Amicus Partners

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  • The Amicus Interviews: Vismay Shroff on teaching at GLC-Mumbai, the LL.M. at Duke University & 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 academics on legal education, both in India and abroad.

    Vismay Shroff speaks to Amicus Partners
    Vismay Shroff

    Which is why I ended up reaching out to Vismay Shroff who not only happens to be a practicing lawyer, but also teaches at the Government Law College in Mumbai, an institute where he himself studied law. Furthermore, Vismay has also completed an LL.M. from Duke University apart from a number of shorter courses at different US universities including Harvard Law School, and Georgetown University Law Centre.

    (Edited excerpts)

    Given that you have experienced GLC Mumbai as a student, and now a faculty member, what do you think are some of the positive aspects of the teaching experience at GLC? 

    Firstly, we have a very bright, diverse and ambitious student body. Secondly, our heritage and physical location in Mumbai.

    What prompted you to take up an LL.M.? You had already done a number of certificate course at different top-ranked law  schools in the US – why the LLM then?

    I was motivated by a desire to be more educated and saw the LLM also as a natural progression, career-wise.

    Back in 2006, how did you go about selecting where to apply? And why did you narrow down on Duke?

    I selected seven schools based on their Program Details & Rankings and three, ‘Safety Schools’. I was admitted to some of the programs and chose Duke for two reasons. My best friend’s elder brother was a graduate of the then, ‘Sanford Institute for Public Policy’ and spoke very well of the University and Durham, NC, as a place. I valued his opinion. It was also the highest ranked school that I was admitted into, from those that I had applied to.

    Did you apply for financial aid of any kind? 

    Yes. I did apply for Financial Aid and received offers of acceptance, but did not choose to avail of them.

    How was the LLM experience? Looking back, how do you think the LLM shaped you as a legal professional?

    My LL.M. experience was exciting and instructive. It was a great opportunity for me both personally and professionally. I tried to be as engaged as I could in the activities of the law school community.

    The LL.M. taught me the importance of brevity in legal drafting and the economy of the spoken word. Everyone has something to say, but not everyone can hear all that you have to say. It also taught me about other cultures and legal systems and opened my mind to a world on the outside of the Common Law and it’s legacy systems, around the world.

    You also got the chance to work as an Associate in the US – how was this experience, and was coming back to India, always part of the plan?

    My experience was short and different from what I had anticipated, based on my previous interactions. It taught me a great deal.

    Yes, it was always my plan to come back to India although I did intend on working in a U.S or U.K. based law firm with the aim of making Partner. The idea was to then, either continue as a lawyer in India or proceed to gain a more broad based education in law, policy and international relations in the U.S.

    For prospective LLM applicants, when do you think is a good time to apply for an LLM – fresh out of law or with work experience? Any advice on how to approach the application process?

    The answer is different for students in different jurisdictions. From my perspective and from what I can see as a general Indian perspective, you must work for at least 2 years and a maximum of 5 years, before applying for an LL.M. in a foreign country.

    I think your strengths and weaknesses are best known to you, as an applicant. My general advice would be, aim for the best schools while making sure that your choice of applications, makes provision for you to actually continue with your degree in
    the time frame you intend to devote to it

    And lastly, always curious to know this from academics – what do you think makes for a good legal education?

    Firstly, a good set of Professors. Secondly, an academic environment which is inclusive, nurturing and values the pursuit of scholarship in all its forms. Lastly, an institution must inspire its students to live up to its’ legacy and that of its alumni.

    If a law school has served you well, you will be a better person along with being a law graduate.

    “If a law school has served you well, you will be a better person along with being a law graduate.”

  • First Person Accounts: Anirban Roy Choudhury on the LL.M. at the Institute for Law & Finance, University of Frankfurt

    First Person Accounts: Anirban Roy Choudhury on the LL.M. at the Institute for Law & Finance, University of Frankfurt

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

    In this edition, Anirban Roy Choudhury shares his thoughts on the LL.M. Finance at the Institute for Law & Finance, University of Frankfurt, a course he is currently enrolled at. A graduate of Symbiosis Law School in Pune, Anirban worked for several years on the corporate side of things before deciding to enrol for an LL.M.

