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  • First Person Accounts: Aradhya Sethia on an LLM from Yale, Inlaks, Fox Fellowship & more

    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 from different schools across the world.

    In this edition of the FPA, we get talking with Aradhya Sethia who recently completed an LLM from Yale Law School (Class of ’18). In this FPA, the NLSIU graduate (Class of ’17) shares his thoughts on studying at Yale, the Inlaks scholarship (of which he is an awardee), the Fox Fellowship, comparative constitutional studies, and a whole lot more.

    Aradhya Sethia, LLM from Yale Law School
    Aradhya Sethia

    At what stage of your undergraduate studies did you consider enrolling for an LLM? 

    I was undecided till the end, but it was in the fourth year that I seriously started thinking about it.

    I am presuming it was Yale’s focus on academia that made you apply there? Did you look at any other law schools?

    I always wanted to study constitutional philosophy. Yale Law School is widely recognized to be the best school to do that, and some of the best scholars whom I encountered in my undergraduate research were Yale professors.  Apart from Yale, I applied to Oxford and Cambridge. I received an offer from both the universities, but I decided to go to Yale.

    The Yale LLM admissions requires fairly compact essays – how should future applicants approach the essay requirements? 

    I’d recommend the students to read the questions very carefully. Your essay should make sure that you are answering each and every essay question. Yale also requires you to submit a  research agenda.

    It took me a lot of research to get to a point where I could draft a convincing research agenda.  They want you to ask concise, relevant, and thought-provoking questions. Focus on that one big question you are interested in.

    Your primary goal shouldn’t be to prove that you have researched a lot, but to ask the right question, show why that question matters, and how Yale could help you answer that question.

    “Your primary goal shouldn’t be to prove that you have researched a lot, but to ask the right question, show why that question matters, and how Yale could help you answer that question.”

    How was the LLM experience at Yale? What courses did you study, and what were some of the bigger changes in the teachings (and learnings) between your undergrad and post-grad days? 

     I really loved my time at Yale. First of all, it was for the first time that I was studying in a multi-disciplinary university. I got to live and interact with theoretical physicists, economists, computer scientists, etc. It was a superb learning experience.

    “It was for the first time that I was studying in a multi-disciplinary university. I got to live and interact with theoretical physicists, economists, computer scientists, etc. It was a superb learning experience.”

    I took courses on American Constitutional Law, comparative constitutional law, American legal thought, comparative administrative law, Law and AI, Law and Behavioral Economics, Data Protection, and International Trade  Law. I also took a clinical course on International Human Rights (IHR).

    The clinic was my favorite experience at Yale. It taught me how IHR is really practiced beyond courtroom lawyering. I also took a course in political philosophy on the relationship between politics and economics.

    Yale has a small LLM batch size – around 25, and all my batchmates were serious scholars of their own fields. I was the youngest member of the batch, and hence, relatively clueless. I did not go there with a set plan or goal, which helped me keep an open mind and explore courses I was not exposed to, instead of specializing in one field.

    You studied at Yale as an Inlaks scholar – any advice on how to go about the scholarship process?

    There’s no one way to go about it. I think the idea is to remain calm and honest during the interview process. The first round is stream-specific. My interview with the law-panel mostly dealt with my ability to debate legal issues and my knowledge about the areas of law I am interested in.

    The questions in the second round were more general, mostly related to either character or how I situate the relevance of my academic interests in the larger scheme of affairs. I don’t think one can really prepare for the second interview.

    Could you tell us a bit about the Fox Fellowship? What are the things to keep in mind while applying, and how has the fellowship experience been thus far?

    Yale Fox Fellowship funds recent graduate students or current Ph.D. students at Yale to spend a year at one of their partner universities to do their own research. It’s a University-wide fellowship, not restricted to Yale Law School. The aim of the fellowship is to create “citizen-scholars”, who can contribute to society through their research. If you are a graduate student at their partner university, you can apply to spend your fellowship year at Yale.

    To apply for Fox, you need to submit your research proposal along with a statement of interest. I wanted to work on the place of political parties in the constitutional order. I decided to research this question with its Centre for Comparative Constitutional Studies at Melbourne, one of the leading comparative constitutional law research centres in the world. I have found some amazing mentors and friends here.

