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  • The LLM #Admission Interviews: Puteri S. Amirnuddin, Taylor’s University

    The LLM #Admission Interviews: Puteri S. Amirnuddin, Taylor’s University

    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.

    Puteri Sofia Amirnuddin is the Programme Director for Master of Laws at Taylor’s University in Malaysia. I chanced upon Taylor’s while looking at Asian universities that Indian law graduates may be interested in, apart from the usual suspects of NUS and, to some extent, HKU. Taylor’s is currently offering two, specialised LL.M.’s, one on international trade law, and the other on medical law. They have also recently launched a PhD programme in law.

    Here is Puteri talking about the two programmes, future employment opportunities in Malaysia, and more.

    (Edited excerpts)

    As someone who has studied extensively outside her home country, what do you think are some of the “softer” advantages of a studying abroad?

    I would say that students will gain invaluable experience at Taylor’s University in Malaysia as they will be able to interact with students from other countries and background. We have students coming from Seychelles, Mauritus, Maldives, Bangladesh, Pakistan, South Korea, Indonesia, Australia, Nigeria, China, Sudan, Russia and Kazakhstan studying Master of Laws at Taylor’s University.

    There are also various events organized by the Taylor’s Law School. For example, the DiaLAWgues sessions where prominent individuals provide talks to law students.

    International Students will also be given opportunity to participate in trips to the Malaysian Parliament, Palace of Justice, High Court of Malaya, Attorney General’s Chambers and other interesting places which would provide insights on the legal system in Malaysia.

    As a Programme Director for Master of Laws programmes, I conduct a dialogue session with the Masters students every semester to ensure that their needs regarding their studies are well taken care of. The feedback provided by the international students are frequently positive from enjoying the lessons in class and also to be able to explore various attractions at Malaysia.

    When it comes to the LLM programme at Taylor’s University, you offer two, specialised courses. Are you planning on introducing a general LLM as well?

    ​At Taylor’s Law School, we offer Master of Laws (International Business and Trade Law) and Master of Laws (Healthcare and Medical Law) programmes. The School has designed the programmes to reflect the demand of working professionals in these two specialized areas.

    There have been few inquiries whether Taylor’s Law School will introduce general LLM but at the moment, the School plans to encourage postgraduate students to pursue their PhD in Law at Taylor’s University. We launched our PhD in Law in March this year.

    Also, do you prefer candidates who have a few year’s of work experience? Or are you also open to fresh law graduates enrolling for the course?

    We welcome any students from any background to study Master of Laws! It is always good for the students to have the additional qualification in addition to their undergraduate degree.

    The Master of Laws degree is particularly interesting as it provides students with a deeper understanding about the area of law that is not generally covered in their workplace.

    We have students who joined the Master of Laws programmes immediately after they have completed their Bachelor of Laws degree.

    “The Master of Laws degree is particularly interesting as it provides students with a deeper understanding about the area of law that is not generally covered in their workplace.”

    Do you see LLM graduates then enrolling for doctoral studies at Taylor’s? Is the doctorate funded? 

    We have been received many inquiries relating to the PhD in Law at Taylor’s University. ​We even have medical doctors who have completed Master of Laws (Healthcare and Medical Law) programme expressing their interests to pursue PhD in Law programme.

    As we all know, various industries have been disrupted by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Hence, it is not surprising that there are many inquiries on Master of Laws and PhD in Law programmes as there are many working professionals who would like to gain additional qualifications in order to survive in the challenging future world of work.

    With regard to the funding of the doctoral studies, it depends on each applicant actually. We have applicants who are joining the programmes funded by their employer. We also have students who are self-funded, or have received bursary and/or scholarships from Taylor’s University.

    What is your reading of the Malaysian legal market when it comes to the recruitment of international lawyers?

    In recent years, there have been a number of international law firms entered into a partnership with Malaysian law firms​. The Legal Profession (Amendment) Act 2012 and further amendments to the legislation have now permitted foreign law firms and foreign lawyers to practise in Peninsular Malaysia in the manner set out in the legislation.

    Depending on the qualifications of the international lawyers, the law firms are open to consider the applications of international lawyers intending to work in Peninsula Malaysia.

    “Depending on the qualifications of the international lawyers, the law firms are open to consider the applications on international lawyers intending to work in Peninsula Malaysia.”

    Given your academic experience, any advice for law students who are interested in academia and research? Any tips on how they should structure their legal education?

    ​I would advise students to always opt for a Masters degree that encourage students to publish their work. The publication of students work in any journal will open many doors for them to apply jobs in academia, knowledge management department in law firms and even perhaps at the Ministry level. They will get their name ‘out there’ for future students, researchers, academics and/or policymakers to refer to their research.

    It really depends on the interests of the each students on their future career path.

    My advice to young law graduates is to keep in mind the revolution of the legal profession. There will be some law firms that will invest heavily on artificial intelligence and employ less young graduates as the former will be able to conduct legal research faster as compared to manual labour.

