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  • First Person Accounts: Yashaswini Mittal on an LLM from Georgetown University

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

    Yashaswini Mittal
    Yashaswini Mittal

    In this edition, we speak with Yashaswini Mittal who recently graduated with an LLM from Georgetown University (Class of ’18).

    The Jindal Law School graduate (Class of ’14) worked with the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy for three years before enrolling for an LLM.

    Yashaswini shares her thoughts on the Global Health Law LLM, being a research assistant, the benefits of an international LLM and more.

    Did you think about doing an LLM right after you graduated from JGLS? Or was this something you realised you wanted to do after working for a few years?

    When I was in my final year of law school, I made the decision to not apply for an LLM immediately. I had studied for five years already and wanted to get a sense of what it felt like to be a lawyer.

    I also spoke with some of my professors at JGLS, who advised me that I would gain more from an LLM, if I did it after working for a couple of years.

    How did you go about selecting law schools? And did you look across countries, or was the search limited to US law schools?

    I applied for an LLM for two consecutive years. When I applied the first time, I only applied to the top colleges in the US and UK. While I did get into a couple of places I had applied to, there was little to no financial aid that was offered to me. So, I rejected my offers and decided to reapply next year, specifically targeting colleges that gave more than 50% financial aid.

    The second time around, I applied only to US colleges, as I knew that the US education system was more suited to my interests and capabilities. I applied to some Ivy League colleges, but a lot of second tier colleges, which were in the top 10, but not in the top 5.

    All of these colleges offered generous financial aid to LLMs, including a full tuition fee waiver in some cases. All the colleges I applied to this time around were very well-known for the courses I wanted to pursue, i.e. public health law and policy.

    Did you apply for financial aid of any kind?

    I would like to point out that I applied for not only an LLM, but also an MPP. For both courses, I applied for a full or at least a 50% tuition fee waiver award.

    The Director of the Global Health Law LLM at Georgetown interviewed me over the phone and offered me a 90% tuition fee waiver award on the basis of my credentials and financial need. Hence, Georgetown was naturally the best and the most practical choice for me.

    So, one of the most common problems applicants face is those limited to writing the personal statement – any advice on how one should go about it? 

    I think that writing personal statements can be very hard. As Indians, we are not in the habit of praising ourselves and our abilities openly. I particularly struggled with it. However, I spoke with my supervisors at Vidhi (who were very supportive of my decision to pursue an LLM), who had pursued LLMs themselves and who guided me in presenting a real picture of myself before the admissions committee.

    “I think that writing personal statements can be very hard. As Indians, we are not in the habit of praising ourselves and our abilities openly. I particularly struggled with it.”

    I think an SOP should be divided into four parts:

    Depending on when you graduated and what you did before and after graduation, you need to discuss your education, internships and work experience briefly, explaining what your key takeaways were from each of these experiences.

    The final part ought to discuss why you are applying for an LLM and why you are applying to the specific college for an LLM. You can decide the format you want to follow to incorporate all these points, but they should certainly be a part of your SoP. You need to make sure that your own true voice comes out clearly and distinctly in your SoP.

    By that, I mean you should be honest and discuss how your experiences have actually shaped you and prepared you for an LLM. I think prior to writing an SOP, each person should think and reflect a little bit about their experiences as a lawyer/law student and put down their thoughts in writing.

    How was the LLM experience? What were some of the biggest learnings you made during the course?

    My LLM year experience was fabulous! Throughout the year, I became more and more sure that my decision to pursue an LLM after working for a couple of years was correct. I approached the degree with a very different perspective. I did not care so much about grades, but more about the courses I was taking.

    “I became more and more sure that my decision to pursue an LLM after working for a couple of years was correct. I approached the degree with a very different perspective. I did not care so much about grades, but more about the courses I was taking.”

    I took a lot of practical courses that were not evaluated on the basis of an exam. They either involved formulating an advocacy plan on a public interest issue, writing a memo, investigating human rights abuses, or doing a mock TV interview to discuss a public interest issue. I also took several seminar courses, all of which had take-home, open book exams. I did not give a single exam in the classroom on a strict deadline! I thoroughly enjoyed all the courses I took.

    Georgetown has some of the best professors in the US on account of its location in Washington, DC. Many of my professors were pioneers in their respective fields, they were either former/current diplomats, senior officials in the US government or on Capitol Hill, or officials at the World Bank/Organization of American States. My interaction with many of these professors made my time at Georgetown truly enriching!