    (Edited excerpts)

    Did you contemplate a master’s fresh out of your undergraduate degree? Or was this something you decided to take up after working for a few years?

    I always did harbour a realisation that a greater academic exposure was needed beyond my undergraduate degree in law from Symbiosis Law School, Pune. However, I wanted to work for a few years in different practice areas in the Indian legal market before opting for a particular practice area to pursue and doing a specialised masters in the chosen area.

    It is irrefutable that the academic approach at the undergraduate level, especially in India, is more theoretically inclined and little importance is paid towards the practical insights required for the practice in real world. Therefore, it is worthwhile to work in a few practice areas post qualification to truly understand the practical aspects and the market before settling on an area of specialisation. Plus it also helps in developing a more wholesome approach towards the practice of law, and this is why most large firms, globally, has the rotation system in place where during the first one or two years one works with three to four teams before choosing the practice area to pursue.

    Right after graduation, when I started working with DSK Legal in Mumbai, in the first year I worked in the projects and infrastructure practice and general corporate practice. Thereafter I transitioned in to banking and finance practice space and there has been no looking back ever since. I also went on to work with Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas and AZB & Partners in Mumbai, where my practice was focussed on banking, finance, restructuring and insolvency.

    At what stage one should pursue an LL.M. is a question that has been discussed and debated many-a-times. However, I always believed that it is best to work for a few years after qualifying as a lawyer in India before taking the leap to pursue masters.

    Accordingly, after gaining a few years’ experience in the banking and finance practice I wanted to pursue a specialised masters in financial laws not only to develop a deeper understanding of my chosen practice area but also to learn about the practical aspects of the practice.

    How did you go about selecting universities? And what got you to narrow down on the Institute for Law & Finance?

    Very few universities offer a curriculum at the masters level more leaning towards pragmatism than theory. That is what makes the Master of Laws in Finance (LL.M. Finance) degree at the Institute for Law and Finance, University of Frankfurt (Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main) different.

    The inter-disciplinary programme in law and finance, which has been continuously ranked as one of the top ten LL.M. programmes in banking and finance laws globally, offers a wide range of highly practical courses taught by leading professionals and academicians. For example, on one hand, law of investment banking is taught by Dr. Manuel Lorenz, senior partner at Baker McKenzie (head of the German financial services regulatory practice); restructuring and insolvency is taught by Peter Hoegen, senior partner at Allen & Overy (heads the German practice group for restructuring); law of international trade and export finance is taught by Timo Matthias Spitzer, head of legal at Banco Santander S.A.; drafting of contracts is taught by Dr. Thomas Schürrle, a partner at Debevoise & Plimpton. While on the other hand, Dr. Philipp Paech from the London School of Economics teaches international financial law; Dr. Andreas Hackethal, a leading professor of finance (also a member of the advisory council of the German financial services authority – BaFin) teaches financial markets and institutions, and Dr. Andreas Cahn, a noted German jurist teaches law of corporate finance together with Dr. Klaus-Albert Bauer, a former partner of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. While most LL.M. programmes are theoretically disposed, the opportunity to learn from the market-leading professionals give the LL.M. Finance programme an incomparable practical edge.

    Further, the tuition fees at the Institute for Law and Finance is substantially lower than at any of the other nine universities on the top ten list which includes Harvard Law School, University of Oxford – Faculty of Law, and Columbia Law School amongst others, and this also played a crucial role in selecting the programme.

    Also the opportunity of living in Frankfurt, a global financial hub, was an important factor.

    As I wanted to do a specialised masters in financial laws, I had narrowed down on the Institute for Law and Finance at the University of Frankfurt very early on account of the aforesaid points, and in fact this was the only university I had applied to.

    Did you apply for any sort of financial aid?