    “My advice to young law graduates is to keep in mind the revolution of the legal profession.”

    It is advisable for students to invest in programmes that will sharpen their analytical skills, problem solving skills, and empathy.

    If they are not rushing to find a job, they should consider pursuing Master of Laws after they have completed their undergraduate studies. With the additional skills and knowledge, they can sit for the Bar Exam confidently and they would be more mature as compared to the other fresh law graduates.

  • First Person Accounts: Riya Jain on an LLB from Durham, LLM from University College London

    First Person Accounts: Riya Jain on an LLB from Durham, LLM from University College London

    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.

    Riya Jain, unlike most other participants in the FPA series, is not only an LLM candidate at the University College of London but also undertook her LLB course at the University of Durham in the United Kingdom. In this interview, she explains the reasons behind studying law in the UK at the undergraduate level, why she chose to do an LL.M., and much more.

    What got you to consider an LLB from outside India, as opposed to within the country? How did you go about selecting where to apply? 

    I had applied to law entrance exams for law in India (CLAT, NLU-Delhi, etc.) and was unable to secure a place at a coveted law school in India.

    It was my parents who encouraged me to apply to universities abroad, specifically the UK after consulting our neighbourhood friend and an educational institute about career prospects abroad. The reason I chose the UK was because I was fascinated with how commonwealth countries like India derive their legislative acts from the UK.

    Consequently, upon doing my research regarding the best-known universities for law in the UK I had come across Durham, which at the time I applied was ranked 3rd in law after Oxford and Cambridge. I was immediately attracted to the experienced faculty and international exposure that Durham offers to its students.

    While India is a growing hub for law opportunities, I personally do think it is quite behind other developed countries like the UK in regards to infrastructure, globalisation and international exposure. Another reason for applying to Durham was because it offered me the ability to explore international opportunities such as comparatively studying different legislations like the UK, the EU and some bits of the civil legislation system in the US (which is remarkably different from commonwealth legislations!).

    “While India is a growing hub for law opportunities, I personally do think it is quite behind other developed countries like the UK in regards to infrastructure, globalisation and international exposure.”

    Durham also gave me the opportunity to immerse myself in a plethora of extracurricular activities like sports and societies – I enjoyed playing basketball for my college team and was part of the Project Citizens Advice Line where I helped provide legal advice to Durham citizens and students regarding housing and employment issues.

    I think the opportunities at a university like Durham is pivotal towards becoming a lawyer. At first I thought becoming a lawyer was simply about scoring well in exams due to the way curriculum is taught in India. However, my university experience taught me how to become a well-rounded individual who is not solely focused on studies but also on being more proactive in terms of using my social skills and for that I am extremely grateful to Durham.

    “My university experience taught me how to become a well-rounded individual who is not solely focused on studies but also on being more proactive in terms of using my social skills and for that I am extremely grateful to Durham.”

    How easy or difficult was the application itself? Any advice for those who may be also considering following in your footsteps?

    A well-focused personal statement detailing reasons for studying in the UK is recommended. My advice would be to focus on your personal strengths and how you can use your skills to contribute to studies abroad.

    If you are applying to a jurisdiction like the UK or even the US, extracurricular activities (any kind of passion or hobby that you enjoy) can really work in your favour. If you are interested in a career in law, giving the LNAT (Legal National Aptitude Test) is necessary for UK universities. Moreover, you are required to take the IELTS so make sure you are extremely fluent in your English speaking and writing skills as a high IELTS score is very desirable.

    I would also recommend doing some self-researching into universities that rank highly for studying law as not every single university abroad is worth the hype and you don’t want to get swayed away by certain educational institutions who can misguide you on this topic.

    “Not every single university abroad is worth the hype and you don’t want to get swayed away by certain educational institutions who can misguide you on this topic.”

    Did you apply for/receive financial aid of any kind? 

    I didn’t receive financial aid. There are extremely limited scholarship opportunities for international students and we are encouraged to look for educational loans and scholarship opportunities from our home country.

    I think the Indian Government needs to improve its funding for its citizens who wish to study abroad. In the UK, students are usually on a student loan that is funded by their Government. This is one of the many areas that the Indian Government should seriously reform. In a country like India where competition is super fierce and talent is abundant, the Indian Government should seriously look into opening more institutions with better infrastructural facilities and stronger financial aid for its citizens.

    Looking back, what were some of the more challenging aspects of the LLB course? And given that you got internships in both, India and the UK, what do you think are some of the bigger differences between the two countries from the perspective of a legal professional?

    The most challenging aspects of the LLB course is the reading and legal research. The requirement that assignments must not be plagiarised is heavily emphasised upon and helped me perfect my research skills. The LLB course was rigorous in regards to the reading we were required to do and I can’t remember a day that went by where I did not read a case online or an article that analysed legal issues related to our curriculum. I also learnt how to organise my time more wisely in relation to my extra-curricular activities and my studies.