    During the LLM, you interned, worked as an RA, and also did research work – how did you go about planning this out? And how did you balance these activities and the LLM coursework itself?

    While I secured a tuition fee waiver award for pursing my LLM at Georgetown, I was keen to cover my living expenses by working on campus. Luckily, Georgetown’s institute for global health law offered me a paid position to work as a research assistant.

    I usually worked 10-15 house every week, which sounds a lot, but isn’t difficult to manage, if you plan your day well. I also did not have classes every day of the week, which allowed me to spend some time on my research work. In addition, I participated in a practicum course, for which I was a graduate student researcher.

    While this was an intensive course, I had some of the best experiences of my life pursuing this course. I travelled to Guyana (which Georgetown paid for) to investigate human rights violations and thereafter, coauthored a report detailing these violations in the country.

    I would like to mention that I did not intern or extern during my LLM, even though I had the option to do so. Instead, I chose to continue working on campus. After graduating, I secured a paid internship at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids to work on law and policy relating to non-communicable diseases.

    What is your reading of the US recruitment market, especially for international LLM graduates?

    I think it is certainly very hard for anyone (not just Indians) to secure a job in the US at this point. However, all LLM graduates from a US college get a one-year permit to work in the US. Through that permit, one can try and secure short-term employment, which can possibly turn into something more permanent.

    While applying for positions, you need to discuss how your skills make you different from the other LLMs and why you should be hired. Here, past work experience really helps, as you can discuss your understanding of the Indian legal market.

    Lastly, any advice for Indian law graduates looking to apply for a master’s abroad?

    When I had applied for an LLM initially, I was running behind big names, instead of figuring out the college and the course that was best for me, given my capabilities and my funding situation.

    The second time around, I was more careful and made the best choice for myself! I would recommend the same to everyone. In India, we are always fascinated by big names, which is understandable.

    “The second time around, I was more careful and made the best choice for myself! I would recommend the same to everyone. In India, we are always fascinated by big names, which is understandable.”

    However, I think that the most important takeaway from an LLM is the experience, i.e. meeting people from different parts of the world, understanding the culture of a new country and learning about the law in a totally different way.

    As long as you are assured that experience, I believe that the name of the college matters little.

     

    End Notes

    • What: Global Health Law LLM, Georgetown University
    • Tuition: USD 66,650 (Please refer to the website for the latest information)
    • Application Deadline: February 8 (Please refer to the website for the latest information)
  • The LLM #Admission Interviews: Cole Agar, School of Transnational Law at Peking University

    The LLM #Admission Interviews: Cole Agar, School of Transnational Law at Peking 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.

    In this edition, I speak with Cole Agar, the Director of Graduate and International Programs at Peking University’s School of Transnational Law (STL). Cole explains the reasons why he would recommend the LLM

    Let’s start from the start – why do you think Indian law graduates should choose the STL LLM?

    Indian Law graduates should choose the LLM program for a number of reasons. These reasons boil down to value for price, diversity and connections, and future-oriented career advancement.

    First, STL offers an LLM with the quality and prestige of a top U.S. law school but at a fraction of the price. To put some numbers to this claim, for 2019 QS World University Rankings ranked Peking University 30th in the world, and Times Higher Education World University Rankings ranked Peking University 31st in the World. In comparison New York University (NYU) ranked 43rd and 27th respectively. And yet, tuition for Peking University’s LLM at STL is almost  1/3 the cost of tuition for the LLM at NYU (about USD 25,000 versus USD 63,802), and the cost of living in China is significantly lower. The comparison goes beyond just the numbers and rankings. In fact, STL’s was built on an American law school model and a high percentage of STL faculty are American and internationally trained professors.

    Another great reason to study at STL is how diverse our international student body is. We have students from every continent on earth, except Antarctica. While I could talk at length about how this enriches the experience of our students and brings a wide range of perspectives into the classroom (which is all true), what is more important for an international lawyer is that it allows our students to build a network of connections that spans the globe. Furthermore, the Chinese students that our LLM candidates will study alongside, represent the top 0.5 percent of students in the country. STL students will go on to be leaders in international law firm, government, universities, multinational companies, and international organizations.

    Finally, completing an LLM at STL is an excellent way for a law student or young lawyer to differentiate themselves from all the other students who do LLMs in countries like the US and UK. While China is rapidly ascending in terms of global impact and significance, most LLM candidates continue to pay for overpriced degrees in the west, where the value of these degrees is declining. STL offers students the opportunity to gain knowledge, skills and connections that will make them unique in a competitive legal market. China is the future of trade, business and tech, and all these industries need the support, expertise and guidance of the legal profession, and yet international law students and young lawyers are just starting to realize the value of boosting their credentials by completing an LLM at a top university in China.