    Yes, I applied for the ILF Scholarship which I was granted. The ILF Scholarship reduced the tuition fees payable by a large extent and this has supported me in pursuing the programme.

    Any advice on how to go about the application process, such as SoPs and sourcing recommendation letters?

    The Institute for Law and Finance at the University of Frankfurt, like any other institution of its standing has very stringent requirements for admission. The application process, requires a letter of motivation, which is more or less akin to a statement of purpose, a curriculum vitae, along with two letters of recommendation.

    The letter of motivation/ statement of purpose forms an integral part of the LL.M. application and is the only opportunity for an applicant to introduce themselves and convince the admissions committee to select them for the programme, and therefore it should reflect applicant’s candidature in the best way highlighting on the applicant’s educational background, work experience, achievements, motivation to apply for the particular programme, and future career goals. Most importantly, the letter of motivation/ statement of purpose should be a reflection of the applicant’s persona in the truest form. The key to writing a good letter of motivation/ statement of purpose is carefully researching and planning and then spending the necessary time to write it. Remember, it is not a four hour job.

    As for the letters of recommendation, again the key is planning on time. When requesting someone for a letter of recommendation it is important that you pick the right person. As soon as you narrow down on the universities you want to apply to, start identifying and approaching potential referees who know you well. If you need two letters of recommendation, shortlist at least four persons you will approach, so that even if someone is unable to write the recommendation or is simply unavailable, you still have the options.

    Further, even if your potential referee knows you well, chances would be high that they don’t keep track of your achievements and career progressions, and therefore when approaching a potential referee, you should always provide them with a copy of your curriculum vitae, a list of your academic and other achievements and any specific information which you would want them to consider while writing the recommendation.

    Finally, remember that the key to preparing a good application is planning and preparing everything well on time.

    Could you tell me a bit more about the LL.M. experience at the Institute for Law and Finance? 

    In short, extremely enriching and colourful. The programme is extremely demanding. At the Institute for Law and Finance you will be taking a minimum of twelve courses (eight financial law courses and four finance/ economics courses) during the year, translating to up to three to four classes on each day; and that’s a lot of in-class discussions and readings.

    As aforesaid, we have an excellent faculty consisting of both academicians and professionals, who are all market leaders in their practice, and it is a very enriching experience to learn from them. The LL.M. Finance programme, this year, has students from more than 30 countries, so it is also a great opportunity to network with financial lawyers from various jurisdictions and make some great friends on the way.

    After completing the first semester of the programme, I also had the opportunity to work with Ashurst as a trainee at its Frankfurt office where I worked with the global loans team. This has, further, added to my learning curve.

    The Institute for Law and Finance is located in the House of Finance at Campus Westend of the University of Frankfurt. The House of Finance which also houses various research bodies and think-tanks like the LOEWE Center: Sustainable Architecture for Finance in Europe, Center for Financial Studies, and E-Finance Lab, regularly hosts various lectures and workshops on financial policy, laws, and economics. These provide an exceptional platform to further broaden the understanding of the world of finance beyond the legal aspects.

    The Institute for Law and Finance also offers a LL.M. International Finance degree designed for Chinese and East Asian students. This programme is slightly less demanding and includes various language and professional skill development courses specifically tailored for students from China and other East Asian countries.

    Was the thesis component difficult given that you had worked for nearly five years, and may have been out of touch of academic research?

    The LL.M. Finance programme requires you to write a thesis of approximately 40,000 words. My research is primarily based on financial technologies and related laws and I am currently narrowing down on prospective supervisors for the thesis which I will start writing around July/ August. While the thesis comes as one of the most challenging part to many, writing (academic or otherwise) comes to me naturally and I am confident that my work experience of nearly five years will not pose as a hinderance.

    While at Symbiosis Law School, I worked as a part of the editorial board of its law review journals for all five years. During the first two years I served as a student editor for the Symbiosis Law Times Journal followed by three years as a student editor for the Symbiosis Student Law Review Journal. In addition, I also regularly presented research papers at various international conferences. After graduating from law school also I was involved in writing and publishing, and served as the associate editor for DSK Legal’s in-house quarterly journal on infrastructure, energy and project finance laws for more than three years. The learnings from these experiences will be of immense help in the process of conceptualising and writing the thesis.