    “The LLB course was rigorous in regards to the reading we were required to do and I can’t remember a day that went by where I did not read a case online or an article that analysed legal issues related to our curriculum.”

    I think the biggest differences between India and the UK in regards to internships is that in the UK, vacation schemes (internships) give you an insight into the workings of an international commercial law firm. In India, there is an absence of exposure to international-clientele deals. Moreover, the assessment centres in the UK tend to be quite challenging as there are various stages that they utilise in order to test a candidate’s ability to train at the firm. Of course, not all UK firms hire candidates based on a transparent assessment centre and I have come across a few candidates who have secured internships at high-end London law firms through a mere close connection.

    Nonetheless, I do believe that a transparent and rigorous assessment centre that tests a candidate’s capability and motivations for working at a firm in India should be introduced. The practice of hiring interns through close connections should be banned.

    Being an international student qualifying for a job opportunity (known as a training contract) for a law firm in the UK is notoriously difficult because most firms do not sponsor international students. You would have to score really well at University and/or look for other factors to seriously distinguish yourself to even make it to assessment centres in the UK. That being said, the opportunities to work with high-end clients at an international law firm offered in the UK are still very attractive to international students.

    This is quite evident due to London’s status as the leading global financial country. Even though Brexit could potentially change this status, studying in the UK for budding Indian corporate professionals is still desirable. Nonetheless, I do believe that job opportunities in India in relation to the corporate sector has the potential for real growth (Intellectual Property Law, Competition Law and Arbitration are sectors predicted to grow in the coming years) and it would be remarkable to see India expand its offices globally.

    When it came to the LLM, what were some of the schools you looked at? What made you narrow down on UCL?

    For my LLM I looked at LSE, UCL, Oxford and Cambridge. I did not get into Oxbridge and instead narrowed down my choice to UCL. UCL is currently a top 10 university as reported by QS rankings and having UCL as a brand name on my CV was an important factor for me to pursue an LLM there.

    I also aim at specialsing in Competition law at UCL as this course was ranked no.1 very recently so I am quite confident that the faculty and individuals I will get to interact with at UCL will help me become a proficient competition lawyer in the near future.

    I am also looking forward to my non-specialist module Environmental law as it will help me understand policy related matters to climate issues more closely, another area of law UCL is highly esteemed for.

    What are your expectations from the LLM course itself? 

    My expectations from the LLM course is that I hope it helps me gain a better understanding of Competition Law in order to become a strong lawyer. I believe this is an area law that is currently growing in not just India but other jurisdictions of the world. I also aim to study more about algorithmic collusion in the Digital Economy and how competition law can curb the dominance of digital companies like Facebook.

    I wish to also delve into the area of environmental law which will be a challenging and dynamic area of law to study. Therefore, I believe studying at UCL will bring me closer to my career ambitions.

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

    My advice would be to plan ahead of time about whether you want to pursue a master’s abroad. The field you specialise in your masters should be of serious interest to you as it requires a lot of time and effort. Carefully consider scholarship or educational loans that you can apply for a year or two in advance.

    An LLM is also a good way of demonstrating your passion for your desired field of law and is valued by recruiters. By pursuing an LLM, you can not only increase your changes for working at a reputable company but also enter into the research field about things like public policy.

    Many of the professors I interacted with at Durham University are highly accomplished and respected academics in their field. A career in academics should not be underestimated at all and an LLM provides you scope in this area.

    “Many of the professors I interacted with at Durham University are highly accomplished and respected academics in their field. A career in academics should not be underestimated at all and an LLM provides you scope in this area.”

    Lastly, I also think an LLM is a good way of helping students distinguish themselves from their competitive group of peers when applying for any kind of job opportunity.

  • First Person Accounts: Annapurna Sreehari on the Masters of Arts in Law & Diplomacy, the Fletcher School

    First Person Accounts: Annapurna Sreehari on the Masters of Arts in Law & Diplomacy, the Fletcher School

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

    Annapurna Sreehari is a lawyer who has taken a slightly less conventional path when it comes to graduate studies. Graduating with a law degree from GNLU, Gandhinagar in 2010, Annapurna worked as a corporate lawyer for a few years before enrolling for the Masters of Arts in Law and Diplomacy at the Fletcher School, Tufts University (Class of ’15). In this FPA, she discusses the “human” factor in dispute resolution, the MALD course itself, and a whole lot more.

    You walked a fairly well-trodden path right after your undergraduate – working as a corporate commercial lawyer. Was this something you enjoyed doing? How do you think it contributed to your standing as a legal professional today? 

    Yes, I enjoy the practice of law. I like learning its concepts and philosophies; how it is implemented and how it affects people; the gap between the theory and practice. And the more you learn, the less you feel you know. Also, there’s so much nuance to it – which is always fun.