    Given your experiences, what would you tell Indian law students who are interested in a career in academia and research?

    I don’t think I have achieved anything significant in this field to recommend much. However, there’s a minefield of issues in Indian law, which have not yet received any scholarly attention. 

    “I’d recommend undergraduate students that instead of taking up “buzzing” issues, choose fundamental legal questions that are relatively unexplored.”

    I’d recommend undergraduate students that instead of taking up “buzzing” issues, choose fundamental legal questions that are relatively unexplored.

    Last question – what are some of the teaching practices you have seen that ought to be replicated in Indian law schools? 

    There are many things that could be replicated in Indian law schools. One thing that I would like to point out here because of my experiences in Indian and American clinics is clinical education. 

    I wish there were more clinical facilities in Indian law schools. For those who may want to practice law, clinical legal education can teach you a lot. In India, the clinics are mostly seen as a part of ‘co-curricular activities’, operated by student committees with little to no support from faculty. I am not sure if any Indian law school has full-time clinical faculty and full-fledged clinical courses as part of academic curriculum. 

    “In India, the clinics are mostly seen as a part of ‘co-curricular activities’, operated by student committees with little to no support from faculty.”

    Finally, a cautionary note on ‘replication’ – I wish I were exposed to more Indian scholarship during my time at NLS Bangalore. For instance, my classes in jurisprudence and political theory in India were completely occupied by readings from British and American legal theorists. There’s no problem with that. I thoroughly enjoyed those readings.

    However, I completed that course without having any sense of what those ideas meant for the law or politics in India. It didn’t help me make sense of my surroundings. It is only when I went to Yale, and I understood the deep contextual roots of these theories, that I was pushed to read literature on Indian constitutional and legal thought.

    I was amazed that there are many scholars thinking deeply and writing profusely on what law or constitutionalism means, or ought to mean, in Indian or South Asian context, or even how to make sense of grand theories in local contexts.

     

    End Notes

  • First Person Accounts: Himanshi Gupta on a specialised LLM from QMUL

    First Person Accounts (FPA’s) are meant to provide a first-hand account of Indian law graduates who have pursued a post-graduate course from different schools across the world. In this edition of the FPA, we get talking with Himanshi Gupta who is currently pursuing an LLM in Comparative and International Dispute Resolution from Queen Mary University of London.

    B50DF8E2-7067-4F2E-A4CA-01DCC5A4387D
    Himanshi Gupta

    Himanshi graduated in law from Amity Law School, Noida (Class of ’17) and worked for a year before embarking on her master’s education.

    In this FPA, she discusses how she went about choosing a law school, her time at QMUL, and a lot more.

    (Edited excerpts)

     

    When did you decide to pursue a masters? Was this the plan during your undergraduate days, or only something you decided to do after working?

    During law school, I developed a taste for the subject Alternative Dispute Resolution. I was fascinated with the procedure and the convenience with which arbitral proceedings were held in general, and I got the privilege to witness the same during a stint internship with my mentor, Dr. Amit George, an independent practitioner in Delhi.

    I moved on to work with an AoR in the Supreme Court –  that was the time I actually worked on ad hoc construction dispute cases and realized I wanted to to specialize in this field. I would also like to acknowledge my family for understanding my interest and encouraging me to seek further education in this domain. Prior experience in this area worked out in my favour which consecutively helped me to take a decision in a prompt manner.   

    How did you narrow down on QMUL? 

    I searched for the best colleges and the professors, and QMUL was amongst the best colleges. I applied only for two courses: one, the specialised LLM at QMUL, and the MIDS course. I consulted few people for the same including my mentor, co-worker at the office (alumni in IPR from QMUL) and other LLM graduates.

    There was also the chance of opportunities coming my way being while staying in London; it is the most favoured venue for arbitral proceedings. Moreover, coming from a common law background, it served my purpose more. Lastly, the professors – Prof. Loukas Mistelis and Prof. Stavros Brekoulakis of QMUL.