    I can say that I have always been very interested in writing and I am very keenly looking forward to my term in academic research in the coming months.

    Not many people know, but in addition to legal writing, I have also worked as a freelance journalist with The Times of India for nearly five years prior to joining law school. During this time, I wrote on various topics ranging from cinema to technology and also interviewed various eminent personalities in Kolkata including Shah Rukh Khan, Saurav Ganguly and Amitav Ghosh amongst others.

    Lastly, any advice for Indian law graduates who are considering a master’s abroad? 

    “That’s how you accomplish things in life. You don’t sit around talking about it; you just do it. If you really want to go far in life, you do things that are hard and that you think you can’t do.”
    ~ K. Martin Beckner

    If you see, almost every facet of our lives are touched by the law in some way or the other and there are various roads that a lawyer can take in their career; at the end of the day, it is about finding what excites you. Considering we spend a major part of every day at work it is cardinal to find something that truly excites and stimulates you.

    It is also critical to be clear as to why you want to pursue the masters programme, because after all there is substantial opportunity cost involved. Nevertheless, I would always encourage people to pursue an LL.M. abroad, because in addition to attaining specialised knowledge it gives you the opportunity to really open your world-view, and to learn about the various aspects of the law and the market in different jurisdictions.

  • First Person Accounts: Asmita Singh on the International Dispute Resolution LL.M. at Humboldt University of Berlin

    First Person Accounts: Asmita Singh on the International Dispute Resolution LL.M. at Humboldt University of Berlin

    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.

    In this edition, I speak with Asmita Singh, who is currently enrolled for the LL.M. in International Dispute Resolution at the Humboldt University of Berlin. A graduate of Jindal Global Law School (BA LLB ’17), Asmita worked for a year as a counsel in the Delhi High Court before enrolling for the LL.M.

    (Edited excerpts)

    Were you considering a master’s even while studying law at JGLS? Or was this something you decided to do once you started working?

    The study pattern at JGLS, was very integrative and versatile, so during the undergraduate studies I was exploring the various options we were offered. But, I was always certain that I wanted to do more than an undergraduate degree, so the exact choice of the field of specialization came after the completion of my undergraduate studies.

    How did you go about university selection? And why Humboldt University of Berlin?

    While I was considering universities that offer master’s in international arbitration and investment arbitration, I did consider the location of the university in terms of work prospects beside the academics. The primary reason I choose the International Dispute Resolution (IDR) LL.M. at Humboldt University of Berlin is because the course was tailor made  for someone who wishes to study through a nuanced approach. The same course is taught by four different faculty members who offer insights from their own, separate professional backgrounds.

    “The same course is taught by four different faculty members who offer insights from their own, separate professional backgrounds.”

    Additionally, though the course is centred around commercial arbitration and investment arbitration, it offers affords the opportunity to learn about various domain within arbitration like sports arbitration, arbitration of cross-border M&A disputes, arbitration and block chain, energy arbitration, etc, by experts from all of over Europe. Furthermore, Germany is one of the biggest economies of Europe thus studying in Berlin allows one to explore more opportunities within the EU.

    Did you apply for any sort of financial aid?

    Yes, I did apply for financial aid but I was informed that Humboldt University is a public university, and especially IDR LLM is a self-funded Program, they do not have discretion to grant additional tuition waivers to every candidate on merit basis. The program offers a tuition waiver, one full or multiple partial waivers, to accepted students on a need basis.

    Another aspect of seeking financial aid within European Union is that most organisations offer financial aid if the study program is linked to some aspect of European law or comparatives studies within Europe and other jurisdictions.

    “Most organisations offer financial aid if the study program is linked to some aspect of European law or comparatives studies within Europe and other jurisdictions.”