    “While China is rapidly ascending in terms of global impact and significance, most LLM candidates continue to pay for overpriced degrees in the west, where the value of these degrees is declining. STL offers students the opportunity to gain knowledge, skills and connections that will make them unique in a competitive legal market.”

    Does STL look for graduates with a few years of work experience or is the school open to a wide range of applicants? Any other preferences that STL has when it comes to LLM applicants?

    STL looks for applicants who have excelled academically, are professionally experienced, and have a compelling vision for how studying in China fits into their career. So while work experience is not required, it is certainly one of the things we look for.

    What we do not like to see is applicants who are only applying because Peking University is a big name, prestigious institution, but they do not really know who we are and what we specialize in. Applicants should do their homework, and at a minimum read through the information on our website before applying.

    Any advice on how applicants should approach the personal statement requirement? 

    First, do not just restate your resume and list your accomplishments. Second, do not submit a generic personal statement that could have been written for a dozen other schools.

    As mentioned above, we want applicants who can articulate compelling reasons for how studying at STL fits into their career path. For example, some of our best applicants have been those who witnessed the growing importance of China in their country but saw that few local lawyers had any training or experience with Chinese law, language, or culture. As a result, they wanted to study at STL in order to differentiate themselves and to get ahead of the curve in an evolving business and legal world.

    Other applicants have had a specific job in their home country where their employer wanted them to be more knowledgeable about China and to gain connections in China. These are the types of stories we love to read about in personal statements.

    Since the LLM degree is conferred two years after enrolment, what do LLM students do after they complete their residence? Does STL help in setting up externships?

    As you mention, the LL.M. is a two-year program, but the residency and course requirements can be completed in 1 year. During the second year students focus on drafting their thesis and have the flexibility to remain on campus taking additional courses, or travel for internships, field research, or work. STL can help students set up internships and externships.

    Do LLM students have the opportunity to intern at Chinese organisations?

    LLM students have the opportunity to intern at Chinese organizations, law firms, and global companies such as Huawei, Tencent and BYD. However, many of these organizations prefer interns who speak Chinese as well as another language, so this can be a limiting factor for international students.

    I found it interesting that STL has been helmed by deans of American law schools – what are some of the US law school practices, if any, that one can find at STL?

    You will find nearly all US law school practices at STL. In fact, STL was built largely on an American law school model. As a result, our classes are very interactive, and bring in a strong focus on practical knowledge and professional skills training. Classes are fairly small, so that teachers can give student more attention both inside and outside the classroom.

    “Classes are fairly small, so that teachers can give student more attention both inside and outside the classroom.”

    Students have a wide range of electives available to them and classes are taught be renowned American, International and Chinese scholars. There is also a strong emphasis on activities like moot court and student organizations.

    Furthermore, a large portion of our curriculum is common law. However, STL expands upon the American system by offering a higher concentration of international and transnational law subjects.

    Lastly, the first STL LLM batch recently graduated (in 2016) – what have been some of the highlights for the graduating batch? 

    The main highlight has been seeing our graduates quickly jump into legal positions that span nations. For example, one of first LLM graduates is now an associate at a law firm with business between Latin America and Hong Kong.

    She acts as a bridge between these two worlds, and the skills and knowledge she gained at STL helped make this happen. This is exactly the type of lawyer we aim to train.

     

    End Notes

  • First Person Accounts: Akash Gupta on the International Commercial Arbitration LLM at Stockholm University

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

    In this edition, I speak with Akash Gupta, a graduate of Tamil Nadu National Law University (Class of ’18) who is currently enrolled at Stockholm University’s International Commercial Arbitration Law LLM (ICAL). In this interview, he shares his thoughts on the ICAL course, his advice on the application process, and much more.

    PIC 5.jpg

    How did you narrow down on the ICAL course? And did you consider working for sometime before embarking on an LLM?

    I participated in the Vis (East) Moot for the first time in 2016 and I liked the subject matter of the moot. Fortunately, in our University’s first appearance our team was awarded the “Colin J. Wall Spirit of the Moot”.

    Afterwards, I participated in the Vis Moot 2017 where I realised that I want to pursue arbitration law in post-graduation. I always believed in doing back-to-back studies, therefore I did not consider working before doing LL.M. The reasoning was not to break the rhythm of my student instinct.

