in before starting your application process. I’ve lately received messages from law students who wanted to understand the application process in Stockholm which gives me nothing but pleasure to help.

    However, most of the times when I ask them why they wanted to do the program, I’ve received replies that they have heard its a good university. It is very important to not start with the University rather start with the area you want to specialize in and then short list the universities.

    “It is very important to not start with the University rather start with the area you want to specialize in and then short list the universities.”

    You could start from your Law school by doing internships whenever you can, participate in competitions, attend seminars and so on. The resources are plenty as compared to what was available five years ago. Use them wisely and understand what interests you.

     

     

    If you would like Amicus Partners to provide some personalised advice on your LLM applications, please fill in this form and we shall get back to you as soon as possible.

  • The LLM #Admission Interviews: Justin Swinsick, University of Chicago

    The Admission Interviews, are meant to provide insights into LLM admissions right from the law school itself. The primary idea behind this series is to provide that little bit of extra information that may not be available on the law school’s website.

    Justin Swinsick is the Director of Graduate Programs at the University of Chicago's Law School,
    Justin Swinsick, UChicago Law

    Justin Swinsick is the Director of Graduate Programs at the University of Chicago’s Law School, and was in Delhi recently for the LSAC LLM fair.

    In this interview, Justin shares his thoughts on the value of an international LLM, common mistakes to avoid while applying, employment opportunities in the US for the international LLM graduate, and a whole lot more.

    I ask this of as many people as I can – what is the value of a US LLM from the point of view of an international law graduate?

    While the vast majority of LLM graduates never practice in the US I think they are still very well served by studying law in the US for at least a year.  From a pragmatic perspective, transactional work in an international environment tends to reflect a very US approach, not to mention the amount of influence US law has generally in this space.

    Further, at some point, unless you are working in a very niche national area, you will have a client that interacts with the US in some way and having an understanding of US legal practice and how US lawyers approach problems will allow you to better protect your client’s interests.

    I also think spending a year at a US law school makes one a better advocate in their own jurisdiction practicing their national law.  The emphasis on advocacy, logic, reasoning and analysis is valuable for an attorney practicing anywhere in the world, and this is what really sets law schools in the US apart.

    “The emphasis on advocacy, logic, reasoning and analysis is valuable for an attorney practicing anywhere in the world, and this is what really sets law schools in the US apart. “

    While the core material you learn in each class is important, US law schools are designed to emphasize the learning process itself over the material so that graduates become more adaptable lawyers.

    UChicago prefer applicants with a few years work experience – how have you seen this component (PQE) play out during the LLM experience?

    While it is not a requirement for an applicant to have post law school work experience, and we have had a number of fantastic students over the years that have come directly from law school, the majority of our candidates do come with work experience.

    When a candidate comes to the program with experience I think they have a better understanding of:

    • How to leverage the professional opportunities available to them and,
    • How their coursework translates into their practice.

    First, there are many opportunities to be had during the LLM and students that have been out in the work force tend to be better at recognizing where those opportunities are.  Second, candidates that come to the program with work experience have a better grasp of how the material they are studying can be implemented into their practice.

    Again, a fairly common question – when it comes to the Personal Statement, any mistakes that prospective applicants ought to avoid?

    If you use the same personal statement for more than one school make sure to change the name of the school.  That is a death knell.  We understand candidates are applying to multiple schools (in fact I encourage them to do so).  However, forgetting to change the name of the school is a sloppy mistake and sends a very poor message.

    Another mistake is that candidates will simply repeat what is readily available in their CV.  The personal statement should be used to add a little bit of colour to the application as well as demonstrate to the reader that the candidate knows how the LLM fits in with their overall goals (where they are now, where they want to be, and how the LLM creates the bridge).

    “Another mistake is that candidates will simply repeat what is readily available in their CV.  “

    Are LLM students allowed to cross register in different departments/schools at UChicago?

    Yes, LLM students can take classes at any other UChicago school, though those credits will not count towards the graduation requirements of the LLM.

    In your experience, what do international LLM graduates value the most from their LLM at UChicago Law?

    The personal connections with their classmates and professors. UChicago Law is a small school and prides itself on these relationships. The friends and professional contacts students make stay with them for the rest of their lives.

    What are the employment opportunities in the US which are available to UChicago LLM graduates? Could you tell me a bit about the January job fairs?