    Any advice on how to go about the LLM application, especially the writing requirements?

    For the IDR LL.M. the application deadline is March 31st for the academic year beginning in October. The application are required to be sent through an online portal available on the University website.

    Essentially the documents that are required are the Letter of Motivation (LOM),  two Letter of Recommendations (LOR), and the application form.

    In my opinion, the letter of motivation is the most important document. Other than the core content of the LOM, the format, and the structure are equally important. Prior to drafting the letter, one must read about the course structure, and the faculty of the program.

    Every country has a faintly different practise for addressing the letter, for example in most cases ‘to the admission committee’ may be appropriate, but especially in Germany, one is required to specifically address the letter to the chair or the director of the program.

    The first draft should certainly not be the document that one submits. Since German Universities are very particular about the structure, one approach that might be useful is identify the problem, illustrate the link between the program structure and the issue, and illustrate how you with your knowledge and skill contribute to the university and the program in the process of learning.

    Secondly, it would be advantageous to provide the two letters of recommendation from different backgrounds, that is, academic and practitioner (or internship supervisor). The admission process is not solely based on the academic merit but also on the professional competence of the applicant. Providing two letter of recommendations from different fields present one as an academically sound and professionally enthusiastic candidate.

    “Providing two letter of recommendations from different fields present one as an academically sound and professionally enthusiastic candidate.”

    How has the LLM experience been thus far? What are some of the bigger differences that you have observed between your undergrad and postgrad learning experiences?

    The LL.M experience, from the supportive batchmates to distinguished faculty, has been delightful! Jindal Global Law School was itself not very conventional in the way of teaching, so the reading and discussion teaching pattern followed here was not very new to me.

    One of the major difference in the learning experience are the professional networking opportunities. There is a constant effort by the director of the program and the coordinators to provide the students with ample occasions to interact with professionals during conferences, lectures and less formal events, outside of the classroom.

    “There is a constant effort by the director of the program and the coordinators to provide the students with ample occasions to interact with professionals during conferences, lectures and less formal events, outside of the classroom.”

    Given the specialised nature of your LLM, would you recommend gaining some work experience before enrolling?

    Indeed the IDR LL.M. at Humboldt University is very specific in a way as one can use legal internships to obtain study points in the second semester, and having some prior work experience is beneficial when looking for such internships.

    Another major difference that arises after gaining work experience is that the outlook towards to the same subject matter changes from a purely academic perspective a to practical one.

    “Another major difference that arises after gaining work experience is that the outlook towards to the same subject matter changes from a purely academic perspective a to practical one.”

    However, for students who wish to pursue their master’s program would in no ways feel to be at any disadvantage because of the structure of the course. The current batch has students with 0 PQE to 17 years PQE, and everyone is equally comfortable with the readings and the lectures.

    Lastly, any advice for Indian law grads who are contemplating a master’s abroad?

    To make an informed decision one must start the research early, and weigh all the highlights and challenges before committing to the program. While contemplating a master’s abroad, there are various factor like the field of specialization, the job prospects, language, finances, etc. that one must consider.

    An honest self-evaluation is important, analyse your profile and your interest; research the law schools not only for the ranking, and the name. If a school does suit your particular interest the best, and then apply.

    “An honest self-evaluation is important, analyse your profile and your interest; research the law schools not only for the ranking, and the name. If a school does suit your particular interest the best, and then apply.”

    A master’s abroad streamlines your interests and broadens your horizons. It is not a walk in the park, but the personal exposure, the learning, and the professional growth are extremely important lessons that one shall embrace as a part of the journey.

  • International students and “cash cows” in Australia

    Screenshot 2019-05-21 at 4.00.13 PM.png

    Broadcast earlier this month, an episode of Australia Broadcasting Corporation’s Four Corners has created quite a buzz in the world of international education. And for good reason; the episode, titled Cash Cows, claims that Australian universities have deliberately lowered their intake standards in order to attract international students.