    Any advice for how to go about writing a Statement of Purpose?

    My advice to other aspiring LLM students would be first, to stay calm (jokes apart).

    Second, to write just above half a page incorporating what specialization you want to pursue your LLM in, why do you want to pursue it from that University/College particularly including the choice of city and how would you be able to achieve the set goals, in crisp and simple language.

    Third, good grammar. Students can go online for this – there are different apps and dictionaries available.

    How has the LLM experience been so far? Anything that you wished you had known about the LLM experience before you applied?

    I had nothing pre-planned before leaving India and I think it worked well for me. No expectations, no disappointments. Just embracing whatever is coming my way whether be it the challenge of pre-reading pages, successful participation in class discussions, over-night parties, exploring London while also learning my chosen subjects. Had I known things, it would not have that surreal while rejoicing the fruits out of seeds sown.

    Lastly, any advice for Indian law grads looking to pursue a LLM?

    One should be absolutely sure to pursue an LLM and in what field. Secondly, apply for scholarships timely. Being vigilant about everything is the key to success and that is what I have learnt. Lastly, having a minimum work experience of a year before the LLM acts as a catalyst in fetching good clientele, work and friends.

    Lastly, having a minimum work experience of a year before the LLM acts as a catalyst in fetching good clientele, work and friends.

    End Notes

    What: LLM in Comparative and International Dispute Resolution from QMUL

    Tuition Fees: GPB 22,150/- (Please refer website for latest fees)

    Applications: Open in September (Please refer website for latest deadlines)

  • #Scholarship alert: Fulbright scholarships for 2020-21

    USIEF Fulbright Scholarships

    The United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF),  recently released a detailed brochure for applicants interested in the Fulbright scholarships for the academic year 2020-21.

    The scholarships that could be relevant for Indian law graduates include:

    • Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship
    • Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowship
    • Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program

    Here is an excerpt from the opening notes by Adam J. Grotsky, USIEF’s Managing Director:

    “This e-brochure describes the fellowships, eligibility criteria, and procedures for applying. Once you find a fellowship of interest, I suggest that you visit the “Current Fellows” page on USIEF’s website to learn about recent proposals that have been successful. Please view the videos Indian Fulbrighters: Ambassadors of Change on YouTube where alumni share their Fulbright-Nehru experiences. Visit USIEF Facebook and Twitter pages for regular updates and success stories of Fulbright scholars and alumni.”

    The USIEF brochure can be downloaded here [pdf].

  • First Person Accounts: Nehaa Chaudhari on an LLM from Harvard Law School, Berkman Klein Centre & more

    First Person Accounts (FPA’s) are meant to provide a first-hand account of Indian law graduates who have pursued a post-graduate course from different schools across the world. In this edition of the FPA, we get talking with Nehaa Chaudhari who graduated with an LLM from Harvard Law School (Class of 2017).

    Nehaa Chaudhari
    Nehaa Chaudhari

    In this FPA, the NALSAR (Class of 2013) graduate shares tips on how to go about writing the personal statement for the LLM, research assistantships at Harvard Law School, and a whole lot more.

    You joined the Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) after graduating in law. Was it during your time at CIS that you began considering an LLM, or was this the plan even during your undergrad days?

    I always wanted to go for an LL.M., even as an undergrad at NALSAR. I learnt a lot during my time at CIS, which was instrumental in concretising my interest in technology law and policy.

    Just over three years at CIS, and you enrolled for the LLM at Harvard. Did you look at any other schools, and if so why did you end up choosing HLS? 

    I must have applied to ten schools — four in the UK, and the rest in the US. I was surprised, and delighted of course, when I got in everywhere I had applied. Then, it came down to choosing the best possible school based on the program that I wanted to study — which was technology law and policy, the faculty, and funding.

    All of these things came together at HLS — it was offering me the most aid out of all schools, the technology law faculty is stellar, and it houses the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society. I was familiar with the work of some of the faculty and staff at HLS and the Berkman Klein Center, and HLS offered me the opportunity to work closely with them.

    So one of the major stumbling blocks in the admission process is the Personal Statement – given that HLS has a fairly challenging requirement, any thoughts on on how to go about writing the PS?