    “I always believed in doing back-to-back studies, therefore I did not consider working before doing LL.M. The reasoning was not to break the rhythm of my student instinct.”

    I narrowed down on LL.M. ICAL because my interest area was commercial arbitration and not any other area such as investment arbitration, state arbitration.

    Did you look at, and apply to, any other schools? And how early did you start the application process?

    Yes, I also applied to the following law schools:

    • Graduate Institute of International & Development Studies, Geneva: Master of International Dispute Settlement (MIDS)
    • Queen Mary University of London: LL.M. Comparative and International Dispute Resolution

    These schools were the top three “Specialized master’s degrees in arbitration or dispute resolution” according to LLM Survey of Global Arbitration Review[pdf]. Though it was published first in 2012, it is still relevant in 2019. Fortunately, I got an offer letter from Stockholm University and Queen Mary University of London. I decided to go for LL.M. ICAL as it is more focused on the commercial arbitration.

    Honestly, I started the application process very late, in December 2017. I remember, it was a bit hectic as I was interning at the Asian International Arbitration Centre, Kuala Lumpur that time. During my two months internship, I finished my application process starting from writing the Statement of Purpose to receiving the Letter of Recommendation and other required documents from TNNLU.

    But I will advise law students to start the application process in October and get the application documents ready by end of November. Even though there is no exam as such for getting an LL.M. admission, the whole application process is very challenging at times. For example, you need to review your Statement of Purpose. The problem is, after a point of time you cannot see a mistake in your own Statement of Purpose.

    “But I will advise law students to start the application process in October and get the application documents ready by end of November. Even though there is no exam as such for getting an LL.M. admission, the whole application process is very challenging at times.”

    Therefore, you need time so that your faculty, friends or family members review your Statement of Purpose. With respect to Letter of Recommendation, you need to give ample time to your referee.

    Did you apply for any sort of financial aid?

    Yes, I applied for the following scholarships:

    • Commonwealth Scholarship in the UK
    • N. Tata Endowment for Loan Scholarship
    • Scholarship Scheme at Stockholm University

    I qualified for the interview rounds of J. N. Tata and Commonwealth scholarship but did not bag the scholarship. Fortunately, my parents supported my LL.M. expenses for which I am extremely grateful.

    How did you go about writing the Statement of Purpose? Any advice for future applicants on both, the Statement of Purpose, and who to ask for LoRs?

    I looked upon the guides available on the internet to see how the Academic Committee evaluates the Statement of Purpose. After analysing the guides, I decided to write my own story and show why I want to do LL.M. plus what makes me the most eligible candidate.

    But students should keep in mind that everything positive you write, it should be implied and not seem like you are praising yourself. The readers should get a feeling that the candidate has the eagerness to learn the subject and has taken reasonable steps towards it. For instance, students should show that they have done short courses, moots, paper publication relating to the subject.

    The biggest mistake students commit in the Statement of Purpose is plagiarism!

    The Academic Committee evaluating your application is experienced and know whether the application is plagiarised or not, they do not need software for it. The golden rule is “Write your own story in the Statement of Purpose”

    For Letter of Recommendation, the candidate should think about two things:

    • The Referee should be able to write a personalised letter. The answer depends on how well the Referee knows you, what was the Referee’s relationship with you and whether the Referee has time to write the letter. By personalised letter, I mean how much the Referee is referring to the candidate’s work, approach, improvement. The most common mistake students do is to get the letter from a legal luminary without any in-depth analysis of your profile.
    • The Referee’s post in the letter is not the most important criteria for evaluation. How the Referee supports your application and appreciates your studies/work during the law school/internship becomes decisive to make or break your LL.M. application.

    Early days yet, but how has the ICAL experience been thus far? What were some of the bigger differences in the learning experience in Stockholm as compared to TNNLS?

    Like I said here, one of the best features of the ICAL LL.M. programme is its practical approach coupled with the theory, like law firm visits and guest lectures on trending topics of the subject. The ICAL class consists of 30 plus students from over 19 jurisdictions which results in the positive spillover and helps in exploring the non-conventional aspects of arbitration.

    “The ICAL class consists of 30 plus students from over 19 jurisdictions which results in the positive spillover and helps in exploring the non-conventional aspects of arbitration.”