    Now to be fair, this “lowering” is not across the board; the show itself mentions less than a dozen universities by name, with Murdoch University in particular occupying a substantial amount of air time. Also, as published in this PIE News article, there are counter claims that the episode only covered a “small proportion” of the Australian international student community.

    As noted in the same article, there are also allegations of racism against the show itself, allegations that I think are perfectly valid. You definitely sense that some of the interviews were deliberately published to prove a single narrative; a broader array of participants would have definitely provided a more balanced point of view.

    If nothing else though, the episode does act as a welcome reminder of just how important it is to research before enrolling into any course in any country. A few of the international students interviewed are clearly disappointed by the reality of their courses; this is not what they had signed up for. This is not what they had been promised.

    The need for adequate research is especially valid for a course like the LL.M., a non-professional degree with tuition fees that can often be astronomical.

    Closer home, the points the show raise are ones which can so easily be applied to the Indian context. The promises made, and the disappointments faced. The reduction of the welfare State from education, and the lowering of academic standards for commercial reasons.

    There are also mentions of passing references to academic misconduct in the form of plagiarism, and student suicides – two issues that ought to be getting a lot more attention in Indian law schools than they currently are.

    Anyway, I think the episode is worth a watch, and you can see the entire episode below:

  • First Person Accounts: Deepshi Singh on LSE’s MSc in Media & Communications

    First Person Accounts: Deepshi Singh on LSE’s MSc in Media & Communications

    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.

    Although the majority of FPA’s have focused on the LL.M. degree, there are a few non-LL.M. interviews as well, and I hope to increase their number. After all, I do believe that the Indian law graduate ought to look at LLM alternatives rather than stick with the more tried and tested path.

    In this edition, I speak with Deepshi Singh (GNLU, ’18) who is currently pursuing a master’s course in Communication and Media Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

    Alright, so let’s start the start – why not an LLM? When did you decide that you would not be pursuing a master’s in law?

    I grew up on Bollywood and the prospect of working in the Entertainment Industry always fascinated me. I decided to pursue law for my undergrad because it is interdisciplinary and gives you the flexibility to choose amongst a plethora of specialisations. However, I was very sure that I did not want to do a “conventional” lawyer job.

    I did my internships and dissertations in topics related to Media and Entertainment law, which wasn’t a very popular choice half a decade ago. I enjoyed law school and did really well, but I didn’t want to pursue an LLM just for the sake of it.

    As I was always motivated by the idea of working in the Entertainment Industry, I thought of going for a master’s program which broadens my skill set and makes me better equipped to work across different sectors in the Industry and not just with the legal teams of organisations. So, an LLM was never the plan and right at the end of my third year, I decided that I would go for a master’s in media and communications.

    Was it difficult to identify the ideal course for you? How did you go about selecting this, and why did you narrow down on LSE’s master’s course?

    Although my inclination was mostly towards films, I didn’t want to study just films because that gets restrictive. I was very sure that I wanted to explore all aspects of media and communications and therefore I looked up for media and communications courses pretty much all over the world.

    Whereas universities in the US were offering specialised programs on journalism or film and most of them even required work experience, UK universities offered exactly what I wanted. I applied to a bunch of universities in the UK and got through most of them, but LSE was always my first preference because the media and communications department at LSE is ranked as one of the best in the world.

    And not just the rankings. LSE offered the flexibility to choose amongst so many different subjects taught by highly renowned professors.

    Any advice on how to navigate the application process? More specifically, on how to draft the statement of purpose given your law background, as well as sourcing recommendation letters?

    LSE and for that matter most universities that I applied to, had a very simple application process. LSE tends to focus strongly on academic grades, and fortunately I had a fairly good academic record, and a decent CV and an IELTS score of 8.5. While writing my Statement of Purpose I mentioned my interests in the Indian entertainment industry and eventual my desire to work there. I also mentioned about my dissertation which was on Legal Regulations governing the Indian Film Industry.