    Any student looking to pursue an LLM in the US needs to realize that the chances are very slim that they will find full time employment with a firm or company in the US following the program.

    With that said, it does happen every year but it is important for a candidate to first understand how the program will benefit them back home and then if they find something that allows them to stay in the US, that is a cherry on top.

    “It is important for a candidate to first understand how the program will benefit them back home and then if they find something that allows them to stay in the US, that is a cherry on top.”

    During the program students need to make sure they are taking advantage of networking opportunities, speak with professors, and career services professionals to make sure they are turning over every stone possible, but with the understanding that the odds are not in their favour.

    UChicago Law participates in the overseas LLM job fair which takes place annually in late January/early February in New York. The event is hosted by Columbia Law.  In addition to UChicago Law and Columbia the other participating schools are Yale, Harvard, Stanford, Michigan and Virginia.

    During the fair LLM students have the opportunity to interview with law firms from around the globe looking to recruit LLM students. UChicago Law students tend to do quite well during this event averaging between 5 and 6 interviews per student.

  • First Person Accounts: Monika Thangavelu on the LLM in Human Rights at Essex University

    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.

    Monika Thangavelu is currently enrolled as an LL.M. candidate at Essex University, where she is specialising in human rights.
    Monika Thangavelu

    Monika Thangavelu is currently enrolled as an LL.M. candidate at Essex University, where she is specialising in human rights. In this FPA, the Alliance University (’19) graduate talks about her reasons for applying right after he undergrad, the LL.M. experience thus far, and a whole lot more.

    At what stage of your undergraduate degree did you decide to apply for a master’s? And what were your expectations from the course?

    I decided to apply for the LLM programme in my 3rd year of LLB. I was keen in doing a masters in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law after interning at various human rights organisations such as NHRC, SHRC and District Legal Service Authority.

    Initially I wanted to an in-depth knowledge of the subject and also, the international perspective of the subject. Learning from some of the experts from human rights field would help me enhance my understanding of the subject and its implementation in practice.

    Given the specialised nature of your interest, what were the other schools that you applied to?

    I am really sure as to my interest, so I applied to the universities that are renowned for this subject. Apart from University of Essex, I applied to Queen Mary University London, Maastricht University, National University of Ireland Galway, Middlesex University, and Bristol University.

    Though, I got admitted in all of them, I chose Essex because it ranks above these in the Human Rights field.

    Any advice on the application process itself, more specifically, the personal statement and the letters of recommendation?

    My first advice would be “Start early” ! Secondly, look for the top universities in your field of interest rather than a general search for top universities. Look for the modules and figure out if they are the ones you are interested in. Then, before applying look carefully for what they require.

    After all these processes, start writing your personal statement. Write, edit, re-edit and review your personal statement before you submit it. If the University requires you to submit your CV along with the statement, then focus more about the course, the university’s reputation, alumni and how you will benefit from it. In case, the CV is optional, then include more details about you.

    With regards to the reference letter, I got it from a professor who taught me 5 modules. So, I would suggest getting it from someone who knows you better and has observed you well in and out of class.

    Did you apply for/receive financial aid?

    I applied for full scholarships funded by the universities. Unfortunately, I haven’t received any full scholarship. But I was awarded the ‘International Merit Scholarship’ at the University of Essex which is 5000 pounds.

    Early days, but how has the LLM experience been thus far? What have been some of the highlights along the way?

    The experience is good, new and energising. I found more interest in the subject of human rights after coming here. I am engaged in the Human Rights Clinic over here, which has opened me up to new opportunities and I am gaining some practical experiences too.

    One of my professors is a UN Special Rapporteur and learning from him is amazing as it has widened my thoughts on some of the areas of human rights. Also, having classmates who have already numerous years of experience in the field is amazing and helps me grow my network. I am looking forward to many more surprises.

    What has been the most challenging aspect thus far of the LLM?

    Sometimes it is hard to do all the readings before attending a lecture. And managing your time is really crucial. It’s been a challenge but I am sure in a span of five months things would be on track.

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

    Again, I would like to emphasize on the point of starting early. It is essential for someone who is going to spend a year of time and investment to research wisely. Look for all the scholarship opportunities and their deadlines. Remember, ‘All that glitters is not gold’, so make your decisions calm and wise.

    All the best.

     

    If you would like Amicus Partners to provide some personalised advice on your LLM applications, please fill up this form and we shall get back to you as soon as possible.