    The “War Stories Seminar Series” is a part of the ICAL programme where the top practitioners of the arbitration team conduct a seminar with the ICAL students. This year we had law firms like Baker McKenzie, Rochier, Manheimer Swartling, Lindahl for the seminar. Apart from this, the Vis Team got an opportunity to attend the Vis Colloquium conducted by the White & Case.

    Apart from this, the students are divided into groups and attached to the law firms for the “Mock Arbitration”. This activity provides an overview of arbitration proceedings starting from sending the request for arbitration to challenging the arbitral award.

    The law faculty of Stockholm University consists of stalwarts like Prof. (Dr.) Patricia Shaughnessy who started the ICAL programme in 2003 and the present Supervisor of the ICAL programme Prof. (Dr.) Christina Ramberg. The ICAL Course Lecturers include Dr. Daria Kozlowska Rautiainen and Dr. Andreas von Goldbeck.

    The major differences between Stockholm University and TNNLU are the practical approach of the coursework and a greater number of activities involving the subject. During my graduation I opted for the “Comparative Constitutional Law” which demanded a lot of readings to be done before attending the lectures.

    This helped me for the ICAL programme because the students need to do a substantial amount of reading before attending the lecture/seminar. There are similarities as well, for instance, the interactive sessions, essays, open book subjective exams, multiple choice examinations, presentations, seminars and guest lectures.

    Lastly, any advice for Indian law grads who are considering applying to ICAL or similar courses outside India?

    The candidate should research thoroughly about the course and the University. There are certain Universities which are ranked higher for “law”, while the others are ranked highly in the specific subject. Keep this difference in mind while deciding the law school.

    “There are certain Universities which are ranked higher for “law”, while the others are ranked highly in the specific subject. Keep this difference in mind while deciding the law school.”

    The LL.M. degree from abroad is a substantial investment, therefore plan your expenses and try to finish the application process as soon as possible because some of the scholarship deadlines are before the deadline of the application.

    I have been told that “By the time you will settle down, your LL.M. will be over”. In other words, most of the LL.M. is 11 months, use your abroad experience to the fullest. For instance, try to attend the networking events, pre-moots, conferences, seminar conducted by the law firms or the arbitration institute. You need to expose yourself to the opportunities and grab them with both hands.

    I advise law students to secure a coach before starting the application. Having a coach helps in making the process much easier and making the content of your application more authentic. I was fortunate to have Mr. Mrityunjay Kumar as my coach and it worked for me. To be specific and highlighting the importance of having a coach, I completed my application process within a very limited time because of the valuable guidance of my coach. So, secure your coach beforehand and ace your admission applications.

    Lastly, I would say enjoy life with family and friends. Though your professional life is important, its just part of your life. Don’t be sad if you score low in a paper or don’t get through the college admissions or could not secure a job in your dream law firm. Life is like test cricket where the run rate does not matter, the impact comes from the score you make. In other words, people have their own time zone, just keep working hard and bouncing back!

    Akash can be reached on LinkedIn here in case anyone has specific questions on the ICAL course, or LLM applications in general. 

  • First Person Accounts: Aayushi Singh on the IADR LLM at NUS, MIDS-NUS double-degree

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

    In this edition, I get Aayushi Singh to talk about the LLM in International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution offered by the National University of Singapore, a course she is currently enrolled in. Aayushi is graduate of Symbiosis Law School, Pune (Class of ’18) and, in this interview, shares  her reasons for enrolling for the LLM, externships at Singapore’s leading law firms, the NUS MIDS double-degree programme, and a whole lot more.

    Aayushi Singh
    Aayushi Singh

    As an undergraduate student, at what point of time did you decide to enrol for a master’s course? Did you consider working for a few years before the LLM?

    There’s a Kafkan idea that states you must follow your most intense passions mercilessly and for me, that passion has always been international arbitration. I was certain that my career trajectory would definitely involve an LL.M, it was only a matter of when I’d decide to take a step down that alley.

    Possibly in the middle of my third year due to the exposure I had towards international arbitration and commercial laws via moots, internships and conferences – I made up my mind that owing to the technicalities of the field and nuances it involves, I would seek to build a career in it only after I had gained sufficient knowledge in the domain.

    International arbitration, being a highly specialised portion of private international law, is taught only in a handful of law schools back in India and I personally felt I wanted to gain adequate theoretical insight before jumping into a full fledged job

    How did you go about selecting schools? And how did you narrow down on NUS – was this related to your earlier internship in Kuala Lumpur?

    Instead of mindlessly going after seeking a big name on my CV, I wanted to aim for colleges that offered highly specialized degrees in International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution. The options involved MIDS, Stockholm University, Queen Mary University of London, and the National University of Singapore.