    One of my recommendation letters from the Dean-Academic Affairs at GNLU highlighted my academic credentials while the other one from the Faculty Convenor Committee of Recruitment Affairs, GNLU highlighted my extra-curricular activities, more specifically my communication skills in handling recruitments for the university for three years.

    Did you apply for financial aid of any kind?

    I did apply to the LSE financial grants as well as for the Commonwealth Scholarship, Inlaks and the TATA scholarship. Unfortunately, I didn’t get any so my parents decided to fund my education.

    How has the MSc been thus far? What have been some of the highlights thus far?

    It has been an incredible experience and I have really enjoyed academics. Apart from key theories of media, culture, communications. I have tailored my optional courses according to my interests studying film theories, media economics, advertising, public relations.

    One of the most interesting things I have learnt is analysis of audio-visual material using semiotics and linguistics, which literally makes me feel there’s so much more than what meets the eye. There are also compulsory quantitative research techniques which include statistics and data analysis. The professors are extremely approachable, and we discuss everything from academics to personal lives. The media department at LSE feels like home and I can never have enough of it.

    “The professors are extremely approachable, and we discuss everything from academics to personal lives. The media department at LSE feels like home and I can never have enough of it.”

    In addition to academics I was a member of the organising team of the LSE SU India Forum one of the biggest student run India focussed conferences in the UK and organising that was a fantastic experience as well.

    Even outside of LSE, London has so much to offer.

    In the last eight months I have worked on three film festivals, scheduled to work on another one next month. I have been rewarded by the legendary Shabana Azmi for being on the Young Critics Panel for the UK Asian Film Festival, 2019. I have also been working with a charity, teaching public speaking and debating to primary school children in London. All of these experiences have kept me really occupied and have helped equipped me with skills that will definitely help me in my future endeavours.

    Have you found yourself using your law degree during the master’s? Is your cohort from a diverse range of backgrounds?

    Law school conditions you to think like a lawyer and I believe that cannot be undone. My learning of the law has been constantly reflected in the way I structure my arguments in my essays or participate in classroom discussions.

    “Law school conditions you to think like a lawyer and I believe that cannot be undone. My learning of the law has been constantly reflected in the way I structure my arguments in my essays or participate in classroom discussions.”

    And my peers and professors have acknowledged how I bring a different perspective to the discourse. It has been extremely advantageous, to say the least. For instance, because there’s a lot of discussion on social media, I often find myself mentioning Competition Law, Information Technology Law, Elements of Constitutional Law including privacy and freedom of expression.

    Then of course there’s a lot of references to Intellectual Property, more specifically copyrights and trademarks for films and advertising respectively. I have found myself using my law degree more often than I thought I would be.

    The cohort is extremely diverse and most of them do not have a media and communications background. There are people who’ve worked as journalists, or with non-profits and are highly accomplished. There are people who are actors, Instagram influencers, bloggers etc. I am the only lawyer though! But yeah, it’s an interesting mix and there’s so much to learn from everyone around.

    What plans after the MSc?

    I am currently looking for jobs in the Indian Entertainment Industry, in Content Acquisition, Marketing or Strategic roles. I am also open to working in Public Relations, Advertising or Event management. If I get a role which lets me integrate my legal skills, that would be a bonus.

    Lastly, any advice for Indian law graduates who want to pursue a non-law master’s outside the country?

    A lot of people ask me, Why did you “switch” from Law to Media and I always say, “It is never a switch. I cannot stop being a lawyer.” The whole point of education is to make you a better person and not just get you a job. An undergrad degree in Law is extremely comprehensive gives you a diverse perspective which will help you in whatever you study.

    And I am glad that I did a dual degree in Law and Humanities for my undergrad. Five years at GNLU were phenomenal and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Having said that, I chose to study media and communications because I always wanted to, and I had the passion for it.

    So, my advice to people who’re thinking of doing a non-law masters would be, if you want to go ahead and study something else, do not hesitate. But it shouldn’t be because you’re bored of law and want to try something new. You need to be extremely sure of what you want to study, because if you lack the passion it will be difficult to keep yourself motivated.