    My first job certainly set the base for who I am today. I learnt a lot about how transactions work, what is your role as a lawyer, what are the industry practices. In a lot of ways, it created my foundation as a legal professional and allowed me to see where the gaps were in the system towards helping people achieve what they want/need.

    Also, I was lucky to have very helpful colleagues and seniors who took an interest in teaching me. I don’t think everybody has that experience. So, for that, I’m grateful.

    At what point in time did you start looking at a master’s course, and was an LL.M. ever in the picture? What attracted you towards the MALD programme?

    About two-and-a-half years into my profession, I started to get frustrated with the seeming lack of a system and training for lawyers to handle the “human” factor issues that inevitably cropped up in a transaction. I have seen deals fall through, not just because of lack of economic viability in a project, but over issues involving trust, ego, etc.

    My brief exposure to mediation in my final year of law school had me convinced that these issues could actually be sorted through mediation. Much later, when I was pursuing my masters, I came across this niche area of mediation practice, called “Deal Mediation”, wherein a mediator helps the parties in a deal to navigate the deal-based issues, resulting in the successful signing of a joint venture/sale agreement.

    At the time when I was looking for LLM programs that offered mediation courses, I didn’t find many credible courses that took a deep-dive into mediation. While there were a few LLM programs that focused on dispute resolution, mediation was a side-offering. The MALD program allowed a deep-dive into mediation in a way that one wouldn’t experience in any LLM, which is valuable. Also, the kind of flexibility that was offered by the MALD program was something that attracted me.

    “At the time when I was looking for LLM programs that offered mediation courses, I didn’t find many credible courses that took a deep-dive into mediation. While there were a few LLM programs that focused on dispute resolution, mediation was a side-offering. “

    Tell me a bit about the application process itself – how did you go about it, what were some of the bigger struggles, and what advice do you have for prospective applicants? 

    The application process was typically laborious and long-winded. I reached out to a few successful students who were studying at Fletcher, via LinkedIn, about what they did while applying. Their inputs were valuable, as I made it to the only program that I’d applied to.

    I think a big struggle would be, finding scholarships. It isn’t easy to come across information about scholarships and even applying for that takes quite a bit of planning. Also, the application form itself has several elements to be fulfilled, so long-term planning would be invaluable.

    For prospective applicants, I would suggest a few things. First, the Statement of Purpose is crucial. Every institution has a particular ethos that it subscribes to. So, it makes sense to check with current students on what you should focus on while applying and then tailor the Statement of Purpose accordingly.

    “Every institution has a particular ethos that it subscribes to. So, it makes sense to check with current students on what you should focus on while applying and then tailor the Statement of Purpose accordingly.”

    Also, always remain authentic. The screening committee in any institute is very good at weeding out the authentic from the inauthentic applications. Second, plan way in advance (at least a year). If you’re also applying for scholarships, then your work would start at least 2 years in advance. You’ll also need to produce recommendation letters, write the TOEFL/GRE – all of which takes time. Third, good recommendation letters help. I have noticed that letters from a Supreme Court judge or a senior member from a reputed organisation gives an applicant significant edge. But, these should be from a person who has actually supervised your work.

    Fourth, there are some students who have started an organisation or do some practical work in the subject of their masters’ program. While this is not necessary (and should not appear gimmicky), it adds to the quality of your experience and such students have received significant fee discounts and/or scholarships when they have demonstrated that their track record is different and geared consistently towards a particular goal.

    How was the programme itself? Looking back, what were some of the “unlearnings” if any, that were made during the course?

    The program was incredible. It opened my mind to a completely different paradigm of dispute resolution and exposed me to very different tools and concepts for understanding and navigating the same. As robust and valuable the legal approach to dispute resolution is, it has its limitation when it comes to international political or even international business conflicts (which, more often than not, do take on a political angle).

    This is where the methods of conflict resolution (which terminology is usually used to describe international political dispute resolution) come in very handy. I believe that combining one’s legal acumen with methodologies used in conflict resolution would be very useful for navigating international commercial disputes.

    “I believe that combining one’s legal acumen with methodologies used in conflict resolution would be very useful for navigating international commercial disputes.”

    One key learning for me about the conflict resolution landscape was that there is a method to that chaotic madness of international political/commercial disputes. Although one can never use a one-size fits all approach to any conflict, being aware of several frameworks of response and using what feels appropriate for the context would go a long way in having some semblance of control over the situation.

    I would characterise my experience at Fletcher more as a “horizon-expansion” as opposed to unlearning. During my time there, I purposely chose courses that are not offered in a typical law program. I studied International Finance, Macroeconomics (the way they teach it there is way different from what we’re exposed to in Indian law schools), Corporate Finance etc. I can’t claim to be an expert in any of these subjects, but I can say with confidence that I learnt enough to figure how those areas work on a superficial level, and that I need to learn so much more about those subjects.