    After getting my acceptance letters, I made a decision based on the course structure and then opting for the college which offered me a set of diversified clusters where I was not forced to choose between investment or commercial arbitration as I do enjoy a fairly soft corner for the former. Besides academic reasons, the National University of Singapore was a conscious decision based on my prior exposure to South East Asia owing to my traineeship with the Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration and my familiarity with Singapore as a city.

    NUS offered courses with some of the most reputed names in arbitration right from Comparative Evidence with Jeffrey Waincymer, Conflict of Laws with Franco Ferrari, International Investment  Law with Dr  M. Sornarajah  and Advanced Issues in IA with the Gary Born. I couldn’t dream of a better set of teachers for my higher studies and combined with it, the academic rigour and perfection the NUS system dictated were my biggest attractions towards the course.

    “I couldn’t dream of a better set of teachers for my higher studies and combined with it, the academic rigour and perfection the NUS system dictated were my biggest attractions towards the course.”

    Any advice for potential applicants on the specifics of the applications such as writing the SoP and getting good LoRs?

    Well, here goes the perfect cliche but there is nothing as the ideal Statement of Purpose. For me, I think SOPs are meant to be an expression of your individuality, your passions, basically your story. What SOPs are not meant to be are mechanical narrations of your CV because the institutes a candidate applies to already are already in receipt of your CV — what they want to know and assess is the underlying person and his/her own professional interests and inclinations. My own SOP adopted a mixture of a personal and professional narrative.

    “What SOPs are not meant to be are mechanical narrations of your CV because the institutes a candidate applies to already are already in receipt of your CV — what they want to know and assess is the underlying person and his/her own professional interests and inclinations.”

    With respect to LORs, my advice would always be to go with academic and professional references who have a deeper insight into your personality. This could be a reference from your mentor during a long term internship, a professor who you ran a project with in your law university  with etc.

    The LORs from such references are naturally more personalized and reflect that you’ve not just attained academic/professional dexterity but also speak of how you are a well rounded person. When applying to a specialized course as IADR, I do believe that a letter of reference from someone specifically from the field you’ve worked with or studied under would be immensely helpful.

    Did you apply for any sort of financial aid?

    I applied for the Aga Khan International Scholarship which functions in the nature of a 50% grant, 50% loan basis and caters specifically to students from a narrow geographic scope covered under the Aga Khan Development Network.

    How has the LLM experience been thus far? Any particular highlights of the course? 

    It’s difficult to condense the experience I have had in the past eight months into words. The famous “intensive” modules at the National University of Singapore bring down rigorous courses into a demanding system of 9 lectures of three hours each, spanning over three weeks where you are constantly assessed over class participation, research papers or sit-down exams, as the module may demand.

    I took up my seminal research titled, “Transparency in Investment arbitration in Asia – An analysis of the Asian arbitration regime” with CJ Koh Law Professor M. Sornarajah as my supervisor, which I will be completing towards the end of this academic year. I dove into internships towards the end of Semester 1 and was working as an Attachee with the International Arbitration teams of Rajah and Tann and Allen and Gledhill LLP, two of Singapore’s Big 4.

    The professional and academic experience has been demanding and very, very rewarding  personally. I have been exposed to a very competitive  process of assessment in the work and academic  sphere. Keeping aside academics, the NUS LL.M programme hosts a vast array of students from varying parts of the world and the cultural experience you are exposed to is quite unmatchable. Singapore, the famous little red dot, is quite a magnificent city to live and study in. A perfect amalgamation of the East and West.

    “Keeping aside academics, the NUS LL.M programme hosts a vast array of students from varying parts of the world, and the cultural experience you are exposed to is quite unmatchable.”

    Is it easy to get externships as part of the LLM? 

    No, I would not say it is easy. Most countries have their own specific laws catering to foreign students and the number of hours they are allowed to devote to internships along with college hours.

    And since there are always limited spots for foreign students and multitudes of students applying, the competition for the most reputed firms and organizations is always fierce.

    Nevertheless, well written applications and meticulously drafted CVs exposing a well rounded individual who has sufficient industry experience and insight in their domain of interest are very rarely rejected.

    You are also applying for a semester of the MIDS course, which is an option that NUS LLMs in IADR have – could you tell me a bit about how one goes about applying for this? And was this always the plan, or only something you decided to take up after you started the LLM?