    When we interacted with the admissions staff of the Graduate Program while at HLS, we learnt that the admissions committee looked to the personal statement to get a sense of the applicant as a person, and what they brought to the table, as well as to see how well (or poorly) they could write. Good writing does not mean complicated writing, or the use of flowery language — quite the contrary in fact. Personal statements should be clearly written, and easy to read.

    Good writing does not mean complicated writing, or the use of flowery language — quite the contrary in fact. Personal statements should be clearly written, and easy to read.

    One of the most helpful pieces of advice that I received about writing the personal statement generally, and which also holds true for HLS, was to (a) be authentic, and (b) be strategic about it.

    By authentic I mean talk about your actual experiences, and not what you think the office of admissions wants to hear. By strategic I mean be thoughtful about which of your stories you want to share.

    There is no need to talk about everything one has ever done in life. In fact, that might be counter-intuitive. Focus on those learnings and experiences that speak directly to your reason for doing the LL.M. at a particular law school. It’s crucial that personal statements be tailored to each school and each program. So, be sure to include school specific and program specific reasons for applying to a particular law school — this could be things like faculty, courses, other opportunities, funding, or anything else.

    At HLS, you worked closely with the Berkman Klein Clinic (BKC) – how was this experience and how did you wind up as an RA? Any advice for Indian law grads who are looking at TA/RA’s during the relatively short LLM?

    Over the year, I worked with the BKC in two capacities — first, as a part of the Cyberlaw Clinic, which works as a pro-bono law firm, and second, as an RA to Prof. Urs Gasser, who is the Executive Director at the center. I had to apply for both positions — I think I submitted a personal statement and a resume for both. Prof. Urs also interviewed all candidates.

    There are lots of opportunities to be an RA at HLS. Most professors are almost always looking for research assistance. There is a job opportunities portal of sorts, so one thing to do is to just keep track of that. It’s also helpful to go speak to a faculty member directly, and ask if they are looking for RAs.

    There are lots of opportunities to be an RA at HLS. Most professors are almost always looking for research assistance. There is a job opportunities portal of sorts, so one thing to do is to just keep track of that.

    I had a fantastic experience at the BKC. All of the faculty and the staff at BKC were extremely knowledgeable, and at the same time extremely down to earth, and helpful. I received a lot of feedback on my work which is relevant and useful even today. Everyone that I worked with was very committed about their work, loved what they did,  and were very nice to each other — all of which contributed to an excellent work atmosphere.

    You were also a recipient of a scholarship from the KC Mahindra Trust – how was the application process? Any other sources of funding that applicants ought to look at?

    The application process was pretty standard. Application materials included an application form, proof of acceptance into a university, and your resume. This was followed by an interview.

    Besides K.C. Mahindra, candidates can look at the Tata Trust, as well as the Inlaks scholarship. There’s also the Fulbright programme, but the application process for that begins almost a whole year in advance – you apply for the Fulbright before you apply to university, basically.

    Looking back, was there anything about the LLM process that you wished you had known before joining the program? 

    Well, it’s a nine-month program, and nine months go by fairly quickly. There’s a lot that one can do, and it can all get a bit overwhelming. Most of us struggled with “impostor syndrome”, a feeling that we didn’t really belong in the program — that HLS had somehow messed up.

    It would have helped to know that practically everyone struggles with this, and that it’s completely okay! The uncertainty is all a part of the experience, so just try to not control everything, be open to completely new experiences, and go along for the ride.

    The uncertainty is all a part of the experience, so just try to not control everything, be open to completely new experiences, and go along for the ride.

     

    End Notes

    1. What: The LLM at Harvard Law School
    2. Tuition fees: $63,800 (Refer website for latest figures)
    3. Deadline: December 1 (Refer website)

  • Through the looking glass: The Indian law graduate and a foreign LLM

    A bit of the new. A lot of the old.
    A bit of the new. A lot of the old.

    It is soon going to be twelve months since Amicus Partners hit the ground, reason enough to do a reflective, “this is what we have learnt” piece. After all, learnings have been made, a whole bunch of them. But perhaps they can be written about at a later point in time; a quiet reminiscence that may be better placed in a journal rather than in a highly social medium.