    “I would characterise my experience at Fletcher more as a “horizon-expansion” as opposed to unlearning. During my time there, I purposely chose courses that are not offered in a typical law program”

    Would you recommend the course to other Indian law graduates?

    Yes, I would. But there are also disclaimers, which are important to be aware of.

    I realise that it may take one off a typical legal career and that’s not for everyone. And if students have ambitions of wanting to be eligible to qualify to write the bar in the US, then this course would not cut it.

    If students would like to veer into a different career trajectory (be it working for an international NGO or the World Bank, or even consulting), then this would be a good course to look at. All of the previously mentioned opportunities are also extremely competitive and difficult to get. But for the highly motivated student, it should be possible to achieve those goals.

    The beauty of the flexibility of this course can also be experienced as a burden. It’s up to the student to figure what they want to do with their life and in their career. This is not a path that provides cookie-cutter models for students to follow. So, it’s important to introspect and set expectations beforehand before taking on a course like this.

    “This is not a path that provides cookie-cutter models for students to follow. So, it’s important to introspect and set expectations beforehand before taking on a course like this.”

    Concepts like economics, statistics and quantitative methods which are offered in any typical public policy program are weak areas for the regular Indian law student. One suggestion for anyone considering such courses (and who would categorise themselves as being weak with numbers and graphs) would be to give themselves a head start by learning basics of these subjects in advance, so that they can manage to keep pace with the curriculum once the course commences.

    You have also spent a considerable amount of time on dispute resolution in India – do you think Indian lawyers are ready for ADR?

    I wouldn’t say considerable amount of time, but I think I have spent enough time in the mediation space to figure what that looks like in India currently.

    There is a lot of debate on what constitutes “ADR”. There is currently a move to distinguish “ADR” from “CDR” (Consensual Dispute Resolution). ADR is popularly associated with arbitration and in order to carve a niche for consensual processes like mediation, the acronym CDR has been coined. Indian lawyers have been involved in arbitrations for a long time. The system for arbitration in India still has a long way to go, compared to jurisdictions like Singapore, USA or Europe. Nevertheless, we’re making slow and steady headway.

    I think it is in the area of CDR that much work needs to be done in the country. There are hardly a handful institutions and people who are involved in raising awareness and even training people in mediation, besides a clutch of lawyers mediating disputes in small pockets. Now with the recent signing of the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation (popularly known as Singapore Mediation Convention) by 46 countries, including India, the hope is that mediation would find firmer footing in a lot more jurisdictions. But that will also take time.

    As things stand currently, I find that a few individual lawyers, smaller law firms, and some innovative companies are open to the idea of mediation. Most of the bigger law firms or risk averse organisations don’t consider mediation as even a serious option. The reasons for that are various and innumerable – they range from perceptions of economic viability for firms’ or individual legal practices, lack of an adequate system (legal, regulatory/credibility-wise, knowledge/awareness) for promoting mediation, and lack of a larger political will to create that system. Also an unfortunate and uncharitable impression that only “failed” lawyers get into mediation isn’t doing much for its PR. A whole article can be written on what needs to change in the Indian mediation landscape, but more on that later.

    “As things stand currently, I find that a few individual lawyers, smaller law firms, and some innovative companies are open to the idea of mediation. Most of the bigger law firms or risk averse organisations don’t consider mediation as even a serious option”

    What is your reading of Indian legal education, more specifically, the “national” law schools – do you think they are good at building lawyers? 

    You ask very difficult questions. I personally find it a little problematic that there is an informal “caste-system” of sorts that is practiced, where the “national” law schools are supposedly considered to be better.

    I think the quality of students and teachers in most of the top law schools – be it those with the “national” tag or otherwise are similar. The teachers and members of the administration keep hopping between these institutions. Many students hop after a year or two as well. And almost all the big law schools in the country attract students from all over India, and sometimes from neighbouring countries as well.

    A few things that could make a difference in terms of building better lawyers could be:

    (i) location of the law school within city limits, that help students pursue “all year” internships;

    (ii) connections between the law school and experts/practitioners who can take special/extra classes on subjects that aren’t commonly covered, or who can give a practical perspective on the working of the law on-the-ground;

    (iii) institutional linkages between law schools and law firms/companies (in India or abroad), that provide internship/training opportunities to students;

    (iv) allowing the teachers in the law schools the flexibility to practice law in whatever limited capacity (maybe as consultants or part time litigators) could also go a long way in changing the way subjects are taught in law schools.
    Incidentally, the late Shamnad Basheer and the Consortium of NLUs’ Executive Committee have been lobbying for quite a while to allow law professors to practice in Courts. I believe that lesser the gap between teaching and practice, better would be the overall education. Similar model is followed in other countries, so I don’t see why it can’t be implemented in India.