    The National University of Singapore and MIDS, Geneva Double Degree Programme is offered to the Geneva and Singapore cohort towards the middle of their LL.M programmes when they get to apply for a semester in the partner university, hence making the degree a Double Degree in IADR from two of the best universities catering to dispute resolution.

    For NUS, the application process involves a nomination of students by the Faculty of Law based on their previous academic performance in Semester 1 and the quality of their undergraduate law degree. After the nominations, the University in Geneva assesses the applications and accordingly students are given a seat for a semester as part of the programme. I was inclined towards applying for the Double-Degree since the time I joined the IADR LL.M cohort at NUS.

    Lastly, what is your reading of the recruitment market for international lawyers in the field of IADR?

    This is a question that naturally elicits varied answers based on which region of the world you’re pursuing your LL.M in. Speaking for this part of the world, we have an array of choices ranging from some of the best arbitration  institutions at SIAC, HKIAC, CIETAC etc. to some reputed local and international firms with enviable dispute resolution practices right across Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta.

    Owing to how only a fairly limited number of opportunities exist, there is a natural inclination for candidates with sound industry experience, academic  excellence and a strong hold over subject basics, survival of the fittest to condense the narration.

     

    End Notes

  • The LLM #Admission Interviews: Sean O’Brien on the International Human Rights LLM at Notre Dame

    I first came across Notre Dame’s LLM in International Human Rights late last year when an Indian law graduate made it to the course. What caught my attention, at first, was the fact that this particular individual was offered a complete waiver on the tuition fees, a very generous offer by any means.

    Clearly, this was one law school (or at least program) that was willing to walk the talk when it comes to attracting international LLM students. A bit more research on the course itself has led me to believe that this is a program well worth considering for the Indian law graduate interested in human rights lawyering. A conclusion I based on multiple reasons, some of which I discussed with Assistant Professor and director of the program’s student services, Sean O’Brien, in the interview below.

    The LLM on International Human Rights is a very, very interesting program.

    Sean O"Brien/University of Notre Dame
    Sean O”Brien/University of Notre Dame

    It is a one-year LLM program whose focus is exclusively on human rights law. For thirty years now, we have maintained that focus. We have a wide, and deep curriculum on human rights, much more so than any other American law school. We offer courses relating to public international law, the history of the foundations of human rights, regional human rights mechanisms related to America, Europe, Africa, and several sub-regional systems, like the ASEAN.

    One more course I would highlight is the intensive trial advocacy course, a program we are nationally known for. A number of our LLM students participate in this course along with the JD students.

    Also, our law school is physically located right at the heart of the university. I am surrounded by other departments in which our students can, and are encouraged, to take courses at. These courses count towards their LLM degree.

    I need to clarify though, that the classes need to be connected somehow to their formation as a human rights lawyer. So, we have students taking courses in the business school related to the global supply chain. Or the UN global compact. Again, those are not necessarily or only connected to human rights, but they can inform and deepen the understanding of a lawyer on how corporations work, their governing structures, and what are their obligations both at the domestic and international level.

    Are you looking for lawyers with a few years work experience?

    We have a range of experience in our program. There are some lawyers who have graduated from law schools that provide a lot of clinical opportunities. So, some of our students are very recent graduates, maybe a year out but have significant experience working as a lawyer in clinical opportunities while in law school.

    Academic performances for those students will be critical right because that is really all that they have to show as far as their potential for impact – how much did they engage with their academic courses and with human rights related clinics while in law school.

    But then we also have lawyers who have been working in the field of human rights, and they have been doing that for three or five years. And in order to take that next step to, perhaps, a leadership position, they need not only the credential but the academic knowledge and the exchange of experiences with lawyers from around the world that our program can provide.

    We have lawyers who were working in government, incorporating a human rights perspective in private practice, representing corporations to make sure they fulfil their human rights obligations. There isn’t just one image of a human rights lawyer that we stick to here at Notre Dame.

    “We have lawyers who were working in government, incorporating a human rights perspective in private practice, representing corporations to make sure they fulfil their human rights obligations. There isn’t just one image of a human rights lawyer that we stick to here at Notre Dame.”

    Coming to the LLM application – when should one start preparing?

    The application is due on the first of April, but I do begin reviewing applications and making offers of admission before that. It behooves the applicant to submit her application as soon as possible and what I mean by that is that soon as possible after the first of January. This just increases your chances of receiving a scholarship.

    We do have a significant scholarship funding to cover tuition, and a limited amount of funding to assist students with some of their living expenses. And the sooner you submit your application, the more likely you are to receive that scholarship support.