    Instead, this post is about the future, the future of legal education and how the Indian law graduate is being viewed by universities and law schools across the world. As you can imagine, there is a lot that can be said about such a broad topic; I have chosen to narrow down the focus to a few words. Four words in fact.

    One: Awareness

    If you were to ask me what is the biggest change I have seen in the space of legal education, it would be awareness. Not only are more Indian law graduates considering a foreign education, but they are more certain of where and what they want to study. Most significantly, the what is not necessarily strictly law, as this interview with Ameen shows.This holds as true for current students of law, as it does for the 2-5 year PQE group.

    Furthermore, it is the diversity of options exercised that ought to be taken note of; you can find Indian law graduates attending graduate courses in Sweden, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia – the range is fairly impressive. And this is apart from the traditional favourites: the UK and the US.

    This awareness is definitely reflected in how foreign law schools are viewing Indian law graduates. The admission officers that I have spoken to, from institutions across the world, consider India as a growing feeder source for international applicants. And why not? Here is a large group of English-speaking lawyers seeking, for a host of reasons, an international education.

    The cynic would add “with money to spare” somewhere in the last sentence. I won’t. Not yet.

    Two: Ambition

    Closely linked to awareness is ambition though I must admit that I largely interact with law graduates who are looking to play at the global level. These graduates are not restricting themselves to domestic employment alone. Far from it. Be it policy development, human rights advocacy, commercial law, academy – the Indian law graduate harbours ambitions of a global nature.

    And I think universities across the world are responding to this ambition, be it through offering specialised courses, offering generous funding, and establishing networks with Indian law schools.

    What will be interesting to see is how domestic and global structures respond to this ambition, if and how new spaces will be created where such ambitions can be met. And, if they are not met, then what signals will that send to the future generation of Indian law graduates. Of course, this falls in the larger, global debate over the legal profession and what being a lawyer means in the 22nd century.

    Three: Rankings

    Ranking. Ranking. Ranking. If there was one question that dominates nearly every client conversation, it is the one on rankings. “What is the best law school for corporate law” or “Which is the best school for sports law?” – they are valid questions no doubt; I certainly understand the reasoning behind them.

    But, I also think they are incomplete questions, missing the words “for me” at the end.

    A lot of LLM applications are driven by rankings rather than anything else. And I don’t think this will change. Law universities are inherently competitive in nature, creating strict, nearly unavoidable hierarchies about what is desirable and what is not. And lawyers like to think in black and white. What could be more black and white than rankings?

    What indeed.

    Perhaps the first step would be to acknowledge the import of rankings while also understanding their inherent flaws, some of which are quite fundamental in nature. I often find myself telling clients that some rankings do not reflect the graduate level courses (US News I am looking at you) – an important, yet overlooked, fact.

    As an aside, I am quite interested to see how Indian law schools react to rankings, more so with the entrance of the public NIRF framework, as well as the private QS group (and their I-Gauge service) in the field of Indian legal education.

    Four: Finance.

    This is a big word. A very, very big one. After all, graduate programs in law are fairly expensive in nature, especially at the high-prestige American law schools. Add in high costs of living, and you are looking at a significant financial investment. Which can also become a stumbling block at the admissions stage.

    I would say approximately 40% of our clients would not take up a course if they do not receive adequate funding. I have little doubt that financial aid, ease of educational loans etc are going to play a crucial role in the years to come.

    In some ways, there is hope. You have newer players like Prodigy Finance, MPower etc who offer online loans with no collateral requirements, but a loan is a loan at the end of the day. And with this current trend in exchange rates, some astute financial planning is definitely the order of the day.

    But this also means that the Indian law graduate is now considering non-traditional, and less expensive, options for her graduate education.

    Conclusion

    Even if you set aside the obvious bias that someone invested in legal education will have, there is little doubt that the Indian law graduate finds herself in interesting times. Especially when it comes to her choices on higher education. How Indian law schools, and universities across the world, react to these changes (and the four words) will be what I will be watching with more than a little interest.