    (v) Encourage and fund research in Indian legal institutions for exploring concepts that may not be immediately relevant in the extant legal industry. Currently, Indian law schools seem to be catering to the legal industry as it stands, as opposed to influencing and changing how the legal industry can function. This includes equipping themselves to educate even practicing lawyers, members of the government and judiciary on cutting-edge concepts and legal issues by collaborating with credible institutions within the country and from other jurisdictions with better established systems. There is so much to be gained when legal education institutions in India aspire to be ethical and progressive influencers in the Indian legal landscape.

    A lot of this is already happening. But, as is usually the case, there is always scope for more improvement.

    Lastly, what advice would you have for the Indian law graduate who is considering a master’s abroad? 

    First, work experience helps. It allows you to put in context what you’re learning in your masters.

    Second, choose what you’d like to study and figure what kind of opportunities that you might realistically get once you graduate. This would help you determine if this might be a financially sound option for you. This would include speaking to people who’ve done the course and asking them what they’re doing and how they got the job they did.

    Third, be prepared to research the job landscape and build connections for future internships, even before your course starts so that you can hit the ground running once your course commences. You won’t have too much time once classes start.

    “Be prepared to research the job landscape and build connections for future internships, even before your course starts so that you can hit the ground running once your course commences. You won’t have too much time once classes start.”

    Fourth, figure your finances and/or scholarships way in advance (at least 2 years) so that you can time your scholarship and masters’ applications appropriately. Also if you don’t get a job in your jurisdiction of choice, determine if you’ll be able to absorb the cost of your education by working in India.

    Fifth, cultivate perspective. There can be moments of despair when you’re job-hunting and things may not always pan out as you expect. That is OK. Focus on the learning and experiences and how it evolves you into a better person. Your experience may or may not yield into that “dream job”, but your learnings are yours to use appropriately and wisely.

    “Your experience may or may not yield into that “dream job”, but your learnings are yours to use appropriately and wisely.”

  • The Amicus Interviews: Lennora Crilov on the Penn State LL.M., global recruitments & more

    The Amicus Interviews: Lennora Crilov on the Penn State LL.M., global recruitments & more

    The Amicus Interviews are meant for broader discussions on legal education, and the legal profession at the global level. One of the goals of this series of interviews is to get the views of Indian law graduates who are working outside the country. Another goal would be to track the educational aspirations of the Indian Law Graduate (ILG), especially when it comes to studying outside the country.

    Lennora Crilov graduated from Amity Law School, Noida in 2016 and then enrolled for the LL.M. course at Penn State Law School. She is currently the Head of Department – Academic Mobility and Accreditations at the Narxoz School Law & Public Policy, based in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

    Her’s is an interesting story by itself, and so apart from knowing about her LL.M. experience itself, I was quite keen on learning about her opinion on global recruitment opportunities for the Indian Law Graduate, as well as some of the benefits of a post-graduate law degree.

    Let me get the most pressing question out of the way first – what is the food in Kazakhstan like?

    Absolutely mouthwatering-ly delicious! The best part of Almaty, Kazakhstan, other than its breath-taking views of the Alatau mountain ranges, is its multi-cultural cuisine.  I recommend a visit just to pamper your taste buds!

    Back to business, what got you thinking about an LLM, and why go right after your undergrad?

    While doing my undergrad I worked with NGOs in Delhi and organized many women and child development programs in Noida. Post my two years working with these families, I realized that to get them out of the vicious circle of poverty they are stuck in is more complicated than just providing them free legal aid and educational and vocational opportunities. So, I turned to public policy. That’s why I chose to do an LLM – to get specialized in public interest laws.

    How did you go about selecting where to apply, and what got you to narrow down on Penn State?

    I researched on many universities around the world. While shortlisting schools I looked at four things: (i) tuition costs and scholarships (ii) the ability to customize the degree to my personal needs (iii) the cost of living in the university location (iv) the availability of good part-time job opportunities to add to my professional experience, as well as pay my bills.

    Penn State fulfilled all my criteria. They offer great scholarships based on merit; they allow you to choose your own courses from a variety of disciplines and specializations; as it is a small quaint university town, the cost of living was affordable; Penn State provided many part-time job opportunities for students on campus (which was great for international students as we were allowed by law to only get jobs that were on campus),

    “Penn State offers great scholarships based on merit; they allow you to choose your own courses from a variety of disciplines and specializations; as it is a small quaint university town, the cost of living was affordable; they also provided many part-time job opportunities for students on campus.”

    I was fortunate enough to get a research assistant position with one of Penn State Law’s internationally renowned faculty-scholar in the field of arbitration – the experience was invaluable (not to mention the colour it added to my resume), and the pay enabled me to cover all my living cost (and holidays) during my entire year studying in the United States.

    How was your LLM experience? Any highlights along the way?

    Two words – LIFE CHANGING!

    The LLM program opened my mind to a whole other side of learning and education. After being so used to the education system of rote learning, it was liberating to be able to dive into rationale erudition and questioning. During examinations there never was just one right answer – your score depended on how best you defended your contention and interpretation of the law.