    All applicants are considered for scholarships. I would encourage applicants to put their applications together in a way that tells their story, their desire for impact, and the admissions committee will handle it from there.

    Any advice on say, the Letters of Recommendation? 

    It is important to find the right recommenders who can speak about your very specific strengths as a lawyer. They should not only speak about your academic qualifications and your ability to succeed in the classroom here at Notre Dame, but also people who can speak to the applicant’s potential for impact as a human rights lawyer.

    Also, it would be important for the recommenders to speak about the same kind of things that the applicant herself speaks about in her application.

    How do you think one should approach the personal statement?

    The personal statement does take time for reflection, for drafting and for re-drafting. The personal statement should be where the applicant tells her story, explains what motivates her to be a human rights lawyer.

    It should help the admissions committee understand why this degree at Notre Dame in particular can be a transformative experience for her as a human rights lawyer. What is it about our program, about an LLM in human rights law that will help her take the next step in her trajectory as a human rights lawyer?

    “The personal statement should help the admissions committee understand why this degree at Notre Dame in particular can be a transformative experience for her as a human rights lawyer. What is it about our program, about an LLM in human rights law that will help her take the next step in her trajectory as a human rights lawyer?”

    One of the aspects that I found interesting about this course was the additional internship that is offered after students graduate.

    We have an alumni network of more than four hundred human rights lawyers working in over a hundred countries. This network is critical for our program in a couple of ways including helping place our students in post-graduate internships.

    After they graduate in May, I would say at least half of our students go on to seek human rights related internships. They choose this to broaden their experiences, to perhaps move from working at a national level, to working or an organization that has a regional view.

    One of our lawyers from India, for example, is now working at the Khmer Rouge trials in Cambodia. That experience will allow her to develop some skills as a prosecutor and increase her ability to seek employment in the UN system – her end goal.

    We have been able to help students get internships at places like that because we have a long line of students who have interned at these organizations and have impressed their employers. So, [the organizations] are happy to receive interns from our LLM programs – this would be true in places like the Khmer Rouge trials, the Inter American Commission on Human Rights, the International Commission of Jurists, or the UNHCR.

    Our alumni also help our students feel that they are a part of a network of human rights lawyers across the world. When you graduate from Notre Dame Law School, you don’t just graduate with a degree or a title, you graduate with a network.

    “Our alumni also help our students feel that they are a part of a network of human rights lawyers across the world. When you graduate from Notre Dame Law School, you don’t just graduate with a degree or a title, you graduate with a network.”

    Our alumni share experiences, share information about what works and what does not work in combatting different human rights violations. They also share strategies and form networks to address particular issues.

    Moving on to the JSD program – any advice for students who may be considering this after the master’s course?

     Our JSD program has had a traditional focus on human rights law, although we are now accepting JSD applications on topics that go beyond human rights. However, our scholarship support is currently directed at students who focus on human rights law.

    Most of our JSD students have completed an LLM from different institutions. So, our LLM program is not a direct entrance to our JSD program.

    Students who are seeking a JSD should spend significant time on our website to find a faculty member who would be a good match as a supervisor. They should also consider reaching out to such a faculty member and I can help facilitate those connections.

    Final question, and one not directly connected to the program – what got you to take the LLM at Notre Dame?

    After I finished my undergraduate studies, I worked as a volunteer at the US southern border. That was also a time of great legislative action on the issue of immigration.

    Inspired by that experience, I lived for a year and a half in Honduras and experienced first-hand the conditions that were forcing Hondurans and other central Americans to leave their countries and seek safety from violence.

    That is how I came to Notre Dame Law School, precisely because it had a focus on human rights law. I took human rights courses during my JD, and then stayed on for a year for the LLM which was exclusively on human rights law. This prepared me to work as human rights lawyer.

    “That is how I came to Notre Dame Law School, precisely because it had a focus on human rights law. I took human rights courses during my JD, and then stayed on for a year for the LLM which was exclusively on human rights law. This prepared me to work as human rights lawyer.”

    I then worked for a non-profit law firm that litigated cases for inter-American human rights, and then as an immigration and an asylum attorney. I provided legal immigration services, essentially facilitating the asylum applications of torture survivors, and helping them maintain refugee and other legal status here in the United States.

    During that work I received the offer to come back to my alma mater, to direct the program that had directly formed me, and that had prepared me for my work. It was an offer that I could not refuse (laughs).

    End Notes