    We don’t realize the potential we can reach when we open our minds to questioning everything. That’s what the LLM did for me – I realized what my potential could be, and I have constantly worked towards reaching that since then.

    “We don’t realize the potential we can reach when we open our minds to questioning everything. That’s what the LLM did for me – I realized what my potential could be, and I have constantly worked towards reaching that since then.”

    The main highlights of my LLM experience was getting my research assistant position, working at the Center for Immigrants Rights clinic, spending my fall break volunteering on a beautiful farm in Maryland that rescued border collies, and getting to meet some really fantastic people (including my husband).

    What do you think are the benefits of an international LL.M. for the Indian law graduate? 

    I could write pages on what I feel are the benefits of getting an international LLM – the list is unending.

    But the main bits are,

    • It expands the way you look at the law, your ordinary boring CPC gets brought to life in an inexplicable way;
    • It provides you with great networking opportunities – I’ve connected with renowned scholars in law from all over the world through my research assistant job and clinic experience;
    • It introduces you to the international legal playing field – internships, jobs, etc.;
    • A much higher salary – firms/organizations prefer candidates with degrees from different countries as it shows capability, adaptability, experience and expertise, – and they pay you for that!
    • Your resume stands out amongst the countless other job applications
    • It prepares you into becoming a top legal professional in this highly competitive globalized world.

    Overall, the biggest benefit of doing an LLM abroad is it ups your value – in India and around the world.

    What got you to Narxoz University? Could you tell me a bit about the kind of work you are doing?

    My love for teaching and working with students, coupled with my love for travel and experiencing new cultures got me to Narxoz.

    I enjoy working at Narxoz’s School of Law and Public Policy as I get to do a bit of everything. I lecture classes on international and corporate laws, work on research projects and grants, develop curriculum for new law programs and ways to market them, establish partnerships with organizations and universities from around the globe, and provide students with opportunities to experience the world through education.

    I know that you advise Indian law grads to look at non-traditional markets like Central Asia – any pointers on how they should go about it? 

    I strongly advise Indian law grads to look towards the non-traditional markets for three reasons:

    • Getting legal jobs in Europe and the States is extremely difficult – to find an organization that is willing to do labor market tests on your behalf is nothing short of a miracle, they prefer to hire locally (they have their own million of local graduates looking for jobs).
    • On that one-off chance you do find a job, and an organization willing to do it all for you, as a fresher straight out of law school you’ll be spending what you earn (and that’s if you’re lucky). For at least the first two years you wouldn’t be able to have any savings and will be living paycheck to paycheck as the costs of living are high.
    • When putting yourself out in the international market, you’ll find scores of people who have either an internship or short-term job experience in either Europe or North America. Having exposure in non-traditional markets like Central Asia really makes your resume stand out from the entire bunch as its refreshing, bold, and shows that you are adaptable to different kinds of work environments.

    Pointers:

    I personally have not found much success in applying on job portals – millions of people around the world are applying for that exact same position you are currently looking at, and most of them with more experience or qualifications than you. After tons of experience on applying for jobs both nationally and internationally (and failing), I have two pieces of advice for freshers on the job hunt:

    • Network, network and more network!
      A few tips – attend international conferences that happen in your city and network; use LinkedIn and Twitter to follow organizations and persons in the field of your interest and make intelligent and informed comments on their posts; if you read an article you like, reach out to the author.The world is smaller than you imagine it to be – get informed, get heard, and put yourself out there.
    • Apply for that lower paid job in your dream field/organization and work your way up from there. Work hard, take on more tasks, put in that extra effort and before you know it, you’ll be exactly where you wanted to be.

    Lastly, any advice for the Indian law graduate who is considering a master’s course, law or otherwise, outside the country?

    Know what you want and work towards it.

    Doing a masters or doctoral program abroad is a huge investment – make sure you know exactly what you’re investing in. There is no such thing as the perfect school or perfect course, rather it is about the amount of effort you put into making the best out of the resources and opportunities you have.

    One thing I can say for sure, even if you end up changing your career paths and never using that degree from abroad (cause life happens), what you learned during your short time studying abroad will always give you that added step in your profession.

    “One thing I can say for sure, even if you end up changing your career paths and never using that degree from abroad (cause life happens), what you learned during your short time studying abroad will always give you that added step in your profession.”

  • First Person Accounts: Nayanthika Ramakrishnan on the JD at Cornell Law School

    First Person Accounts: Nayanthika Ramakrishnan on the JD at Cornell 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.

    Nayanthika Ramakrishnan is a graduate of the National Law University, Jodhpur (’12) and currently enrolled as a JD student (’20) at Cornell Law School. In this FPA, she talks about her reasons for opting for the JD instead of an LL.M., her reading of the US legal recruitment market, the JD course itself, and a whole lot more.

    Alright, let’s get the obvious one out of the way – why not an LLM? It is cheaper, quicker and also gets you US Bar eligibility. So then why the JD? 

    I think the choice between an LLM and a JD depends on what applicants are looking for from an education in a US law school.  You are absolutely correct in pointing out that the LLM is faster, and also gives you eligibility to appear for the NY and California bar exams (and for a few other states).

    But a student’s “exit opportunities” from the two are vastly different.  I enjoyed my experience as a litigation attorney in India and wanted the best option available to pursue litigation here.

    While the LLM may help you get your foot in the door at the top law firms here, the number of LLM graduates from India going into litigation as compared to corporate/transactional work at those firms is quite small – and of that number, those starting their careers in places other than NY and California is smaller still.  I wouldn’t say it’s impossible (nothing is!) but it would definitely be an exception to the rule.

    “While the LLM may help you get your foot in the door at the top law firms here, the number of LLM graduates from India going into litigation as compared to corporate/transactional work at those firms is quite small – and of that number, those starting their careers in places other than NY and California is smaller still.”

    With the LLM, you’re also competing with several highly qualified graduates for a very limited number of associate roles. I moved here in 2017 after my wedding, knowing well that I would probably be here long term, and so I decided to invest the 2 extra years and graduate with a JD so that I would have the freedom to start off in Chicago (where my partner is based), and also have several opportunities to pursue litigation.

    And once you decided that JD it was, how did you go about selecting where to apply? And why zero in on Cornell Law?

    I applied to most of the T14 schools (barring the ones way above my LSAT reach) and ended up choosing between Cornell and a few others. Why I ended up choosing Cornell was a combination of several factors: its high rate of placement in Big Law, the small class size, and the financial aid I was offered.

    I would be remiss to not mention how beautiful Ithaca is and how completely awed I was by Cornell’s campus the first time I visited.

    How much time did you devote to LSAT prep? Any advice on how to go about the exam? 

    I spent about two months prepping for the LSAT. It’s not an easy exam, and I would recommend giving the exam in June so that applicants can assess where they stand and retake the December/February administration if needed. LSAT scores play a huge role in deciding where you’re admitted, although with an increasing number of schools now accepting the GRE, I am not sure how the metric has changed.

    “The LSAT is not an easy exam, and I would recommend giving the exam in June so that applicants can assess where they stand and retake the December/February administration if needed. “

    Taking the time to assess your mastery of the underlying concepts makes it significantly easier to do well on the LSAT. You can self-study for the exam, and I’d recommend doing several practice tests before writing the actual exam.

    Did you apply for/receive financial aid of any kind? 

    Most US law schools use the FAFSA for need based aid – unfortunately non-citizens/non-permanent residents are not eligible for this. But most schools automatically consider you for a merit based scholarship based on your application for admission, LSAT score and other factors. Yes I did receive a scholarship to attend.

    How has the JD experience been? How have you found yourself using your litigation background as a JD student? 

    It’s been a challenging but extremely rewarding experience. Challenging because of the amount of work one is expected to put in – the oft-quoted math is almost three hours of studying for every one hour of class.

    Rewarding because of the plentiful opportunities that you will be presented with: to attend class with some of the smartest minds in the country, and to work with top law firms, judges and public interest organizations. The 1L year is the hardest, most hectic year of law school and I think my legal background in a common law country definitely helped me feel more sure footed through that initial experience. I already had the vocabulary, and that definitely helped.

    “The 1L year is the hardest, most hectic year of law school and I think my legal background in a common law country definitely helped me feel more sure footed through that initial experience.”

    Am also curious on how you would compare the JD experience to the BA LLB one at NLU Jodhpur?

     Pursuing a degree in law as a graduate vs. as an undergraduate course of study is vastly different in terms of the mind space a student is in and for that reason, I would hesitate to compare them because they’re really not the same.

    Graduating from NLU Jodhpur provided me with a solid foundation to build upon, but I find myself able to think and express myself better now than I could as a 21 year old freshly graduated with a BBA LLB.

    Any advice for prospective applicants on scoring internships during the JD course? 

    Doing well your 1L year (grades are not everything, but there are “unofficial” cut-offs), researching the firm you’re interviewing with, networking, and having great talking points on your resume so that you can set yourself apart from other candidates.

    What is your reading of the US recruitment market when it comes to international lawyers?

    Most international students in my JD year at law school have secured positions at top law firms (if that is the career route they chose); visa uncertainties notwithstanding. I think this is largely true for all the T14 schools.

    Lastly, any advice for the Indian law graduate who is considering studying abroad? 

    It’s not a decision to be taken lightly – it is a significant time and money investment; but it’s an experience I would recommend. Even if you’re sure that you want to return to practice in India, I think it is worthwhile to live in a different country, experience a different culture, try new things, meet people from around the world and grow your professional network, and bring that experience back home with you.

    “It’s not a decision to be taken lightly – it is a significant time and money investment; but it’s an experience I would recommend.”